Candice Adea as the Encantada

MANILA, Philippines -- It begins with the sovereign spirit, the Encantada, awakening the mountain from its great slumber. As the Earth starts coming to life, the Babaylan who acts as a medium for the Encantada goes into a trance, and together with the Kababaihan who represent nature and its various elements, executes a dance of worship.

“Encantada” comes to life as Ballet Philippines (BP) kicks off its 42nd season, dubbed “Faces of Eve,” on August 12 to 14, at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Main Theater.

To be restaged by Judell de Guzman Sicam, Annette Cruz Mariano, and Alden Lugnasin, the ballet production is set in the Philippines during the Spanish colonial era, and depicts man’s destruction of nature and its devastating consequences.

“The world has not changed much in the past 20 years. My sentiments regarding history and current events have changed, in that it has grown more intense in desiring for the improvement and conservation of life and nature,” says ballet legend Agnes Locsin.

It follows the story of an Indio rebel, the Estranjero, who became dismayed with the continued oppression of the Taongbayan by the Frailes. In rebellion, he stole the Imahen in the cathedral.

Angered by the theft, the Frailes ordered the Guardia Civil to recover the icon and capture the rebel. A chase ensued. Soon, they were able to capture and wound the Estranjero but the Kababaihan, led by the Babaylan, came to his rescue.

The Babaylan healed the Estranjero. Indebted, the rebel gave the icon as a gift to the Babaylan who stripped the elaborate trappings off the icon and added the simple wooden statue to her collection of Anitos.

Act Two would begin with the Frailes searching for the rebel. Finally finding him amongst the Kababaihan, the Frailes’ cohorts killed the Estranjero. Enraged, the Kababaihan raged war against the Guardia Civil, despite the plea of the Encantada for sobriety.

A war took place, killing the innocents, burning the forest, and ending in the ravishment of the Kababihan and nature.

A grief-striken Encantada shed waves of tears, flowing endlessly in devastating torrents, causing floods in the mountains. As the flood engulfed the lowlands, the terrified Frailes were swept away.

Premiered in 1992, “Encantada” was a creation of the collaboration between three of the most prominent artists in the country: Agnes Locsin, Joey Ayala, and Al Santos.

“My very first public appearance as a singer-songwriter was during the intermission number of Agnes’s dance recital at the Ateneo de Davao College.  Two to three years later, we worked on a rock opera penned by Al Santos who based his libretto on Bagobo myth and legend, entitled ‘Sa Bundok ng Apo.’ I did the music, and Agnes created the choreography. So, ‘Encantada’ is a sequel of sorts to that piece,” shares the composer.

He adds: “Al’s words were music all by themselves. Agnes’s direction was clear and well-articulated. The music work was to capture the musical manifestations or equivalents of what they had in mind. I consulted Agnes every step of the way. With Al’s libretto, I would ask her about the tempo, length, texture, movement, and mood. All these impressions went into the music.”

And soon, “Encantada” was born. As the neo-ethnic music with a touch of pop-rock created by Ayala and the Bagong Lumad band fills the air, the BP dancers donning costumes designed by National Artist Salvador Bernal “rise to the challenge of dancing with flexed feet, curved backs, and without arabesques,” as how Locsin puts it.

Showcasing the legacy of Locsin in BP, and the Philippine dance landscape in general, “Encantada” has toured around the Philippines and Japan, and was restaged at the CCP in 1998. Original cast featured Cecile Sicangco as the Encantada, and Wendy Panganiban as the Babaylan.

This year, BP principal dancer Candice Adea and international guest artist Georgette Sanchez (who is a niece of Locsin) will portray the title role, the Encantada, Jean Marc Cordero as the Estranjero, and Katherine Trofeo and Carissa Adea alternate as the Babaylan. Guest artists include Joey Ayala at Ang Bagong Lumad and Bayang Barrios.

Catch “Encantada” at the CCP Main Theater on August 12 and 13, at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., and August 14 at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Tickets are available at Ticketworld and CCP Box Office.