Our Well-loved Childhood Stories: Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang

You may have heard stories about Lola Basyang in one form or another if you were raised in the Philippines. The said anthology of short stories is written by Severino Reyes who goes by the pen name Lola Basyang. Lola Basyang, a character in the book Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang, is a grandmother who enjoys telling stories to her grandchildren. The character is based on Gervacia Guzman de Zamora, Severino Reyes's next-door neighbor and the matriarch of the Zamora family of Quiapo, Manila. It has become so popular that it was adapted into different comics, feature films and even a mini series and is still well-known as an iconic piece of literature today.

By recounting ancient tales and creating new ones that showcase the beauty and uniqueness of the nation, children's literature is one of the genres that aims to combat colonial mindset. Questions of identity frequently reflect beliefs that race is a symbol of the national character. Therefore, it may be claimed that glocal literature always entails a return to folklore, low mythology, folk, religion, and so forth, as well as recounting and reconfiguring these tales, rituals, and aspects so that they may be flung outwards to the postmodern world.

The Lola Basyang o Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang is used to describe a grandmother who loves telling stories to children. It was the pen name of Severino Reyes. However, Lola Basyang is not just a character, she was a real person. Her name is Gervacia de Guzman, a neighbor of Reyes and the matriarch of the Zamora clan in Quiapo, manila. She was well-known in the area as a grandmother with plenty of stories to tell. (National Historical Commission of the Philippines).

The stories and tales of Lola Basyang became so popular among Filipinos that they still use the term to refer to a grandmother or a person who loves telling stories. It may be seen as a children's play, but it also has a deeper meaning that will remind people of their values and morals in life. The production team has lost count of the number of times it has been staged both locally and internationally. One of the classic tales is called "Ang Prinsipeng Duwag" (The Cowardly Prince). It's about a prince who hates blood and refuses war. However, he soon meets and marries a princess but is again questioned about his ability to lead a war. The tale's message is that violence is never the answer.