"LOLA Basyang" is the pen name of Severino Reyes, founder and editor of the Tagalog magazine Liwayway. From 1925, Reyes wrote a series of stories for children under the title Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang (The Stories of Grandmother Basyang). The original magazine stories have been adapted for comics (komiks), television, the cinema, and published in book form.
In 1925, Reyes wrote a series of short stories under the series title Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang (The Stories of Grandmother Basyang) for Liwayway, the Tagalog language magazine. Reyes, also known as Don Binoy, adopted the persona of a woman he knew as Lola Basyang, an elderly woman fond of telling stories to her grandchildren.
In 1949, Pedrito Reyes, son of Severino Reyes, decided to revive the Lola Basyang stories in comic book form. Filipino comics are referred to as komiks. It was a golden age for Philippine comics or komiks, and Pedrito used his father's original scripts to produce the comics version which appeared in the earliest issues of the Tagalog Klasik. The illustrations were done by Maning De Leon, Jesus Ramos, and later on Ruben Yandoc and Jess Jodloman mahal.
From 1946 to 1972, the Golden Age of Komiks and Movies in the Philippines coincided. Since komiks was a popular form of entertainment in the Philippines during that time, movie producers created some of the greatest box-office blockbusters from komiks materials. Translating komiks stories into films/movies became a trend in the local cinema during that time, thus, "Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang" was produced by Sampaguita Pictures in 1958. This movie is a twinbill of two Lola Basyang stories.
Dolphy starred in "Si Pedrong Walang Takot" (Fearless Pedro).This is about a cowardly man named Pedro who gains courage by means of an enchanted bell that he used to scare away the kapre (a hairy giant).
The second one is "Ang Prinsesang Naging Pulubi" (The Princess Who Became a Beggar). A princess from a faraway land (portrayed by the glamorous Gloria Romero) rejected all of her high-profile suitors, believing that material riches cannot provide genuine happiness. Her act of constantly spurning her suitors provoked the ire of his father, the King. He decreed that she be given to the first beggar who finds his way to the royal garden. From this beggar (Juancho Gutierrez), she found true love.
In 1985, Regal Films produced Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang. The trilogy starred Chichay as the lovable Lola Basyang. In fact, the character Lola Basyang is attached to Chichay up to date. This movie was directed by Maryo J. Delos Reyes. The three stories features three of the most popular love teams of that circa: Gabby Concepciin and Snooky Serna, William Martinez and Maricel Soriano, and Nora Aunor and Tirso Cruz III.
The first story is entitled "Nahihimbing na Kagandahan" (Sleeping Beauty) which is inspired by the classic fairy tale Sleeping Beauty. Gabby Concepcion and Snooky Serna make stars in this Sleeping Beauty-inspired episode. This also stars Lani Mercado, Nova Villa and Gretchen Barreto.
The second story is a horror-comedy flick entitled "Zombie". It starred the love-team of Maricel Soriano and William Martinez with Manilyn Reynes. The three get lost while en route to a camping trip. They enter an eerie house, manned by the even creepier albeit funny Palito and while chugging down the soup filled with human entrails they still managed to accept the offer to sleep over at the decrepit house. They did manage to stay alive, while screaming their heads off in the process.
The third episode is a semi-musical entitled "Kerubin". It is about a group of child laborers working for three mean old ladies headed by Bella Flores, and how Kerubin (played by Chuckie Dreyfuss), an angel sent by God to free these kids from the clutches of evil. Nora Aunor stars as the niece of the mean old ladies, who happens to be the good one. Tirso Cruz III, Lou Veloso, Sheryl Cruz and Tina Paner were also in the cast.
Just recently, TV5 embarked in the creation of a back-to-back Saturday child friendly modern fantasy series titled "LolaBasyang.com" and #ParangNormal Activity from 7 until 9pm, with two episodes taped here in the countries summer capital.
LolaBasyang.com is a modern day one of a kind reimagining of the timeless Pinoy icon synonymous to storytelling. The vast collection of folklore and stories inherent to the Filipino culture with veteran actress Boots Anson-Roa as Lola B.
Anson-Roa's role is a tech-savvy blogger who shares her value-laden stories to her grandchildren her and abroad, via webcam.
Director/Producer Perci Untalan said "The irony is, as we move forward with advances in technology, there is a bigger need to look back and be reminded of out traditions and our values".
A lovable Barkada of four young, mystery-solving cuties in #ParangNormalActivity follows LolaBasyang.com which focuses on their misadventures as the only members of the schools “Paranormal Club.”
They will attempt to solve various eerie mysteries unfolding in each episode. The group will deal with antics of supernatural creatures and elements, making them the laughingstock of their school and are branded the #ParangNormal Club.
In an era where kids are glued to different gadgets, mobile and computer games, the network is now addressing the need to retell classic Filipino stories while teaching moral values and preserving the Filipinos’ rich cultural and literary heritage through visually appealing media capturing the attention and imagination of young viewers.