The vibrancy of Ibalon: The Love of Handyong and Oryol lit up the stage of the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Makati City as it hosted the opening show of the Philippine Ballet Theatre's 37th season recently.

"From brainstorming the concept to creating new choreography and music that tells the story and down to putting production design and technical requirements, it really takes a village to premiere a new ballet production. This is an innovative way to bring the Bicolano epic to the consciousness of the Filipino people," stated Cultural Center of the Philippines ad interim vice chairperson Margarita Moran-Floirendo.

Ibalon: The Love of Handyong and Oryol is the ballet interpretation of the CCP resident ballet company of the epic, Ibalon, which exists only in fragments, from Bicol and whose title is the old name of the region in southern Luzon. Deeply rooted in history and heritage, it focuses on the love story between the warrior hero Handyong, brilliantly played by Matthew Davo, and the cursed Oryol, dazzlingly portrayed by Jessa Tangalin. Together with the protagonist's closest friends Baltog and Bantong — portrayed by Dom Delmo and Justin Orande — they journeyed into a mission to free the damsel in distress from the spell which finally transforms her back into a princess.

This reimagining came from a renewed energy within the group, even as they suffered from dwindling dancer base during the continued lockdowns because of the coronavirus pandemic.