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).

(more…)

The Encantadia Poll is now closed. I would like to thank the overwhelming support from the Encantadiks!!!

The final results
The favorite Sang’gre is…. LIRA (Jennylyn Mercado) with 91 votes
followed by my personal favorite Danaya (Diana Zubiri) with 27 votes
then Mira (Yasmien Kurdi) with 10 votes
antagonist Pirena (Sunshine Dizon) got 8 votes
while the queen Amihan (Iza Calzado) got two votes
and the angsty Alena (Karylle) got only 1 vote.

For suggestions for another Encantadia poll, comment on this post.

Here is the main cast of Encantadia:

Dawn Zulueta as Ynang Reyna Minea – dead queen of Encantadia, mother of Pirena, Amihan, Alena and Danaya

Iza Calzado as Amihan – true queen of Lireo; daughter of Inang Reyna and Raquim; protector of the air gem

Sunshine Dizon as Pirena – the ruthless daughter of Inang Reyna; she is the protector of the fire gem; she wants to be the Queen of Encantadia so she forged an alliance with the Hathors and overthrew Amihan; her father is implied to be Hagorn

Karylle Tatlonghari as Alena – daughter of Inang Reyna, she doesn’t want to be queen because she longs for a life with here beloved Ybarro

Diana Zubiri as Danaya – fiercest daughter of Inang Reyna; she is the youngest, she is the sppointed protector of the earth gem; she is Lira’s trainor

Dindong Dantes as Ybarro/Ybrahim- the true king of Sapiro; Alena’s love interest; he was appointed by Bathala to have the child with Amihan; a skilled warrior

Jennylyn Mercado as Milagros/Lira – Ybarro and Amihan’s daughter and heir to the Lireo throne; she was kidnapped by Pirena; she grew up in the world of human beings; she is now in Encantadia and is being trained by Danaya

Mark Herras as Anthony – Milagros’ love interest; human

Yasmien Kurdi as Mira – Pirena’s daughter; she was put by Pirena as Lira’s replacement to succeed the throne of Amihan; she is now in the human world as a maid in Anthony’s house; she disowned Pirena upon learning of Pirena’s identity as her true mother

More soon!

Lira (Jennylyn Mercado) and Danaya (Diana Zubiri) head to Devas and steal a Hathorian air vessel. Danaya and Lira exchange some witty banter.

Lira asks Danaya to teach her to be a great warrior like her. Danaya agrees with that condition that Lira does not make angal. HEH!!! The training starts immediately as Danaya commands Lira to stay at an elevated part of the vessel near the dulo. Nalula si Lira.

Apek and Wantuk tries to follow the mag-Ashte so they can fulfill their promise to Ybarro that they will guard over Lira.

Khalil pursues them too with a band of Hathors. The episode ends with Khalil and the Hathors beginning to attack Lira and Danaya.

Tonight: Alena is resurrected!!!

I was able to watch a snippet of Encantadia tonight. Although I still find Jennylyn‘s (as with the other actors on the show) acting irritating and half-baked, I found one part amusing.

{Paraphrasing}

Lira: Sa tingin ko may gusto sayo si Ashte Danaya. Sabihan mo kaya siya nung mga sinasabi ng mga tao kapag mahal nila isang tao. Sabihin mo, “I love you.”

Aquil: I love you? Ano yun?

Lira: Ibig-sabihin, mahal kita.

Aquil: Di ko pwede gawin yun.

Lira: Hmph! Ngayon lang ako nakakita ng diwatang torpe.

Lira talks to Danaya and convices her that Aquil has done something wrong and that she should be angry at him.
Lira: Dapat gawin mo sa kanya yung mga ginagawa ng mga babaeng tao pag galit sila sa isang lalake. Sabihan mo siya ng “I love you.”

Danaya: I love you?

Lira: Oo. Subukan mo.

Danaya: {hesitantly} I love you.

Lira: Dapat mas malakas.

Danaya: I LOVE YOU! I LOVE YOU!

Lira: Ganun! Sandali lang, tawagin ko si Aquil.

Lira then calls Aquil.
Lira: May sasabihin sayo si Ashte Danaya.

Danaya: {to Aquil} I LOVE YOU! I LOVE YOU! I LOVE YOU! {then leaves}

Lira then smiles mischievously at Aquil then leaves him alone. Aquil is suddenly smiling and looks hopeful.

HAHA!!! Lira = bad!!!