Juan dela Cruz (TV series)

Production

The show was originally a film concept intended to be directed by Richard Somes for the 2012 Metro Manila Film Festival. It was to be topbilled by Coco Martin, Jake Cuenca, Albert Martinez and Maja Salvador. In August 2012, Cinemedia Films Production Incorporated and ABS-CBN Unit Head, Deo Endrinal confirmed that it would be serialised into a television drama to be directed by Malu Sevilla. Earlier reports claimed that Angel Locsin would be Martin's leading lady, after her two-year hiatus in television, but was later replaced by Erich Gonzales.

It is under the production of Dreamscape Entertainment TV managed by Roldeo T. Endrinal and Julie Anne R. Benitez whose projects include the top-rating dramas Ina, Kapatid, Anak and Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw. The drama series is broadcast in full high definition and is dubbed to be the "most expensive and biggest drama" to date. A TV special titled "Juan dela Cruz: Ang Simula (The Beginning)" was aired on February 1, 2013 featuring exclusive behind-the-scenes footage and cast interviews of the highly anticipated drama, hosted by Kim Atienza.

Synopsis

The series tells about Juan dela Cruz, an orphan boy who was brought up in a church by a Roman Catholic parish priest named Father Cito, who guided him towards goodness and faith upon Jesus. His devotion to Christ led Juan to refer to Jesus as "bossing" (Filipino for "boss", due to Jesus being considered as the "shepherd", or "boss", and the "flock" the followers of Jesus). One day, Father Cito was killed by a thief, and Juan ends up at Lola Belen's house in Quiapo, Manila. Unknown to him, he is half-aswang, the son of Samuel Alejandro, the Haring Aswang (King Aswang) and also the prophesied Anak ng Dilim (Child of Darkness). He is fated to rule over the Aswangs and take over the human race. However, Amelia, Juan's mother, is a human and a Tagabantay (Guardian), coming from an ancient lineage of defenders using the Bakal na Krus (Iron Cross) to protect the humans from the Aswangs.

By the time he grows up as an adult, Juan later joins the Kapatiran (Brotherhood), a group composed of people who seek to destroy the Aswangs. The group help train Juan into becoming the next Tagabantay. Later, the Engkantos and Diwatas aid Juan in his duties which seems to have a bigger and important role on the continuing conflict between the aswangs and the humans.

Main cast

Other music

Jesse Lasaten and Von Guzman composed the show's background music using choir, duduk, bullroarer, Yamaha GX-1, and other instruments such as the balalaika for the Kapatiran theme in the drama with a full orchestra. The music was made by the Hollywood Studio Symphony.

Jesse Lasaten, after doing work on the epic historical war film El Presidente, composed the background music of Juan Dela Cruz. He used some instruments such as the bullroarer, didgeridoo, Moog synthesizer, and ocarina to make the show's score.

Ratings

After 3 weeks of airing, Juan dela Cruz quickly rose to becoming one of the most successful action fantasy-drama of all time registering 42.6% viewership ratings nationwide according to the February 21 data released by Kantar Media.

My Little Juan

After the primetime success of Juan dela Cruz, the show was later given a follow-up series called My Little Juan, which tells more about Juan's childhood before he was known as the new Tagabantay. The series premiered on May 20, 2013 and ended on September 13, 2013.