Here's why GMA-7 decided to create the sequel Mulawin vs. Ravena

The story of Mulawin vs. Ravena takes place after the death of Aguiluz (Richard Gutierrez), who is known as the savior of the Mulawin race.

The death of Aguiluz allowed Gabriel (Dennis Trillo) to try another shot at love with Alwina (Heart Evangelista), the woman he loved for all his life.

However, Alwina cannot love Gabriel because Aguiluz is still in her heart.

Gabriel's defeat prompted him to follow his destiny to become the King of the Ravenas and start a battle anew with the Mulawins.

Meet the new Mulawins, Ravenas, and mortals in Mulawin vs. Ravena:

DENNIS TRILLO plays Gabriel.

He is a half mortal-half Ravena who finally embraces his fate as the King of Halconia (the kingdom of the Ravenas), after Alwina turned down his love. He will also become the bridge to the reunion of young lovers Pagaspas (Miguel Tanfelix) and Lawiswis (Bianca Umali).

In Mulawin 2004, Gabriel served as the third wheel to the romance of Alwina and Aguiluz, then played by Angel Locsin and Richard Gutierrez, respectively.

HEART EVANGELISTA portrays Alwina.

Years after her husband Aguiluz's death, Alwina still finds it hard to accept that the love of her life is gone. She had a son with Aguiluz whom she names Almiro (Derrick Monasterio). She will make the biggest sacrifice of leaving her son in the mortal world for the greater good.

In the movie version of Mulawin, Aguiluz died at the hands of the evil Ravenum (Michael de Mesa) after he took the dagger that was meant for Alwina.

Alwina was previously played by Angel Locsin, who is now with ABS-CBN.

REGINE VELASQUEZ plays Sandawa.

Sandawa serves as the "Ina ng Kalikasan" who has three children: Lumad, Dakila (Eddie Gutierrez), and Magindara (Lovi Poe).

Lumad left his family to marry a mortal while Dakila was the former King of the Mulawins who died after saving his race.

Sandawa became overprotective of her immortal daughter Magindara (Lovi Poe) so that she won't have the same fate as her brothers.

Unfortunately, Magindara will later fall in love with a Ravena.

Sandawa is a new character not included in Mulawin 2004.

LOVI POE plays Magindara.

Known as the goddess of water, Magindara is the only daughter of Sandawa who lives and guards the "Lawa ng Vendalo." Because of her mother's reminders, she vows never to fall in love with a mortal.

However, Magindara's life changes when she meets the Ravena Siklab (Dion Ignacio).

CARLA ABELLANA is Aviona.

Aviona is one of the well-loved Mulawins in Avila who married a mortal named Rodrigo (Tom Rodriguez). She is also the mother of Anya (Bea Binene).

Aviona later on gives Anya the mission to find the rightful king of Avila, Almiro (Derrick Monasterio).

Aviona was previously played by Bianca King in the 2004 version.

TOM RODRIGUEZ plays Rodrigo.

Rodrigo is the mortal husband of Aviona who will be seen in the first part of Mulawin vs. Ravena as he tells the history of the fight between Mulawins and Ravenas.

MIGUEL TANFELIX reprises his role as Pagaspas.

Pagaspas is an owl who turns into a full-length Mulawin. Now at the right age, he is ready to profess his love for Lawiswis (Bianca Umali).

However, problems arise when Lawiswis is already committed to marry the Ravena prince Siklab (Dion Ignacio). Pagaspas will do everything just to get Lawiswis back, even if it means going against his beliefs.

BIANCA UMALI plays Lawiswis.

Same as Pagaspas, Lawiswis is also an owl who grows up to be a beautiful Mulawin. She is also in love with Pagaspas but because of an agreement, she must marry Siklab (Dion Ignacio).

Lawiswis was formerly played by Sam Bumatay.

DERRICK MONASTERIO portrays Almiro.

Almiro is the son of Aguiluz and Alwina who was left in the mortal world after his mother abandoned him. He becomes a mortal with a hunchback and will become a slave in Hacienda Montenegro.

