In revealing costumes, Rhian Ramos, Bianca Umali, Glaiza de Castro, Sanya Lopez, Gabbi Garcia, Angel Guardian, Faith da Silva, Kelvin Miranda and other Sparkle stars of GMA 7 strutted proudly on stage and on an imaginary ramp late afternoon of 9 June to launch their latest epic fantasy series, Sang’gre, an extension of its Encantadia Chronicles.

The launch was held at Studio 8 of GMA complex al ong EDSA, Quezon City. Wearing costumes of tropical warriors in some ancient times supposedly in the Philippines, each character had either a sword or a long, hard stick with supernatural powers, just like the characters that wield them. 

Sang’gre is the third installment in the epic series first launched in 2005 whose lead cast included Marian Rivera, Iza Calzado, Kyla Tatlong Hari, Sunshine Dizon, Diana Zubiri, Dingdong Dantes and Alden Richards.

Libiran designs

Some of the female stars at the recent launching wore “royal gowns” since they portray royal characters (such as Ramos as “a very evil woman,” as Ramos decribed). The gowns were designed by the renowned Francis Libiran, and as a tradition in the grandiose series, the female royal characters wear gowns at the royal palace or when not in a battle with some invading folks of other enclaves. The women lounging in gowns at the royal palace are fearless warriors at battle times even as they also live contemporary lives as common mortals in some towns in the country.  

All the warrior outfits in the series since 2005 are creations of the show’s Design Team. The costumes surely cost a lot since their textiles glisten, and each garb is intricately designed.

If you’re wondering why Kelvin Miranda is the only male top-biller in the epic fantasy, it’s all because the Encantadia series was really conceived to be an action-fantasy delectation by GMA 7’s female stars.

Head writer Suzette Doctolero (Maria Clara at Ibarra) once revealed that she and a bunch of writers were billeted in cool and scenic Tagaytay and instructed to collaborate for a fantaserye inspired by the legendary Maria Makiling, a forest fairy who battles against poachers.

One or two big-name male actors are included in the main cast of each installment. Aside from Dantes and Richards, Alfred Vargas had been in a main cast, too, before he decided to go fulltime in QC politics. He was reelected councilor in May.

Warriors and scribes

Sang’gre is meant to be an extraordinary GMA 7 series as it had to be completely “in the can” (finished product, ready for showing) before its announced airing, which is slated to begin on 16 June. It has a huge credited cast of more than 40 and dozens of warrior characters who may not be credited. It took two years to tape the mega show. 

At the media launch held at Studio 8 of GMA 7, there were about 20 costumed Sparkle stars, along with a few in semi-formal outfits, such as Boboy Garovillo and young actor Vince Maristela. Manilyn Reynes is also in the cast and wore a simple but elegant gown. Those not required to be in royal gown or warrior costume portray kind humans in the narrative.

Also in enticing warrior costumes were Luis Hontiveros, Shuvee Etrata, the twins Gabby Gueco and Kiel Gueco, and the very muscular Luis Hontiveros who was as much a hit with the journos and the vloggers as Miranda was.

Sang’gre was Ricky Davao’s last acting project and some of his scenes were included in the trailer. Launch host Anjo Pertierra (an Unang Hirit co-host) called for a few minutes of silence to honor Davao who passed on in May due to cancer.

Other cast members include Sherilyn Reyes-Tan and Bianca Manalo.

Ripples in Tinseltown

Kylie Padilla is actually in the lead cast as Amihan. She was not in the launch. No explanation was given for her absence. She could be avoiding having to answer for the spousal of her senator father Robin Padilla of a bill that gives more power to the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board, namely, classifying streamed films.

Only the senators themselves mainly favor the bill, including those, like Padilla, who are identified with the film industry.  Grace Poe, adopted daughter of Da King Fernando Poe Jr. is for the bill. Jinggoy Estrada, son of FPJ’s rival, Joseph Estrada (an ex-President) favors the bill, too. So does former senator Bong Revilla, a top action star before he was imprisoned and eventually acquitted.

The actors’ group headed by Dantes and Calzado demand the junking of the Padilla bill.

All-original creation

The Sang’Gre media launch was unusual, actually. The journos and the vloggers were not called to the microphones to ask their questions in person. The host read all the questions and who should answer them. The lead stars were probably instructed to leave Studio 8 right after the final photo op. However, we did see Hontiveros and Maristela briefly being huddled around by journos and vloggers on stage.

We found out that many scribes have watched the first two installments of Encantadia Chronicles. They even know the language Doctolero and her team of writers created for the royal family. The language is not even -based. But the series’ main language in the narratives is actually Tagalog.

Doctolero maintains practically all the major details of the series were created by her team without reference to any Filipino folk story or to Philippine history.

And that seems to be the reason why many Filipinos have been fascinated (enchanted?) by the narrative of each installment, most likely including this forthcoming one.

The lingering main conflict in the series is that some evil kingdom and tribes have been taking turns to steal one, if possible all, four pieces of diamonds (brilyante) that have supernatural powers owned by Encantadia.

At the media launch, the lead stars present intoned that they “sacrificed” a lot during the two years of taping for the upcoming show. They did not sacrifice anything. They invested a lot. No matter how artistic a TV show is, it is a business endeavor. Huge investments in money, talent, skills and attitudes are required. There can be a great harvest in fame and fortune.