Captain Barbell first appeared in the series finale of Darna. He wore the usual hero's spandex costume with the big CB logo on his chest. However, neither the actor's face was shown nor was he credited, since the producers had not decided yet who will take the role. It was intentionally done to drum beat the promotions for the upcoming series.
Different actors were considered, and several others voiced out their interest on the role. Even Richard Gutierrez wasn't sure it will be him, so after wrapping up Sugo, he went for a month-long vacation. GMA Network made its final announcement on April 11, 2006.
Richard Gomez specifically requested his role because he wants to play a dark character which he finds more challenging.
Several negotiations and concessions were made between the Ravelos and the producers team. Rita Ravelo wants the story to stay as much as possible to her father's original character. The production team on the other hand, wanted to make the series more updated and entertaining to present viewers.
This is the second pinoy superhero created by Mars Ravelo which was made into TV series by GMA Network, the first being the successful Darna series.
Dominic Zapata was hired to direct the series, and this was his fourth time to helm a telefantasya for the network. He was the director of Mulawin, Darna and Sugo. Mike Tuviera was also hired to be his assistant director.
Script/Story: Mars Ravelo for title character, RJ Nuevas for TV seriesCreative Consultant: Rita RaveloCustome Design: Captain Barbell's Yellow & Red Modern costume was designed by artist, Reno Maniquis. He was commissioned by the Mars Ravelo Marvelous Characters Inc. to design the new official costume.Costume Maker/Manufacturer of Captain Barbell's suit is Miles Teves Miles Teves (based on the design of Reno Maniquis.)According to AGB Nielsen Philippines, Captain Barbell's pilot episode on May 29, 2006 garnered a 37.5% rating. The series got its first 40's ratings of 41.2% the following night on its second episode. Its final episode got a rating of 35.4%. But before the finale. After 3 months from its pilot episode, its ratings began to plummet, decline and flip flop, but still it is victorious in its finale ratings in 'Mega Manila Area TV Ratings Data' conducted by AGB Nielsen Philippines.
First Appearance of Captain Barbell - 38%Highest Rating Earned - 43.7%Lowest Rating Earned - 26%Finale Episode Ratings - 35.4%The show consistently tops the ratings against its rival show on the same time slot.
Barbell - a palm-size golden medallion-barbell plate with "CB" engraved on its center. The name "Captain B" is also depicted on the medallion. Teng twists the medallion and it forms into a barbell, he then raises it and shouts "Captain Barbell" to transform himself into the superhero. As Captain Barbell, the medallion is depicted on his chest; he grabs it back to transform to his alter ego, Teng. The medallion is said to be made from barbanium.Barbanium - a powerful fictional element discovered in the year 2016 by scientist in the Philippines.Askobar - Asido Kontra Barbanium is the only equally powerful fictional element that can counter barbanium's power. It can be crystallized and used in many ways. It is used to power a cyborg, and also molded into a bullet which deteriorates anything it touches. Coincidentally, Viel also called the element Askobar, but with a different meaning, "Asido Kontra Barbell".The General and The Villains
A logo of two Vs aligned vertically inside a circle can always be found on the General's creations like Captain and Mrs. B. This very same logo, on the other hand, this is also the Villians logo. This led to the conclusion that the General will emerge from the bloodline of Villian family.LIVE Corporation is the name of the General's conglomerate during the time of Neo Metropolis (a futuristic Philippine city). The word LIVE is an anagram of both Viel and Levi, members of the Villian family, so it therefore leaves to either one of them who will be the General in the future.It's now known that Viel Villian is the General. As to how he became the general is yet to be revealed.Captain Barbell is a Filipino earthling who came from the Philippine's distant future, and was sent back to the past.His real name was Arell, the son of Captain B and Mrs. B.He was renamed Potenciano "Teng/Enteng" Magtanggol by the elderly couple who found him.Flight - the power to fly.Strength - an extraordinary strength.ESP - extra-sensory perception.Captain Barbell's suit was designed by Filipino artist Reno Maniquis and was constructed in Hollywood by Miles Teves. He was commissioned by Zaldy & Gina Ravelo of Mars Ravelo Marvelous Characters, Inc. to design the new look to make it CB’s official costume.Miles Teves, a renowned Filipino-American costume maker in Hollywood. Teves constructed the Batman, Robocop and Superman costume. It was Dominic Zapata who suggested to the producers to have the costume made by Teves.
