Encantadia

Encantadia
Genre	Telefantasya: action, adventure, drama, fantasy, romance
Created by	Suzette Doctolero
Starring	Iza Calzado Sunshine Dizon Karylle Diana Zubiri and others
Country of origin	Philippines
Original language(s)	Tagalog Filipino English Enchanta
No. of episodes	160
Production
Running time	30-45 minutes
Release
Original network	GMA Network
Original release	May 2, 2005 (2005-05-02) – December 9, 2005 (2005-12-09)
Chronology
Followed by	Etheria
Related shows	Mulawin
External links
Website

Encantadia is a Filipino fantasy television series (locally known as telefantasya) produced by GMA Network. It was dubbed as the grandest, most ambitious, and most expensive production for Philippine television during its time of release. The pilot episode was aired on May 2, 2005. Its last episode was aired on December 9 of the same year to give way to its second book, Etheria. This series aired its pilot episode on December 12, and its last episode on February 18, 2006. The third and latest installment of the Encantadia saga, entitled Encantadia: Pag-ibig Hanggang Wakas, aired its pilot on February 20, 2006 and the series ended on April 28, 2006.

The series garnered both popular and critical recognition at home and abroad, including winning the 2005 Teleserye (Television Series) of the Year at the Los Angeles-based Gawad Amerika Awards.

The entire Encantadia saga is currently aired on Fox Filipino.

Premise

Encantadia is a term coined from the Filipino words "enkanto", "enkanta", "enkantada", or "enkantado" (which was in turn derived from the Spanish term encant(ad){o/a}) which means enchanted beings endowed with supernatural powers.

In the show, Encantadia is a vast enchanted realm comprising four divided kingdoms where different mythical entities thrive. These four kingdoms—Adamya, Sapiro, Lireo, and Hathoria—bear the four precious stones that holds the land's balance. The tranquility and future of Encantadia rests on the four gemstones of water, earth, air and fire; each being carefully kept by the bearers from each kingdom. But when the Hathors, from the kingdom of Hathoria, threaten to accumulate all the gems from the other bearers, hostility and war sweep over the realm. It is a battle of three kingdoms against one.

The story unfolds in Lireo, the kingdom where Ynang Reyna (Queen Mother) Minea lives with her daughters Amihan, Alena, Danaya, and Pirena. The four Sangg'res are tasked to be the new keepers of the brilliantes. Their skills in war and their powers as the royalty of the diwatas are believed to be the strength of Lireo. As long as the gemstones are kept properly, the balance of nature in Encantadia remains. But this story tells viewers that powers can also break precious relationships as Pirena had plotted the downfall of her own sister Amihan, who won the competition for the Lirean crown, and the other Sangg'res Danaya and Alena took Amihan's side.

With this situation, Lira, the long lost daughter of Amihan returned to Encantadia and tried to fulfill her mission of mending the broken relationships of the strong-willed gemstone keepers.

Plot

The world of Encantadia was created when the three major bathaluman (deities) Arde, his brother Emre and Ether were cast out of the heavens (not to be mistaken for the "heaven" of Judeo-Christian canon) for remaining neutral during the first civil war.

They arrived in a strange, uninhabited land and claimed it for themselves. The three bathaluman decided to name the new world Encantadia.

Working together, the three deities transformed the barren land into a paradise, populating it with both offspring and creations like the many creatures that inhabit the Encantadian wilds to ease the pain of their exile.

Relations between the three masters of Encantadia were genial at first and the beings of Encantadia lived in harmony and unity devoid of malice, until Ether and Arde fell in love. Enraged at the two for succumbing to their baser instincts and violating the terms of their exile, Emre cursed them by turning Ether into a giant snake. Arde was banished to limbo, transformed into a dragon tasked to forever safeguard the boundaries between the world of the living and Devas, the world of the dead. Emre likewise left Encantadia, leaving Ether to fend for herself.

Abandoned and cursed, Ether raged for many days. Because of her horrific and feral form, most of the citizens of Encantadia grew to fear Ether and shunned her. Others, in awe of her new power and pity of her plight, came to worship the bathaluman, who in turn granted them her power and protection. They became the first citizens of Etheria.

