Encantadia

Development

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. 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. Originally, the series was intended as GMA Films' entry to the 2004 Metro Manila Film Festival but they later decided to make Encantadia a daily fantasy soap opera due to its huge production and budget. Encantadia was Doctolero's first head writing project with the network in 2005, and also served as her training for writing a fantasy story for the first time. According to her, it was inspired by the story of Maria Makiling, a diwata (fairy) in Philippine folklore, in four different persona. It was also inspired by different stories around the world combined into one. The first three installment were consecutively shown from 2005 to 2006. In 2010, a second saga or fourth installment was scheduled to be produced by GMA Network, but it was not push through until Atty Gozon, CEO of GMA Network pushed it back for 2012, but was scrapped. In 2015,the director, producer and the writer were given a go signal by the network to make the new Encantadia. In January 2016, it was announced that the fourth installment will be a reboot (often called as requel or retelling-sequel) of the old series.

Setting

According to Mark Reyes, the sets of Encantadia in 2005 are located in various places in the Philippines. The Kingdom of Adamya is located at Calatagan, Batangas. The cave set of Hathorian Kingdom 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 City served as an indoor set with an improvised pond. The said warehouse was also a setting change for Lireo, Sapiro, Hera Andal, Hera Sensa and others. The Kingdom of Sapiro set is located inside the historic walled city of Intramuros (Old Manila) in the heart of Manila. In its second and third installment, the series used the same locations.

In 2016, a 3000 square meter warehouse in Makati City was converted to a set for the Lireo Kingdom and its forest. The fallen Sapiro Kingdom and the Island of Cassiopeia were shot in Fortune Island in Batangas. Another warehouse set was converted as the Kingdom of Hathoria, while the mortal world were shot in various locations around Manila.The forest of Encantadia were shot in Tanay, Rizal, Pundaquit in Zambales as well as Batlag Falls and Daranak Falls.

Musical scoring

The main theme of the series is its own soundtrack titled "Tadhana"(destiny) described as a chant/hymn, composed and sung by Filipino folk singer Bayang Barrios. According to Barrios, when she arrived in the recording studio, the hymn structure was already done by Allan Feliciano. The chant's theme is inspired by a drought and deforestation. One of the factors that contributed to the success of the 2005 series is its musical scoring, it was highly commended in the 2005 Asian Television Awards for "Best Original Music Score".In the sequel, Etheria, aside from "Tadhana", Feliciano also arranged a soundtrack titled as "Hade!!" (to attack) which refer as the Etherian war song; sung also by Barrios. Unlike "Tadhana", it is a lyrical song formed in Enchanta. Based on the lyrics, the song is about the creation of Encantadia, the five kingdoms including Etheria, and warfare. In the end, the composer appears to question the unending violence in the land including the lack of love and peace.Sub-tracks were also included in the series such as "Asshenti", an Etherian love song sung by Barrios and the Lirean Hymn, "Ivo"(life) arranged by Ariel Hugo, which was sung by Karylle. In the 2016 series, it uses the main soundtrack "Tadhana", which was modernized and beat has been altered to a rock-twist to fit the new generation.Moreover, "Ivo" was also used as recorded by Gabbi Garcia.

"Ang Mahiwagang Puso" (Enchanted Heart) written by Tats Faustino, sung by Karylle and Jerome John Hughes was used as a soundtrack to the original version of the series.Karylle also recorded "Hiling" (Wish) but was rarely used in the series. "Pangarap ni Lira" (Lira's wish), composed by Suzette Doctolero, arranged by Eric Torralba and sung by Jennylyn Mercado was also part of the soundtrack.Other soundtracks include "Isang Bagong Mundo" (A whole new world) performed by Jennylyn Mercado, arranged by Eric Torralba and written by Suzette Doctolero; "Sa Pakpak ng Paru-paro" (Fairy's Wings) composed by Mark A. Reyes and arranged by Eric Torralba.

"Maghihintay Ako" (I'll Be Waiting), sung by Gabbi Garcia and Christian Bautista and "Sa Pangarap Lang" (Through a Dream) sung by Mikee Quintos are being used in the 2016 series. Mikee Quintos also recorded "Ang Awit ni Lira" (Lira's Hymn) for the requel.