The updated suit is a far cry from the Superman inspired spandex tight fitting suit in shades of yellow, blue and red. The present suit is inspired by the muscular Batman's costume, minus the mask and in shades of yellow for the suit, gold for CB logo and other embellishments, and red for the cape.The suit has a built-in cooling mechanism, so Richard Gutierrez is very comfortable inside it, to the point where he apparently lounges around the set wearing it, even between takes.The suit reportedly costs $50,000 excluding the charges for repairs in case of damages, making it the most expensive costume ever made for a single character in a Philippine movie or TV series, for that matter.GMA Network was so secretive about how the Captain Barbell costume looked that on the first taping day, Richard Gutierrez was made to put on a robe on top of the suit. It was only when he had to face the camera as Captain Barbell that everyone on the cast and crew had a chance to see the costume for the very first time.Ordinary humans who had somehow direct or indirect contact with barbanium and askobar became mutants with different powers.Cyborgs which are half-human/half-machine powered by askobar. At present, there are four known cyborgs: Commander X, Cyborg 5564, Magnetika, Cyborg 5566, and Ex-O.The General is the mysterious villain of Captain Barbell whose identity is Viel Villian.Every week or so, a new villain is being introduced whose participation could last a week or more, depending on the story arc.Futuristic Philippines/Interior shots of Villian's mansion, laboratory and technopark is being shot in the former soundstage of Encantadia. Observant fans of Encantadia could noticed how some of the original set was recycled for the present series.Town of Marravelos - is the fictional childhood town of Teng. An unknown place is being used as location for the scenes depicting it.Main characters
Richard Gutierrez as Captain Barbell/Arell/Potenciano "Teng" Magtanggol - was catapulted from the 22nd century to the present time. He was found by an elderly couple, who renamed him Teng and adopted him as their grandson. Even from youth, he exhibited remarkable physical prowess but it was not until he found the mystical golden medallion-barbell plate that he obtained the ability to transform into Captain Barbell. This barbell has properties beyond transforming Teng, it also gives him his strength when not in Captain Barbell form. The abilities that the element endows Teng seems to be limited to only enhanced physical athletism along with flight and enhanced perception, making him less versatile than Darna who happens to wield several psychic powers at her arsenal.Richard Gomez as Viel Villian/General - is the wealthy patriarch of the Villian family and head of Villian Corp. He is an obsessive man with a tendency to control and manipulate people, including his own sons. Viel is fascinated by the remarkable abilities of Captain Barbell. His fascination is boosted by the fact that he suffers from an ailment that he believes only Captain Barbells blood can permanently cure. He has hired a scientist named Dexter, who specializes in robotics and genetics to make some experiments for his own benefit. In the future he is the General.Patrick Garcia as Levi Villian - is the eldest son of Viel Villian. A spoiled rich kid, Levi is regarded by his father as a weakling in desperate need of lethal character transformation in order to deserve the Villian legacy. He is in desperate need for his fathers approval. Teng rescued Levi from a car accident, and it is from this incident that they have built an awkward friendship.Camille Prats as Marikit "Kit" Salvacion - is one of Tengs best friends. A bossy, smart-mouthed girl who is frequently pegged as a tomboy (lesbian). Although shed like to deny it, Kit has romantic feelings for Teng, a fact that she has confessed to Bobby. Teng later realizes that he loves Kit more than Leah.Rhian Ramos as Leah Lazaro- is the daughter of the Marravelos town mayor, and also the campus princess. She is often the subject of his fathers verbal abuse who is a belligerent drunkard. She used to date Jared until he was transformed into a monstrous wasp-creature. She is the object of Tengs unrequited affections, and as such, has been saved by Captain Barbell more than once.JC de Vera as Boris - is Captain Barbells brother who first appeared as a villain. He is reunited