Cielo de Angelina

Cielo de Angelina

Also known as	Angelina's Sky
Created by	GMA Entertainment TV Group and GMA Films
Written by	Edith Asuncion Joy Villanueva Marijoy Valenzuela
Directed by	Omar Deroca
Starring	Bea Binene Jake Vargas
Opening theme	"Natutulog Ba Ang Diyos?" sung by Jonalyn Viray & Jillian Ward
Composer(s)	Nonong Buencamino
Country of origin	Philippines
Original language(s)	Filipino, Tagalog
No. of episodes	55 episodes
Production
Executive producer(s)	Nora Javellana
Producer(s)	GMA Network
Editor(s)	Jack Pilapil
Location(s)	Montalban, Rizal Philippines Manila, Philippines
Cinematography	Butch Maddul
Camera setup	Multiple-camera setup
Running time	30-45 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel	GMA Network
Picture format	480i NTSC
Original run	October 22, 2012 (2012-10-22) – January 4, 2013 (2013-01-04)
External links
Website

Cielo de Angelina or Angelina's Sky (international title) is a Filipino drama series created by Annette Gozon-Abrogar. The series premiered on October 22, 2012 on GMA Network's late morning timeslot and October 24, 2012 worldwide via GMA Pinoy TV. It is executive produced by Nora Javellana and directed by Omar Deroca. Cielo de Angelina is a co-production of GMA Network and its film production arm, GMA Films. The show is originally intended for an eight-week run but the management decides to extend it for another three weeks.^[1]

The series is set in the fictional orphanage called "El Cielo" and stars Bea Binene as Angelina, a young orphan girl trying to find her place in the world and wants more than anything to have a family of her own. Also part of the series are Gloria Romero, Jake Vargas, Jessa Zaragoza, Isabel Granada and Hiro Magalona. ^[2]^[3]

The series concluded on January 4, 2013. It ran for 11 weeks with 55 episodes overall.

Synopsis

The series follows the life and love of Angelina, an orphan girl who was left by the door of El Cielo Shelter for Destitute Women and Abandoned Children one stormy night. Marco, a four-year-old stowaway was there when Sister Margaret picked the baby. Because of being abandoned, Marco and Angelina treated the shelter as their home.

Through the years, Marcos serves as the older brother of Angelina especially when her best friend, Julie was adopted. Since then, it was Marco who helped Angelina on her longing for Julie. It was also Marco who will help Angelina in trying to find out what was left by her parents when she was abandoned. But when Angelina tries to get the clue inside Sister Margaret's office, a fire breaks out in another part of the shelter causing the latter to die.

Separation ensued when Angelina was adopted and in turn leaving Marco in the orphanage. While Angelina is living a tormented life with her stepmother Czarina and stepsister Rhoda, Marco now acts very distant from her.^[4]

Cast and characters

Main characters

Angelina Nantes – the title character, initially portrayed by Jillian Ward as the child version of the character, and later by Bea Binene. Angelina is an orphan girl who was left on the doorstep of an orphanage run by nuns, one stormy night. There, she grows up with Marco, who also serves as her older brother. Marco also helps Angelina to search for her parents. But just as they were on to something, Angelina is adopted and thus begins her life of torment.^[5]

Marco Sevilla – the male lead, portrayed by Jake Vargas. He was just a little boy when he witnessed Angelina's arrival as a baby in El Cielo. Since then, he has acted as an older brother figure to her, especially when her best friend, Julie was adopted. He will soon find himself falling in love with Angelina. But under the circumstances, his love will remain undeclared and unrequited.^[6]

Supporting characters

Sor Margaret – portrayed by veteran actress Gloria Romero. She is the head nun who owns and runs the El Cielo Shelter for Destitute Women and Abandoned Children, the orphanage where Angelina grew up. She also holds the key to unraveling Angelina's mysterious past.

Congresswoman Theresa Alfonso – played by Jessa Zaragoza. She is a successful woman with a scared past. Despite her success and wealth, she feels that there's a big part of her life that is missing.^[7]

Benjamin "Benjie" Nantes – played by Gerald Madrid; Angelina’s adoptive father. He is wealthy architect who will become the hapless victim of Czarina’s evilness.