Almiro has yet to know the real reason behind his hunchback: that he is the rightful heir of the Mulawin throne.

BEA BINENE plays Anya.

She is the daughter of Aviona and Rodrigo who is a half-Mulawin, half-human.

Anya will be thrown away from Avila, the reason why she will be given a mission to find Almiro, the missing Mulawin heir.

KIKO ESTRADA plays Rafael.

Rafael is the son of Savana (Charee Pineda) who becomes best friends with Almiro. Unfortunately, he meets an accident that will turn him into a cripple.

He later on becomes the mortal enemy of Almiro as the two become rivals for Anya's heart.

Rafael has yet to discover the secret behind his real identity that will change his life.

CHYNNA ORTALEZA plays Rashana

Rashana is the sister of Rasmus (Gary Estrada), the deceased king of Halconia. She is the most bitter rival of Siklab in getting the throne of Halconia.

When Gabriel arrives and claims the throne, Rashana marries him so that she will become the queen of the Ravenas.

ANGELU DE LEON plays Lourdes.

Lourdes is the mortal, adoptive mother of Alwina who lives in Avila and takes care of Pagaspas.

When the Mulawins change their perception towards the kindness of mortals, Lourdes becomes the subject of their oppression.

Lourdes was formerly played by Amy Austria.

BOBBY ANDREWS plays Dionisio.

Dionisio is the head of the Lumads and the union of farmers in Hacienda Montenegro.

JOKO DIAZ plays Antonio.

Antonio is one of Savana's henchmen who heads the troop of illegal loggers in Hacienda Montenegro.

VALERIE CONCEPCION plays Tuka.

Tuka is the adoptive mother of Lawiswis who believes that mortals are not kind to Mulawins and to the environment. She also opposes the romance between Lawiswis and Pagaspas.

Tuka was formerly played by Marissa Sanchez.

ARIEL RIVERA portrays Panabon.

Panabon is the kind and brave head of the Tabons--mortals who have a mix of Mulawin blood.

DION IGNACIO portrays Siklab.

Siklab is the Prince of the Ravenas who is next in line as the King of Halconia. He is set to marry Lawisiws.

CHAREE PINEDA plays Savanna.

Savanna is the ex-wife of Gabriel and the mother of Rafael. She becomes the owner of Hacienda Montenegro and will make Almiro's life a living hell.

Savanna was formerly played by Karen delos Reyes.

WINWYN MARQUEZ plays Ribay.

Ribay is the right-hand Ravena of Rashana who knows the secret of Gabriel and his lost child.

TJ TRINIDAD plays Greco.

Greco is the right-hand man of Gabriel who knows a lots of secrets that he will use for his own advantage.

NOVA VILLA plays Consuelo.

Consuelo is the loving mother of Rodrigo who will take Almiro under her wing.

ROI VINZON plays Daragit.

Daragit is the acting King of Avila who is also the former general of the Mulawins. He will bring a change in the Mulawins's way of life and beliefs.

DAVID LICAUCO plays Malik.

Malik is a Tabon who falls in love with his best friend Anya.

Also part of the cast are JC Tiuseco (left) as the Mulawin Tangos and Martin del Rosario as the mortal Aramis.

Viewers can expect an intimate scene between the characters of Chynna Ortaleza and Dennis Trillo which was shot inside a cave.

Since Mulawin vs. Ravena caters to young audiences, Chynna said about their love scene, "Nothing that will shock you. It's TV!"

Read: Chynna on Mulawin vs Ravena love scene with Dennis Trillo: "It was hot!"

Mulawin vs. Ravena features popular love teams from the past and in current times.

One of them is the '90s phenomenal love team Bobby Andrews and Angelu de Leon.

However, Angelu said that she is not sure if they will be paired together in the show.

Kapuso love team Bea Binene and Derrick Monasterio also star in their first lead role in a primetime series via this show.