with Teng and his family after knowing that Viel Villian is just using him in his plans.Ryan Yllana as Bobby - is one of Tengs best friends. A frequent joker who seldom takes anything seriously, and is frequently teased for his weight. The fact that he really likes to eat does little to stave off those remarks. In one episode, he was referred to as Captain Baboy (baboy, meaning pig in English language), in reference to his compulsive eating habits. Bobby is aware of Tengs superheroic alter ego, and is his confidant.Ricky Davao and Jackie Lou Blanco respectively as Cesar and Sandra Magtanggol - are Tengs adoptive parents. Teng's place in the family was a decision made by Cesars father, Lolo Aloy, and as such their feelings toward him are rather conflicted. Sandra refuses to accept Teng, let alone as a replacement child for Clarisse, the daughter she lost many years ago. Cesar is generally sympathetic, but avoids making such a sentiment too obvious to Sandra.Paolo Bediones as Captain B/Prof. Brando - He is the biological father of Arell/Teng. Rebelled against the General after finding that the General is planning for evil.Angel Aquino as Barbara/Snooky Serna as Mrs. B - is the wife of Viel Villian, and stepmother to his sons. She had little memory of her life before she became a part of the Villian family. When she recovers her memories, she realizes that she was Mrs. B and the birth mother of Arell but was separated from him upon re-entry into the 20th century. She was surgically altered by Viel and it is implied that he is also responsible for maintaining her memory gaps. She eventually finds out that Captain Barbell is Teng, who is also Arell, her son shes been looking for.Gloria Sevilla as Lola Carmela "Melay" Magtanggol - is the compassionate and kind grandmother of Teng and the mother of Cesar. In Teng's childhood, She and her husband Lolo Aloy found him and decide to adopt him as their own. She is caring and protective to Teng from Sandra's abuse to him.Sunshine Dizon as Clarisse Magtanggol/Blanca/Ex-O - is the mean-spirited and resentful daughter of Cesar and Sandra. She is the half-sister and a typical bully to Teng, who physically maltreats him for stealing away her Lolo Aloy's attention and was bitter towards him for being adopted, during their childhood. During an incident, she fell off the cliff by one of her classmates while they were harassing Teng. Moments after her disappearance, she was found in a lake by Bobby and Kit, with no memory of her past. The two named her "Blanca" because she has virtually no recall of her life prior to being found. After remembering who she was, Blanca was finally reunited with her family.NOTE: This list is in order of appearance as villain(v) or ally(a), and not as per first screen appearance.
Narciso/Bubog played by Dino Guevarra(v):The first villain in the TV Series. He has the ability to make shards of glass spike out of his body like a porcupine and can also mimic the appearance of others.Jared/Putakti/Cyborg 5564 played by Jeremy Marquez(v): The second villain in the TV series. He has the form of a giant wasp and has the ability to fly and spit poison which causes hallucinations and is also invincible to gunfire. After being defeated by Captain Barbell, he returned into his normal state only to be experimented in a laboratory and turned into Cyborg 5564. Fortunately he was able to escape and is now under the custody of Leah. After being resurrected by Viel, Jared joined his team of supervillains. He retained his abilities as Cyborg 5564 and his main weapon is a laser gun.Dexter played by Mike Gayoso(v)(a): Once a personal scientist and assistant to Viel, he became an ally to Barbara and helps her to reunite her whole family.Tenorio/Tetano played by Gary Estrada(v): He has the power to cause a corrosive reaction through touch which renders bullets useless and can deteriorate people and structures. After being resurrected by Viel, he joined his team of supervillains. He can now use his power in a projectile form so he can corrode people and objects from afar.Ador/Adobe played by Carlos Morales(v): He was previously a miner who attained the hardness and power of rock similar to The Thing in Fantastic Four. After being resurrected by Viel, he joined his team of supervillains. His new power is to summon boulders to hurl at his opponents and he wears armor similar to the Juggernaut in the X Men