I recently exchanged emails with Ms. Suzette Doctolero, the Head Writer of the most successful fantaserye in local television, Encantadia. Here’s a little peek into that enviable creative brain of hers…
1) Who or what inspired you to write Encantadia?
My grandmother used to tell me bedtime stories nung bata pa ako. Lahat ay imbento. I guess she’s the reason why naging writer ako. She died a couple of years ago na pero natatandaan ko pa nga mga kwento niya. Sabi ko, i want to write one good fantasy story na di malilimutan ng mga bata tulad ng ginawa niya sa akin noon. Para sa kanya ang Encantadia.
(Though ang peg nito na pinagawa sa akin ng Gma 7 ay mula sa Maria Makiling pero kung titignan mo ang Enca – ang layo niya sa mitong iyon.
Iniba ko talaga para makarelate ang mga kids na nahuhumaling sa mga rpg games).
2) Did you have any person(s) who inspired you for the characters of the four sang’gree sisters?
Danaya – me. Ok, ok, self centered ba? hahaha.
Alena – tribute sa greek mythology. Medyo tragic ang character ni Alena sa Enca similar sa mga greek mythology characters like Medea.
Amihan – patterned sa life cycle ng “tao”. Weakling, medyo madaming maling desisyung nagawa sa simula pero habang dumadami ang experiences ay nagkakaroon ng wisdom.
Pirena – gusto kong mag create ng “evil character” pero kahit ganun ay mahal at nauunawaan pa rin siya ng audience. Siya yun.
3) Do you write/think of your characters’ backgrounds/back stories?
Of course. Basic yun sa pagdedevelop sa isang character. Dapat alam mo ang strong points niya – alam mo ang flaws, ang quirks. Pati birthday at fave color – kahit di mo ipakita sa tv – dapat alam mo.
4) In your opinion, why did Encantadia click with the viewers?
Nandito kasi sa Encantadia ang lahat ng basic formula ng soap pero binale o binago ( kaya may mga twist na nawitness nyo sa Enca). Kaya feeling ng audience – ay kakaiba siya!
Mayroon din itong love story – hindi lang between two people (ybrahim and alena, lira and anthony) kungdi lumawak pa (love sa bayan / kingdom, love sa mga kapatid, love sa ina, love sa kalahi etc).
May humor – ang laking tulong ng Lira character dito. Nagiging katatawanan ang adventure niya sa Encantadia land.
The costumes, the sets – gandang eye candy. Masarap sa mata.
5) Are you shocked with the overwhelming reception of the audience?
To tell you the truth – nung una akong nakabasa ng mga poems at short stories na ginawa ng mga fans sa kanilang fan fiction thread ay umiyak ako.
No kidding. Naiyak talaga ako. Feeling ko, ang galing kong writer para ma-inspired ang iba na magsulat. Hahaha.
Parang gamot din ito na uppers (haha hindi ako adik!). Talagang kahit 5am na – write pa rin kasi alam naming maraming nanonood. Mas pinagbuti rin namin ang trabaho though madalas noon (hanggang ngayon) ay tensed ako — may pressure kasing kasama iyon (e.g – what if hindi magustuhan ng fans ang story? itong character na ipapasok? etc. Kaya talagang pinag-iisipan namin ang aming mga galaw)
6) Are you happy with the way Encantadia was executed?
Yes. I have a good and efficient production staff headed by Regine Alba. Passionate din ang mga director nito na sina Mark Reyes at Gil Tejada – love nila ang ginagawa nila. Nag-e-effort talaga. Though me limit sa budget at effects pero hindi iyon naging hadlang para sa lahat. Winning team nga para sa akin ito.
7) Did you really have a prequel in mind when you wrote Encantadia?
Yes. Pero sa prequel sa isip ko- wala talagang time travel. Kaya lang i understand na kapag walang time travel – e di wala ang apat na Sang’gre…medyo risk iyon na ayaw naming sugalan since alam namin na mahal ng lahat ang apat na magkakapatid.