Overview

Encantadia is an enchanted place in a different realm. All of the characters existing in this world are called Encantados. It was discovered and created thousand years ago by three supernatural beings, Arde, Emre and Ether who were referred to as bathala(Gods on the present times. The world they created was settled upon by low-class working individuals called "barbaro". Because of this, the three Bathala created four classes of individuals: the diwata's (fairies of Lireo Kingdom; mystical creatures of the Adamya Kingdom; the healers called sapiryans of the Sapiro Kingdom and the blacksmiths of the Hathoria Kingdom. The four kingdoms promised allegiance and worship to Emre, which caused Arde and Ether's jealousy and hatred, resulting to a plan to assassinate him. Emre discovered this plan and cursed both of them: Arde to become a dragon who was sent to guard valaak(hell) and Ether to turn into snake to forever remind her of being a traitor. With this, the encantados are divided between the gods resulting to factions. Some encantados followed Ether and established the fifth Kingdom of Encantadia called, Etheria, which had later fallen due to the greed of their Queen Avria to conquer the whole Encantadia causing the rest to unite against their Kingdom.

The Kingdoms

Territories

The Gems

The world of Encantadia is being powered and guarded by a powerful gem referred as Inang Brilyante (mother gem) protected by Cassiopeia, the first Queen of Lireo. The gem has powerful characteristics and abilities, and is considered as the most powerful weapon of Encantadia. Witn this, it is being sought by greedy encantados driving Cassiopiea to break it into four elemental gems that hold balance to the realm: fire, air, water and earth. She later handed them to the four kingdoms of Encantadia. King Arvak of Hathoria wanted to acquire all gems, starting a rebellion leading to the Great Encantadian War wherein he was killed. Prince Raquim of Sapiro was able to recover the fire and water gem from King Arvak, and decided to bring the two gems and the Sapiro's earth gem to Lireo for safekeeping. Since then, the four powerful gems are guarded by the Queen of Lireo who then handed them to her four offsprings: Pirena, the keeper of the fire gem; Amihan for the air gem, and Alena and Danaya for the water and earth gem respectively. On the 2016 series, a fifth gem was introduced as a result of Cassiopeia's intense breakage of the mother gem, which propelled to the sea shore wherein a lost mortal became the keeper.

Enchanta

Encantadia uses a fictional language called Enchanta. It was created and conceptualized by Suzette Doctolero to make the viewers feel that the world of Encantados be somehow realistic and genuine. Doctolero created its vocabulary from many Indo-European languages with some influences of Philippine languages especially Tagalog. It can be traced from words like "corre", to love (from the root "cor" meaning heart) and "avoya", to travel (voyage). The language is also notable of being spoken as it sounds like its from some kind of European country because of the tone and the phonotactics. Most characters from the Encantadia saga know how to speak Enchanta, but it was Cassiopeia that had spoken the language most in the whole series, from the fact that she is the first diwata (fairy) of Lireo and ancestor of all the royal-blooded diwatas.

Wars in Encantadia

In its known history, the world of Encantadia has seen three major wars that has broken the peace of the realm.

Encantadia (2005)

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 everything changed when Pirena, the oldest of the four Sang'gre's consumed by her greed and jealousy, plotted the downfall of her own sister Amihan who succeeded their mother as Queen. This resulted into the War of the four Gems, or the war between the Hathoria Kingdom and the rest. With this situation, Lira, the lost daughter of Amihan returned to Encantadia and tried to fulfill her mission of mending the broken relationships of the strong-willed gemstone keepers.

Etheria (2005–06)

Back when Encantadia was a young world, there was a great empire called Etheria, ruled by Reyna Avria, who wanted to control the neighboring kingdoms of Lireo, Sapiro, Adamya and Hathoria. However, the four kingdoms banded together and attempted to defeat the forces of Etheria in the Great Encantadian War. After Etheria had fallen, Avria swore that Etheria would return to power once the last Sang'gre is born. The prophecy was then fulfilled due to the birth of Cassandra. Etheria rose again from the ashes and in order to save the present, the four Sang'gres of Lireo travelled back to the past in ancient Encantadia, find the lost Sang'gre, and destroy the Ginintuang Orasan (Etheria's powerful weapon) to stop Avria's centuries-old plan to dominate the realm.

Encantadia: Pag-ibig Hanggang Wakas (2006)

This chapter depicts the continuing story of the four Sang'gres, Pirena, Amihan, Alena (now Queen of Sapiro) and Danaya (now Queen of Lireo) along with King Ybrahim of Sapiro, in the enchanted world of Encantadia, as they face the repercussions of their previous journey through Encantadia's history. The Four Herans of the Etherian Kingdom are plotting revenge against the Sang'gre's who, for the 2nd time took down their beloved Kingdom.