Czarina – portrayed by Isabel Granada; the scheming arch-enemy of the story. She is Benjie Nantes' vindictive mistress who will stop at nothing to get what she wants. She and her daughter, Rhoda will make life difficult for Angelina.^[8]

Doña Miriam "Mamer" Dela Guardia – portrayed by Baby O’Brien. She is a wealthy and influential woman who has a big heart for children. She adopted Julie/Marian in two purposes – to have a child she can call her own and to have an heir for her vast properties.

Dr. Frank Cordero – portrayed by Victor Basa. He is the resident doctor of El Cielo Shelter. Dr. Cordero is a wealthy and handsome doctor who has a big heart for the less fortunate. He eventually falls in love with Elaine, a single mother.^[9]

Elaine – played by Roxanne Barcelo; a young mother and a resident of El Cielo Shelter for Destitute Women and Abandoned Children. She rebuilds her life after being abandoned by her boyfriend with the help of Dr. Frank, her newfound love.

James Aragon – played by Hiro Magalona. Considered as "Mr. Campus Heartthrob" of St. Isadore, James is a classic "born with a silver spoon in his mouth" – bratty and arrogant. He eventually falls in love with Angelina. But the latter's closeness with Marco makes him jealous and will cause friction between them.

Marian "Julie" Dela Guardia – initially played by Elijah Alejo on the first part of the series, then by Ashley Ortega as the teenage version of the character. Julie and Angelina form a bond as children in El Cielo, only to lose each other as they grow up.

Rhoda – antagonist; portrayed by Yassi Pressman. She is Czarina's only daughter, and like her mother, she is also a self-centered and scheming young lady whose habit is making Angelina's life unbearable.^[10]

Other characters

Rina Reyes as Sister Elena
Debraliz Borres as Sister Susan
Kathleen Hermosa as Marilyn Nantes
Izzy Trazona-Aragon as Dena
Vangie Labalan as Rosario
Biboy Ramirez as Armando
Renz Valerio as Keith
Lindt Johnston as Kelly
Nicole Dulalia as Bernie
Jolo Romualdez
Maey Bautista as Yaya Simang
Derick Lim as Elly
Jak Roberto

Production and development

Cielo de Angelina is the very first television production of GMA Films for GMA Network.^[1] Film outfit’s key persons, Annette Gozon-Abrogar (President) and Jose Mari Abacan (Supervising Producer and GMA Network’s Vice President for Program Management) come up with the idea to produce a light yet inspiring drama series intended for the network’s morning timeslot, and to pit against the rival station’s romantic-comedy series, as well.^[11] “It will be a test as to which genre between drama and comedy will really get public attentions,” Abacan said. The production team began developing the storyline in July 2012, under the title “Angelina del Cielo”,^[12] with theme focusing on love, friendship, and family^[13]^[14] The producer hired first-timer director Omar Deroca to helm the series. Production began on October 5, 2012 in Montalban, Rizal. Locations were chosen by the series’ production designer, Potchi Manda, due to the area's calmly and provincial-type surroundings.^[15]

Casting

GMA Films chose teen actors Bea Binene and Jake Vargas to lead their first television venture. Before they started filming the series, Binene and Vargas talked about the acting they will do in the soap [including the approach to their characters]. “We didn’t attend workshops. But we are used to doing drama. We already have an idea on what to do. That’s perhaps our preparation,” Vargas said.^[16]

Jessa Zaragoza was chosen to play Theresa Alfonso, the main protagonist’s biological mother. The singer-actress stated that it’s her first time doing a character of a politician and revealed that Lucy Torres is her peg for her role.^[7] Mico Palanca was originally cast as Benjamin Nantes, but due to “unprofessionalism” and “he doesn’t want to play a father role” issues, he was replaced by Gerald Madrid. Drastic revisions were made to the script. The writers found that they had to adjust the character of Benjamin to suit for Madrid.^[17]

Music

The classic Filipino inspirational song, “Natutulog Ba Ang Diyos?” (lit. Is God Sleeping?) was used as the series’ theme song. It was written and composed by Nonong Buencamino. The lyrics tell of a person asking questions why difficulties exists in life, was God really sleeping.

The show used seven versions of the song throughout its run: the main theme, which was performed by Jonalyn Viray; duet versions of the song performed by Jillian Ward and Viray, and Ward and Bea Binene; solo versions of Binene, Jessa Zaragoza, and Jake Vargas; and the trio version of song performed by Viray, Ward and Binene.^[18]