In an interview with PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal), Derrick revealed that Bea has been doing workouts to lose weight for this show. "Nakikita ko naman. Bakit nung Tween Hearts ba, nagpapayat ka ba para sa show? Pero ngayon, binuhos niya talaga yung effort niya para sa show."

Bea reasoned out, "Mahirap din kasi siyempre yung mga harness harness. It's physically challenging kaya I tried losing weight and getting fit dahil para na rin sa role, para hindi madaling mangawit."

Part of Derrick's preparations for his Almiro role in Mulawin vs. Ravena was working out, which he has already been doing.

Coming from Dennis and Chynna's intimate scene, Derrick said that he doesn't know yet if he will also engage in intimate scenes for the show. He said, "Wala, wala pa sa ngayon. Hindi ko pa kasi alam yung takbo ng sorry, e."

When PEP asked if he is also ready to do a scene like that, he answered, "Oo! Pero dapat ready din yung kaeksena ko."

Bianca Umali and Miguel Tanfelix return to GMA primetime for Mulawin vs. Ravena.

Mulawin vs. Ravena serves as the seventh TV show of the BiGuel love team.

Angelu, who already worked with Bianca and Miguel in the primetime series Nino in 2014, has only good words for the teen stars in this show:

"They're very professional, nakakagulat. Lagi ko nga silang sinasabihan, 'Mas maswerte kayo ngayon.'

"Maswerte kami noon pero mas maswerte kayo ngayon kasi like before, sabi ko, wala kaming tent, hindi ka pwedeng magrequest ng sarili mong tent, kung nasaan kayo, nasa isang kwarto lang kayo."

Mulawin vs. Ravena also serves as the first telefantasya of Asia's Songbird Regine Velasquez-Alcasid.

GMA Vice President for Drama Redgie Magno revealed last January 2017 that the Mother of Nature character was especially conceptualized for Regine.

Aside from Regine, GMA's all-male boy group TOP: Top One Project also has its own version of the theme song.

The group is composed of (L-R): Adrian Pascual, Joshua Jacobe, Miko Manguba, and Mico Cruz. Their other member Louie Pedroso was not present when they performed their version during the show's grand press conference last May 15.

Mulawin vs. Ravena is helmed by two of GMA's directors: Dominic Zapata and Don Michael Perez.

Direk Don Michael also serves as the headwriter for this telefantasya. According to him, he believes that it is already the right time for the Mulawins to return to television.

Direk Dominic, meanwhile, explained why they think the story of Mulawin vs. Ravena is very timely.

He said, "Yung Mulawin dati, malinaw kung sinong bida, malinaw kung sinong kontrabida. Ngayon hindi.

"Sa Mulawin vs. Ravena, as it is today in our society, hindi natin alam kung okay pa ba yung dati nating nakikilalang mabait, mabait pa ba ngayon?

"Yung mga akala nating dating masama, masama pa rin ba sila? Don't we give them opportunities to change? Don't we give them a chance para magbago? That's why I think the story is so timely."

This is the new look of Avila (top), the land of the Mulawins, and Halconia (bottom), the kingdom of the Ravenas.

The back story of the Mulawins, Ravenas, and Sandawa, as told by Rodrigo, was presented through graphic art and animation which bears drawings that exactly looked like Lovi Poe, Regine Velasquez, and Michael de Mesa (who played Ravenum in Mulawin 2004).

Mulawin vs. Ravena is set to take flight tonight, May 22, after 24 Oras.

Direk Dominic believes that it is harder to create a sequel than a completely new show.

"Sasabihin nila, bakit di kayo nakakaisip ng bagong show? Alam niyo, sa totoo lang, mas madaling gumawa ng bagong show. Mas mahirap gumawa ng sequel na maghi-hit. Alam niyo yan sa pelikula, sa TV."

Then why did they decide to do a sequel?

"Kung merong generation na gumawa ng Darna, yung generation natin, masasabi kong nakagawa tayo ng dalawa: Encantadia at saka Mulawin."