franchises.Ms. Patti/Ms. Aero/Aerobika played by Rufa Mae Quinto/Marissa Sanchez): Patti is an overweight gym teacher, who is driven to try all sorts of weight-loss remedies (most notably herbal teas) in an attempt to forestall her rapidly descending self-esteem. On an impulse, she uses some Askobar-contaminated herbs from her backyard for a new brew of tea which slims her down into a buxom beauty obsessed with making everyone conform to her newfound standards of beauty.Marvin/Vaporo played by Jay Aquitania(v): the boyfriend of Kit. Marvin got his powers from a contaminated shooting star that fell into the river that he was in which allows him to turn himself into water and vapor. He can also make gusts of wind and tornadoes while in his vapor and water form.Cyborg 5566 played by Jason Hsu(v) - He was sent to hunt down Jared(aka 5564) after the latter escaped from the laboratory. Like the other cyborgs, he is also powered by Askobar.Myra Lazaro played by Pinky Amador(v)Ruben/Black Out played by Wendell Ramos(v)Madame Aurora Salvacion/Lady Amorseko played by Elizabeth Oropesa(v)(a)Coach Dribol and Askoboys played by Bong Alvarez, Antonio Aquitania and Dion Ignacio(v)Magna/Magnetica played by Mylene Dizon(v)Marlon "Mercy"/Mercurio played by John Lapus(v)Kristiana/Admiral K played by January Isaac(v)(a)Commander X played by Ian Veneracion(v)Automaton C(v)Ryan Eigenmann as Abel, the bossy janitor Teng works with. He claims it was Tengs fault that his father was fired from his job, and for that, he always gives Teng a hard time doing his job. Abel also extorts money from Ms. Patti since he knows she has a crush on him.Melissa Avelino as Chari, Leah's best friend. She doesn't quite like how Teng always hangs out with Leah.Dante Rivero as Lolo Carlos "Aloy" Magtanggol, the late grandfather of Teng and father of Cesar.John Regala as Mayor Lorenzo Lazaro, father of Leah.Rez Cortez as Officer Joe Salvacion, father of Kit.Tricia Roman as TV field reporter.Ces Quesada as Agnes, aunt of Leah.Pinky de Leon as Doña Victoria, mother of Sandra.Tin Arnaldo as Tracy, Victoria's spoiled daughter and Sandra's sister.Captain Barbell begins in the year 2106, a futuristic time when Philippines is the center of world's research in human cloning, genetics and robotics.
A young boy named Arell, together with his mother Mrs. B, are forced by his father Captain B to ride the time machine to escape from the soldiers of the General.
The General is the mysterious, rich and powerful owner of Live Corporation, which is the pioneer in the well-advanced human cloning and mutation that created an army of superhuman beings for his evil schemes, which Captain B opposes. Only Captain B can fight the General because of his extraordinary strength using barbanium.
Unknown to them, the General sends Commander X, the powerful cyborg, to destroy the barbanium with askobar.
The time machine's destination is 1992. However, upon crash landing, Arell and his mother are separated. Arell is found in a burning wreck by a loving and elderly couple, Lolo Aloy and Lola Melay.
Lolo Aloy and Lola Melay gives him a new name—Potenciano a.k.a. Teng. The couple became his grandparents, and whose children Sandra and Cesar becomes his foster parents. Teng grows up frail, poor and constantly longing for the love and care of his parents who ignore him. Worse, Teng is maltreated by Clarisse, the daughter of Sandra and Cesar.
Teng would grow up with an ugly pockmark on one side of his otherwise very handsome face—and painfully aware that he is merely an adopted child with a completely unknown background. Because of these incidents, Teng finds comfort in the company of his friends Kit, Bobby and Lola Melay.
The paths of Teng and his childhood friend Leah cross once again. This time, Teng realizes that he is in love with this young lady who comes from a rich family. But things turn out difficult for Teng to confess his love for Leah because the young lady has an arrogant boyfriend.
He also meets and becomes friends with Levi, the son of the richest man in the town named Viel, who is against their friendship. Unknown to Teng, it is Viel who is responsible for the death of Lolo Aloy.
One night, the group of Jared, Leah’s boyfriend, gangs up on Teng and leaves him beaten in a junkyard. Teng then discovers the powerful barbell. This barbell is the key to Teng’s destiny in becoming the most powerful Pinoy superhero known as Captain Barbell!
