Lola Basyang stories prove useful to students

The weekly program on the well-loved stories of the iconic Pinoy storyteller, Lola Basyang, on GMA 7 impart not only good values to young viewers, but also serve as a useful tool for students in better understanding the works of Severino Reyes, the classic Filipino writer of children's tales and creator of Lola Basyang's character.

GMA Network has reportedly been receiving numerous requests from students and teachers for taped episodes of Mga Kuwento Ni Lola Basyang, the weekly show wherein Lola Basyang's granddaughter Herbie (Manilyn Reynes) and her son Efren (Paul Salas) go around in their roving library and read Lola Basyang's stories to a group of children found in each destination.

Adding color and life to the retelling of Lola Basyang's classic tales are the dramatization of the stories by popular actors as well as the noteworthy production value and unique songs used in each episode.

Teachers and parents alike highly recommend Mga Kuwento Ni Lola Basyang to their students and children.

While the children are entertained by the crafty storytelling, the show also inculcates good morals and values in their young minds.

The students also learn to better appreciate literature, especially the works of Severino Reyes, because they understand the stories more after watching them dramatized in Mga Kuwento Ni Lola Basyang.

Today, March 11, Mga Kuwento Ni Lola Basyang communicates the lesson of true love that transcends physical deformities and superficial appearances in the episode entitled "Ang Prinsipeng Mahaba ang Ilong."

This episode presents Alfred Vargas as Prinsipe Benito, a prince cursed with a very long nose, and Iza Calzado as Prinsesa Isabel, the princess who will fall in love with him despite his facial deformity.

Prinsipe Benito grew up thinking his long nose was normal because his parents, Haring Anselmo (Emilio Garcia) and Reyna Elyana (Jennifer Sevilla) sheltered him away from the harsh reality outside the palace. Wanting to explore the world outside, Prinsipe Benito snuck out of the palace one day and realized the big lie his parents made him believe all his life.

Outside the palace, Prinsipe Benito was taunted and ridiculed by people because of his abnormal nose. Dejected, he decided to return to the palace but saw a poor lady being harassed by a group of nomads along the way. Prinsipe Benito saved the lady, who turned out to be Prinsesa Isabel (Iza Calzado), a princess who also ran away from her palace.

Mga Kuwento Ni Lola Basyang's "Ang Prinsipeng Mahaba ang Ilong" episode also stars Ian Veneracion as Haring Arturo, Prinsesa Isabel's father who is against her daughter's relationship with the ugly Prinsipe Benito, and Arthur Solinat as Prinsipe Ka-El, the arrogant suitor of Prinsesa Isabel. Mga Kuwento Ni Lola Basyang airs Sundays after S-Files on GMA.