With the creation of Etheria, other kingdoms were soon established, namely Sapiro, Adamya and Hathoria. Lireo as a separate, sovereign nation would not be established until after Etheria's fall several centuries later.

The fictional world of Encantadia

• Sapiro - A kingdom in the north of Encantadia; protector of the gemstone of earth.
• Adamya - A kingdom in the south of Encantadia; protector of the gemstone of water.
• Hathoria - A kingdom in the west of Encantadia; protector of the gemstone of fire.
• Lireo - A kingdom in the east of Encantadia and is home to the royal blood diwatas; protector of the gemstone of air.

Main characters

The story revolves around the four Sang'gres of Lireo, the center of worship in Encantadia - Amihan, Alena, Danaya and Pirena.

The Sang'gre's of Lireo

Sang'gre's/Royal Blood

• Ynang Reyna Minea (Dawn Zulueta) is a queen of the Diwata kingdom of Lireo, and the mother of main characters Amihan, Pirena, Alena and Danaya.
• Pirena (Sunshine Dizon) the eldest among the Sang'gres, is the keeper of the Jewel of Fire. She is the smartest and most skillful among the Sang'gres. Though outwardly cold, Pirena is actually a kind person, consumed by the belief that she can rule Lireo much better than Minea. Impulsive and willful, Pirena is very transparent with her emotions. She is the most frank and brutally honest of the sisters, sometimes inconsiderate of the effect of her words to those around her. Because they share so many of the same personality traits, she always ends up quarrelling with the youngest of the brood, Danaya. Pirena was gifted with the power to create and control fire which is only boosted by the Jewel of Fire. Aside from that, she can also Shapeshift and take the form of any humanoid that she wishes.
• Amihan (Iza Calzado) the second among the four daughters of Ynang Reyna Minea, is the keeper of the Jewel of Air and the mother of Lira whom she had with Ybarro, also known as Prince Ybrahim, the heir to the fallen kingdom of Sapiro. Amihan is the mother-figure among the Sang'gres. She is also the most skillful warrior among her siblings as she was mentored and influenced by Raquim,her father. Like her mother Mine-a, she has a soft heart for those she loves, especially her family. This quality of hers has often been abused by others, especially Pirena. She is regal and majestic, often exhibiting a queenly aura of power and nobility. Amihan possesses the power to control and manipulate air, the Jewel of Air has boosted this ability of hers. Due to her elemental power, Amihan is also able to fly.
• Alena (Karylle) is the third among the four daughters of Queen Mine-a and the keeper of the Jewel of Water. She is by nature a kind-hearted person and is the most romantic among the four sisters. Alena is also the lover of Ybarro and mother of Kahlil. Alena has the ability to control waters which is strengthened by the Jewel of Water but she is more keen to use the power of her voice. It has been said that she possesses a voice that can put people in a trance or even kill.
• Danaya (Diana Zubiri) is the fourth and youngest daughter of Ynang Reyna Minea, is the keeper of the Jewel of Earth. Danaya is the fearless and most lawful one among the Sang'gres. She is a feisty and cunning fighter whose loyalty to the throne and laws of Lireo is absolute. Because of her relative youth, she is prone to mischief and petty arguments (especially with her niece Lira), but always has her heart (and mind) in the right place. Receives the care and affection of Aquil, General of the Lireo Military. Danaya has the ability to control earth but more in the form of its flora, though she is seen using both. Aside from this, she also has the power to shapeshift into any animal she wishes.
• Lira/Milagros (Jennylyn Mercado) is the only daughter and sole heiress apparent to Amihan, who became Queen of Lireo and his father was King Ybrahim of Sapiro. She was hailed by her grandmother former queen Minea as Encantadia's luntiae or savior. The culture in Encantadia is ancient and Lira, although an Encantadian herself, was raised in the modern human world. She sometimes speaks Taglish, which puzzled many Encantandians because they barely understand it. She is also the mother of Cassandra. Her Ashti(Aunt) Danaya gave her the blessing of protection from Pirena whilst her Ashti(Aunt) Alena gave her the blessing of a beautiful voice.
• Mira (Yasmien Kurdi) is the sole daughter of Pirena from an unknown father. She was the infant her mother switched from Amihan’s true heir, Lira. Because of this, Mira grew up and was known as Lira and was deemed as the future heiress apparent to Queen Amihan. She took pride of these perquisites and had always exuded an ambitious and pompous stance. She grew up armed with brilliance as a warrior and a swordsman true to any Sang’gre. She was a keen follower of Lireo’s laws and exhibited zealotry for her kind.