The powerful General (Viel Villian) from the future having exhausted most of his forces and getting impatient to kill Captain Barbell travelled back in time along with Commander X and some cyborg forces to kill Teng before he finds the Barbanium plate. By doing so, Levi will not be killed by Captain Barbell and he finally defeat his arch nemesis once and for all. He dropped by the Villian Mansion, made his past self catatonic, and reveals his plans to Levi.
Meanwhile, the death of Captain B (Paolo Bediones) at the hands of Commander X lead Mrs. B (Angel Aquino) and Boris (JC De Vera) to use their time machine to go back to the future where Captain B is still alive. They find him and they travelled back in time to meet the still innocent Teng. The Barbell family then recounts to Teng the adventures of Captain Barbell and the women in his life.
Now, Teng must find a way to acquire the barbell plate as soon as possible and to stop the General. With enough knowledge of the future, he could also change his destiny and save the death of his Lolo Aloy. Indeed, he successfully saved his Lolo Aloy but his Lola Melay died as a trade off from a new unseen event at the hands of Commander X.
Like the Barbell family, the General recounts the future to Levi to get him to trust him and make him Super Levi this time early. General then kidnapped Kit and Leah to make Captain Barbell choose who he will save between the two. He saved both of them but again at the cost of Boris' life crushed by the hands of the giant robot Automaton C piloted by Super Levi. Mrs. B was also kidnapped to make Teng surrender his Barbanium plate and be killed by Super Levi. The shattering revelation by Mrs. B that Teng is General's son from the future averted Teng's death but lead to the General's death.
Teng by this time realized and confessed his love for Kit but after that confession, Super Levi again piloted the Automaton C and took Kit. She died to get Teng his Barbanium plate. A furious Captain Barbell defeated Super Levi and Automaton C. All the deaths in the past forced Teng to return to the future with his family to take his time off just as the catatonic past Viel Villian awakens.
3 Years Later...
An Automaton C appeared out of nowhere and captured Leah. As Leah screams helplessly, Captain Barbell appears and saved her. Then he left telling her that he still needs to save Metro Manila with a big smile in his face.
See List of Captain Barbell episodesThere is no definitive soundtrack, but the following songs have been played for the series.
Nandito Lang Ako (I'm Just Here) - Captain Barbell's official theme, performed by Shamrock.Sana - Captain Barbell's love theme, performed by Shamrock.Captain Barbell has made several excursions onto the big screen. Here is a chronological list of the previous film incarnations of Captain Barbell:
Captain Barbell (1964)Premiered: May 9, 1964Produced by: D'Lanor ProductionsDirected by: Herminio 'Butch' BautistaStarring: Bob Soler as Captain Barbell, Dolphy as TentengCaptain Barbell Kontra Captain Bakal (1965)Premiered: June 23, 1965Produced by: Cirio H SantiagoDirected by: Ruben RustiaStarring: Wilie Sotelo as Captain Barbell, Nancy Roman as Joni, Carlos Padilla Jr. as DarioCaptain Barbell Boom! (1973)Premiered: December, 1973Produced by: RVQ ProductionsDirected by: Jose (Pepe) WenceslaoStarring: Dolphy as Tingting/Captain Barbell, Lotis Key, Panchito, Babalu, Maricel SorianoCaptain Barbel (1986)Premiered:Produced by: Viva FilmsDirected by: Leroy SalvadorStarring: Edu Manzano as Captain Barbel, Herbert Bautista as Tengteng, Lea Salonga as Rosemarie, Sharon Cuneta as Darna, Beth Bautista as Gagamba, Tonton Guterrez as BampiraCaptain Barbell (2003)Premiered: December 25, 2003Produced by: Viva FilmsStarring: Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. as Captain Barbell, Ogie Alcasid as Enteng, Regine Velasquez as Cielo/Darna, Albert Martinez as Lagablab, Rufa Mae Quinto as Freezy, Jeffrey Quizon as Dagampatay, Bearwin Meily as Lobo
