Living a Fantasy
Children’s wishes do come true and they can happen overnight
By Nickky Faustine De Guzman, Photos by Michael Varcas
January 18, 2013, 10:22am
An air of excitement and giddiness filled the entrance of the Smart Araneta Coliseum recently on the final appearance of “Disney on Ice Presents Princesses and Heroes.” Everybody—alone, in twos, or in groups, boys, girls, toddlers, teenagers and parents—was all smiles despite the long queues. And who wouldn’t be when you are to watch the Disney's beloved princesses and their knights in shining armor?
The cloudy and gloomy Thursday night was a post-Christmas gift and celebration of the New Year for the children from the barangays in Intramuros, Manila. The kids, eight to 13 years old, were dressed to the nines and armed with candies and cameras.
It has become the tradition of The Manila Bulletin, in partnership with the Smart Araneta, to treat the indigent and deserving Filipino families and children to magical and inspiring performances in the spirit of the Holidays. The tradition has been practiced for more than a decade now.
Dreams come true
It was the first time for Alexandra Duazo, 12, from Barangay Victoria, Intramuros, to go to a coliseum and watch a live performance. “Siyempre masaya po,” was all she said when we were about to enter the arena. She shared she wanted to see Sleeping Beauty, her favorite character.
The show didn’t disappoint.
The jam-packed coliseum feasted on a colorful and merry showcase of creative ice skating and graceful acrobatics from the beloved Cinderella, Jasmine, Snow White, Beauty, Aurora, Ariel, Rapunzel, and Tiana and their princes.
Araneta was dimly lit but the flash of cameras, cell phones, and iPads while recording brightened the mood of the already-delighted fans.
The 50 chosen children and their chaperones witnessed the unfolding of the defining moments of the eight favorite Disney Princesses when their hearts’ desires came true through the power of dreaming and believing.
Jasmine and Aladdin opened the show with the scene of them evading the royal guards in a marketplace in the hopes of discovering “a whole new world.” This got the audience singing in unison. Families, friends, and kids, meanwhile, watched in excitement as Snow White, Ariel, Cinderella, Tiana, Rapunzel, and Beauty all found their true loves.
The myriad of costumes and props were eye candy to the spectators who just cannot help but applaud every time new characters would come onstage. The song and dance numbers of the Seven Dwarfs and Ariel’s crew got some standing on their seats and chanting “Hi Ho” and “Under the Sea” along the characters.
Special guests Tinker Bell, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse seamlessly transported the kids from one inspiring story to the next. The second act surprised some when flames lit the stage as Prince Philip of “Sleeping Beauty” defeated the 20-foot fire-breathing dragon in a race against time to rescue Aurora.
The pyrotechnics capped off the two-hour presentation that took everyone “wonder by wonder, over and under, on a magic (carpet) ride.” It reminded people that there is a princess and hero in everybody.
But even after the curtains have closed, the smiles on the kids' faces lingered.
“The genuine smiles on their faces are things that money cannot buy, hence we will always continue this tradition,” Manila Bulletin’s Public Relations Manager Bernadette Cunanan said.
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