Cast

Main cast

• Dingdong Dantes as Ybarro/Ybrahim
• Karylle as Alena
• Sunshine Dizon as Pirena
• Iza Calzado as Amihan
• Diana Zubiri as Danaya
• Mark Herras as Anthony
• Jennylyn Mercado as Lira/Milagros
• Yasmien Kurdi as Mira

Supporting cast

• Pen Medina as Hagorn
• Pinky Amador as Carmen
• Vangie Labalan as Manang Rosing
• Polo Ravales as Hitano
• Jay Aquitania as Banjo
• Cindy Kurleto as Cassiopeia
• Alfred Vargas as Aquil
• Girlie Sevilla as Gurna
• Marky Lopez as Wantuk
• Leila Kuzma as Agane
• Michael Roy Jornales as Apek

Extended cast

• Bobby Andrews as Asval
• Arthur Solinap as Muros
• Nancy Castiglione as Muyak
• Brad Turvey as Axilom
• Gerard Pizzaras as Bandok
• Benjie Paras as Wahid
• Ian Veneracion as Armeo
• Juliana Palermo as Lavanea
• Abigael Arazo as Young Alena
• Diane Sison as Mayne
• Romnick Sarmenta as Avilan
• Jey Gumiran as Cleu
• Antonio Aquitania as Alipato
• Sunshine Garcia as Agua
• Margaret Wilson as Aera
• Cheska Garcia as Aure
• Lloyd Barredo as Abog
• John Regala as Apitong
• Dominic Gacad as Young Apitong
• Gayle Valencia as Dinna
• Irma Adlawan as Amanda
• Ehra Madrigal as Gigi
• Dino Guevarra as Carlos
• Juan Carlo Dizon as Chao
• Denise Laurel as Marge
• Allan Paule as Dado
• CJ Ramos as Bono

Special participation

• Jake Cuenca as Khalil
• Richard Gomez as Raquim
• Dawn Zulueta as Reyna Mine-a

Production and reception

The series was created by GMA Network, the same network that produced the fantasy-themed series Mulawin and Darna. It was directed by Mark Reyes and Gil Tejada, Jr., and written by Suzette Doctolero.^[1]

The series was originally intended as GMA Films' entry to the 2004 Metro Manila Film Festival but they later decided to make Encantadia a daily fantasy soap opera.

According to Mark Reyes, the sets of Encantadia are located in various places in the Philippines. The Adamya set is located at Calatagan, Batangas. The cave set of Hathoria is located at the Kalinawan Cave in Tanay, Rizal. Lireo's forest is located at Daranak Falls and Batlag Falls in Rizal. A 1,900 square meter warehouse in Pasig serves as an indoor set with an improvised pond. This warehouse is also a setting change for Lireo, Sapiro, Hera Andal, Hera Sensa and others. The Sapiro set is located inside the historic walled city of Intramuros (Old Manila) in the heart of Manila.

Awards and nominations

Merchandise

On November 2005, Mister Donut in the Philippines offered free pillows with pictures of Pirena, Amihan, Alena and Danaya after purchasing a dozen doughnuts. An Encantadia board game is being sold in various bookstores in the Philippines. Other merchandise such as coin banks, notebooks, etc. are also being sold.

Home release

On March 4, 2008, GMA7 released Encantadia DVDs under GMA Records. The DVDs are also available in the United States in stores such as borders. Because of its popularity and public demand GMA Records decided to release all episodes in extended volumes 1-15 in 2011.

Revival

There are reports^[6][7] saying that a new Encantadia will air on GMA in 2016.

See also

• Mulawin
• GMA Network
• List of GMA Network shows

References

External links

• Encantadia on IMDB