Encantadia (2016)

After the Great Encantadian War that defeated Etheria, the three kingdoms were able to live in peace for a thousand years, but the day came when the Hathors (inhabitants of Hathoria), led by King Arvak, gave in to their greed and started the Lirean war to claim the other gems, that they may gain power and rule over the whole continent. Later, King Arvak was killed by a Sapirian warrior named Asval but before he died, prince Raquim of Sapiro claimed the Gemstones of Water, Earth and Fire from him and handed them to the Queen of Lireo for safekeeping. The four gems have not been separated since. Two Thousand years have passed and the story unfolds in Lireo, where Queen Mine-a chose her successor from her daughters Pirena, Amihan, Alena and Danaya because they feel imminent danger lurking, and as the gods called her to Devas (the world of the dead), she has to leave the kingdom of Lireo in good and capable hands. She put her daughters to the test to see their capabilities and know who is best fit to be the next queen. Mine-a chose and crowned Amihan, which to Pirena's dismay, led to her rebellion and the onset of the so-called War of the four Gems. The chain of events that transpired made way for the separation of the gemstones. Pirena, after having stolen the gemstone of fire, sided with the Hathors and gave them back the power they've lost.Pirena then fools her sisters and ruled over Lireo, she bore a daughter named Mira while Amihan bore Lira who then took refuge in the mortal world. There were numerous times Ether helped Hathoria in defeating Lireo, but failed to succeed at. The last fight of Hathoria and Lireo resulted to the death of Queen Amihan, and Pirena's reunion with her other sisters. Danaya succeeded Amihan to the throne of Lireo, Ybrahim took oath as King of Sapiro while Pirena rebuilt Hathoria and became queen. The five gems were merged into one, but new threat had come to their land.

Mulawin: The Movie (2005)

Pirena uses the "gintong binhi"(golden seed) to bring Ravenum back to life. Ravenum summons the dragon Buwarka and raises an army of Ravenas to wreak havoc on Avila territory. With the power of Mulawin’s "Tree of Life" dwindling down and the Mulawin race in peril, the Diwatas of Encantadia and the Tres Aves (a legendary trio of heroes with special abilities) rushed to aid the Mulawin. The Mulawins and the Lireo soldiers led by Ybarro/Ybrahim faces the Ravenas until they defeated them. They return to Avila after a victory and a deadly battle. Aguiluz is seen lying in a royal bed in Lireo with Queen Amihan putting the "gintong binhi" to his mouth that can get his life back.

Broadcast

Encantadia series are broadcast by GMA Network in the Philippines and through its international subsidiaries like GMA Pinoy TV in other countries. The 2005 series' broadcasts in Malaysia began in 2012 through Astro Bella and was subbed in English language. In 2014, the first two series were made available in ASEAN countries such as Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia through Fox Filipino, a subsidiary of Fox Broadcasting Company. All of the first three series including the spin-off film are made available as video on demand on iflix and HOOQ in 2015. The 2016 series is also made available exclusively on iFlix as 1080p video on demand wherein new episodes are uploaded a day after its airing in GMA Network.According to iFlix manager Sherwin Dela Cruz, "we are hugely proud to support the Philippines’ exceptionally talented local entertainment industry. Encantadia has an incredible legacy, which we are honored to be a part of..." The said series can be streamed online through iFLix in the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka.

Cast and characters

Here are the list of recurring characters in the Encantadia franchise from 2005 to present, limited to major and minor roles as described. This table does not include cameos.

Video games

A free mobile application game available in IOS and Android entitled Encantadia Blast was released in 2016. It was presented by GMA Network's subsidiaries, GMA New Media and Digify as part of the Encantadia franchise, the first mobile game in the Philippines inspired by a series. As of September 2016, the mobile app has been downloaded 100,000 times in Android phones with generally positive reviews.It features 80 levels, divided in four kingdoms with exclusive trivias flashing every after game. It is inspired by Candy Crush Saga with the use of the series' powerful gems.

Earlier in 2006, a non-free mobile game called Encantadia was released exclusively for Symbian/Java-capable devices, published by GetJar.

Home media

On March 4, 2008, GMA records released the episodes of the 2005 series of Encantadia on DVD with 160 episodes divided into 12 volumes of DVDs. Jason John Lim, former head of GMA records in 2005 stated in an interview that the DVD was released due to public demands specially for viewers overseas.

Merchandise

On December 24, 2016, series of photos of different Encantadia collectible items has been uploaded on Instagram by the director and casts including jackets, mugs, stickers, notebooks and caps during their Christmas party held at Riverside Studions, Manila. On December 25, it was announced that official merchandise for the series will be available in January 2017.

In popular culture

An Encantadia parody has also been featured in a comedy show, Bubble Gang under GMA Network in 2005 entitled as "Pinkantadia". The parody was inspired by the 2005 series including the sequel, Etheria. The said spoof featured comedy actors, Michael V., Wendell Ramos, Antonio Aquitania and Ara Mina.