Being a child again

When the skater playing Snow White was about to bite the apple offered to her by the black-garbed skater-witch, the Smart Araneta Coliseum reverberated with the collective scream of “No!!!” from the mostly kiddie audience that filled up the venue to the rafters, but Snow White bit it anyway and slipped into sweet slumber. And when she woke up in the arms of the skater-Prince Charming, the Big Dome exploded with an approving “Yes!!!!”

It made you feel young again, be a kid again, to be with such a crowd at the Disney on Ice Dare to Dream on Wednesday, Dec. 24, on its annual Charity Day. Thousands of beneficiaries supported by Araneta Group’s Charity arms, Julio Amado Araneta Foundation and Bb. Pilipinas Charities, Inc. were the first to watch the fantastic ice spectacle which featured Snow White, Cinderella, Princess Tiana and Rapunzel.

For two hours (with a 10-minute intermission), children from Operation Smile, Hero Foundation, Make A Wish Foundation and various kids from orphanages and underprivileged communities were wowed by the fanciful journeys and awesome ice-skating numbers of the Disney princesses. 

The show started with a high-energy jazz number by Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen, followed by the enchanting performance of Snow White, the Seven Dwarfs and Prince Charming. Cinderella enthralled audiences with her romantic dance and jaw-dropping stunts with the prince while Tangled’s Rapunzel capped the show with mid-air silk stunts with Flynn Rider.

Midway through the show (Reminder: Wear a sweater or a jacket as the venue is cold), three kids from the audience were invited to ride a cart pushed around the icy floor-level stage by the Seven Drawfs. It must be recalled that in last year’s show, Alonzo Muhlach, then a private citizen and now a fast-rising Child Wonder (in his dad Niño’s footsteps), was among the chosen riders.

The touching highlight of the show was the special participation of Make A Wish Foundation beneficiary, Mica Duff, nine years old, who was diagnosed with hepatoblastoma (a form of liver cancer). Funfare learned that the girl had initially wished to get a Rapunzel doll from the wish-granting foundation, only to be surprised with a warm hug from Rapunzel and Flynn Rider in the flesh. Then, she took part in the iconic recreation of the lantern launch from the movie Tangled.

(Disney on Ice Dare to Dream officially opened to the public on Dec. 25 and will have shows until Jan. 4, 2015. Ticket prices are P1,920 for Patron VIP; P1,730 for Patron Regular; P1,385 for Box Premium; P950 for Box Regular; P600 for Upper box Premium, P450 for Upper Box Regular; and P150 for General Admission. To buy tickets, go to www.ticketnet.com.ph or call 911-5555.)

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. You may also send your questions to [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on www.twitter/therealrickylo.)