Encantadia


Encantadia is a Filipino fantasy franchise produced and published by GMA Network. It consists of five television series, which have aired from 2005 to the present, and a single film. The first series of the same name premiered in 2005 and concluded in the same year with total of 160 episodes. The second installment, Etheria: Ang Ikalimang Kaharian ng Encantadia, premiered in the same year and ended in 2006 with 50 episodes. Due to its significant success, a third series titled Encantadia: Pag-ibig Hanggang Wakas premiered in 2006 consisting of 48 episodes.
The series also had a crossover film with Mulawin in 2005 titled Mulawin: The Movie, which was produced by GMA Pictures as an entry to the 2005 Metro Manila Film Festival. In 2016, eleven years after the original run, a reboot of the series premiered on GMA Network featuring a new cast and ended in 2017 with a total of 218 episodes. A spinoff titled Encantadia Chronicles: Sang'gre premiered on the same network in 2025 featuring a new set of cast and characters.

Production

Development

Encantadia is a term coined from the Filipino words "enkanto", "enkanta", "enkantada", or "enkantado", which was in turn derived from the Spanish term encanto/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 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. Felipe L. 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 of the old series. On December 31, 2021, the television series Encantadia Chronicles: Sang'gre was announced for a 2022 release for GMA Network, acting as a spin-off to the reboot series. On December 29, 2023, the series was delayed to 2024. The spin-off series is written by Doctolero. R.J. Nuevas serves as the creative director. Screenwriters Ricky Lee, Anna Aleta Nadela, Jake Somera, Ays de Guzman and program manager Ali Nokom-Dedicatoria are also a part of the production team. Initially Reyes was hired as the director and later left the series in November 2024. Rico Gutierrez and Enzo Williams served as his replacement.

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 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 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 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 entitled "Tadhana" 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!!" 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" 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" 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" but was rarely used in the series. "Pangarap ni Lira", 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" performed by Mercado, arranged by Eric Torralba and written by Doctolero; "Sa Pakpak ng Paru-paro" composed by Mark A. Reyes and arranged by Eric Torralba.
"Maghihintay Ako", sung by Gabbi Garcia and Christian Bautista and "Sa Pangarap Lang" sung by Mikee Quintos are being used in the 2016 series. Quintos also recorded "Ang Awit ni Lira" for the requel.

Overview

Encantadia is an enchanted realm inhabited by a race of magical Elf-like beings called Encantados. It was created thousand years ago by five deities Haliya, Arde, Emre, Keros and Ether, who were referred to as bathala in present times. The world they created was settled by a primitive race of humans called "barbaro". The Bathala then created a caste system to distinguish each race: the diwata's of the Kingdom of Lireo; mystical creatures of the Adamyan territory; the warriors and healers called Sapiryans of the Kingdom of Sapiro; and the blacksmiths of the Kingdom of Hathoria. The four kingdoms were thus formed and they worshipped Emre, the greatest of the Bathala. Emre's dominion over Encantadia prompted a jealous Arde and Ether to assassinate him. Emre discovered their plan and cursed both of them: Arde became a dragon and was sent to guard valaak while Ether was turned into a giant snake as a reminder of her treachery. Emre's punishment of the two Bathala divided Encantadia's inhabitants into several factions based on the gods they worship. Most encantados followed Ether and established the Kingdom of Etheria, which came to dominate Encantadia with an iron fist until its Queen Avria was deposed by the four resurgent kingdoms to restore peace and stability.

The Gods

  • Cassiopeia - The Bathaluman of Love and Protection. Former queen of the fairies and first keeper of the whole Mother Gem. She endured many trials to ascend as a new goddess to replace Ether.
  • Emre – One of the Supreme Bathalas of Encantadia. He resides in Devas, the home of the blessed dead. He was originally the Bathala of Spirituality and of Time and Space. He created the Mother Gem to protect Encantados from Etheria and the magic of Ether.
  • Keros – The Bathala of Destruction. Without him, nothing will be destroyed and that will outbalance the World of Encantadia. Everything he touches gets destroyed. He formerly resided in Binyaan, a dead island away from the continent of Encantadia. He was killed by Arde, and his soul will go back to the realm of high heavens.
  • Haliya – The Bathaluman of the Two Moons. She is one of the five Bathalas and Bathalumans who created the world of Encantadia. She has a powerful Trident called De'jar, it means Cursed. She was originally the Bathala of Wisdom and the Mind.
  • Ether – Originally the Bathaluman of Creation, Physicality and Being. She is one of the Bathalas who planned to kill Emre because of her envy of the encantados worshipping Emre. She was cursed and turned into a giant snake, which reminds every encantado about her treachery. She created the Empire of Etheria, led by Avria and planned to take over ancient Encantadia. Ether resurrected her ancient fallen empire in the present to create a divine coup and take Emre's throne in Devas.
  • Arde – The Bathala of Bala'ak. Originally he was the Bathala of Emotions, Energy, and Transformation. One of the Bathalas who planned to kill Emre. He was a cohort and lover of Ether. He was cursed and turned into a dragon, and sent into Bala'ak, Encantadia's hell and underworld.

    The Kingdoms

  • Sapiro – A kingdom in the northern valley of Encantadia; protector of the gemstone of earth. Their kingdom has the most fertile land in the whole of Encantadia
  • Hathoria – A kingdom in the west of Encantadia; protector of the gemstone of fire. Originally a fertile land but became a barren wasteland because of the heavy industrialization of Hathoria. It is surrounded by volcanoes that give their kingdom an abundance of minerals underground that they use for their war machinery.
  • Lireo – A kingdom in the east of Encantadia and is home to the royal blood diwatas; protector of the gemstone of air. It is located on top of the Eastern Mountains of Encantadia. A futuristic looking matriarchal queendom that is powered by windmills. It is the home of the temple of Emre.
  • Adamya – A former Kingdom in the south of Encantadia; protector of the gemstone of water. It is an archipelago surrounded by the Southern Adamyan Ocean. It is the only unfortified territory in Encantadia. It has lush forests and many seashores.
  • Etheria – The fallen empire of Encantadia; It is composed of four Heras or royal houses namely Hera Andal- the seat of Etherian power and home of Ether's temple, Hera Volo- the royal house of Etheria's military, Hera Sensa- the royal house of mind benders and Hera Ae-ga- the royal house of emotion bending Amazons.
  • Mine-a-ve – In the 2025 series, a new Kingdom was introduced called Mine-a-ve, the Land of Darkness, an ice kingdom ruled by Mitena, sister of Bathaluman Cassiopea. It is located on a large island located east of the continent of Encantadia, north of Encantadia proper. Its northern light skies surround the kingdom and its waters have green light.