Which group do you like better, the kick-ass herans or the kind-hearted sang’gres?
Syempre ang aking mga Sang’gre. Sila ang simula pa lang — hindi ko pa nabubuo ang script ng week 1 ng Enca – alam kong mamahalin na sila ng tao kasi ginagawa ko pa lang ang character nila ay mahal ko na sila.
9) Who is your favorite sang’gre or heran?
I’m sorry but I cannot answer that at ayokong maakusahan ng favoritism hahaha.
10) Any hints or spoilers which you can safely share with us?
Secret.
11) After Etheria, what next?
After Etheria — i still have so many stories to tell pa. I hope GMA will give me another project pa. Right now, wala pa akong idea. But I am working on the Encantadia novel now — hopefully it get published by April.
Encantadiks and Etheria fans, this is only the first installment. If you want to ask more questions about Encantadia and Etheria, please comment here. 
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January 19th, 2006 at 5:50 pm
WOW!!! Thanks chikadora_blog for the interview.
I loved it.
January 20th, 2006 at 5:34 pm
Loved this interview …
Loved everything … feeling ko lang si Pirena ang pinakalove niyang character … hehe .. .wild guess lang …
January 20th, 2006 at 11:42 pm
I just wanted to ask about the novel, is it in Filipino or in english? ung buong enca po ba to? or may mga deleted scenes na? 1 book po ba to? or may mga sequels pa? thanks… i got excited when i read about it… i just love reading books… and i got so excited to know that enca will be having its novel… btw what about the enca dvd?
January 27th, 2006 at 8:17 pm
the novel – mag experiment ako. basically plot ito nung nakita nyo sa tv — pero mas detalyado. pati yung mga plot na di ko isinama sa tv ay isasama ko sa novel. buo ito. isasama ko ang etheria minus the time travel. pero hindi pa ako nakakapagsimulang magsulat hahaha. pero april na ang target nito. hopefully, by feb matapos na.
February 2nd, 2006 at 8:39 am
I’m not worthy!!!
Chikadora you’re THE BEST!!!
May I use your information on these series (Encantadia, Sugo, Mga Anghel na Walang Langit and Panday) for my thesis?
You may reach me on my email address. Don’t worry, I intend to give credits in full. Thanks so much!
February 2nd, 2006 at 11:28 pm
Sure, no problem.
March 1st, 2006 at 3:53 am
nakakaexcite naman tlaga yung novel ms. suzi sana nga matapos na by february para marelease na sa april… i can’t wait!!!!
September 15th, 2006 at 11:36 pm
can you send me the song of jennylyn mercado called pangarap ni lira? please i liked that.
October 11th, 2006 at 10:56 pm
love kita diana
January 27th, 2007 at 2:32 am
wow parang ang sarap magsulat ng script
March 11th, 2007 at 10:08 am
hi! im making a documentary on how teleseryes and fantaseryes are created. i am intrigued on how you came up with the whole concept, ang galeng eh! Can you discuss in detail how you were able to come up with the characters? Did you make Alena because you like Greek mythology? How can you relate to Danaya? Can you tell us more about how you made the script? What were the changes made during the execution of the movie?
May 18th, 2007 at 4:17 am
I really love it!!!
go sanggre’s
August 15th, 2007 at 6:15 am
Interesting…
August 19th, 2007 at 2:51 am
pwede bang malaman kung pano ma-contact si Ms. Suzette Doctolero? i badly need it for my research paper. by the way, I’m Janry Emil Puyo, BA Communication student from UP Baguio/.. thanks a lot!
August 24th, 2007 at 10:20 pm
Nice!
September 13th, 2007 at 5:36 pm
Sorry
October 20th, 2007 at 10:42 pm
Sana may novel dn ang encantadia series 2lad ng lord of the rings. I wanna get a copy!! or..ung dvd series nlng..haha
November 8th, 2007 at 6:14 pm
Nice…
June 9th, 2009 at 4:43 am
I sent you an email regarding this.
Btw, nice! 