Did you know it took GMA-7 two years to start production of its hit telefantasya, Encantadia, in 2005?
This was a trivia shared by its creator and headwriter, Suzette Doctolero, in an exclusive Zoom interview with PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal).
According to Suzette, Encantadia, along with the other hit series Mulawin, was conceptualized in 2003 when GMA-7’s then Vice President for Entertainment Wilma V. Galvante called for a drama summit.
At that time, GMA-7 was a close second to ABS-CBN, which was lording over the ratings game as far as its teleseryes are concerned.
Suzette recalled, “Kasi ang Mulawin at saka Encantadia, sabay iyan.
“Remember, at that time, ang GMA ay hindi pa number one, wala pang fantaserye ang GMA noon. Drama pa lang ang ginagawa ng GMA noon.
“Admittedly, number two talaga kami sa ABS-CBN na talagang magaling gumawa ng mga dramas noon, mga Jericho [Rosales], mga Mula sa Puso.
"So dahil gaya-gaya lang kami at isang maliit na kumpanya lang kami noon, understandable na number two kami.
“So nagpatawag ng creative summit si Ma’am Wilma Galvante na noon ay head ng drama department ng GMA kasama niya si Miss Lilybeth Rasonable noon.
“So, nagpatawag sila doon sa Tagaytay, at sinabi ni Ma’am Wilma, ‘Tantanan na natin ang panggagaya, gumawa tayo ng sarili nating trademark kung ano ang GMA.’
“’Pakawalan niyo ang mga imahinasyon niyo at ibigay ang mga kuwentong gusto niyong gawin.’”
Suzette and her co-writers took it as “very creative and very conducive” challenge:
She said, “Malawak ang imahinasyon namin noong sinabi na huwag mag-censor at huwag manggaya sa ABS, doon lumitaw ang sabay sabay na concept ng Mulawin, Encantadia, at marami pang ibang concept.”
ENCANTADIA: FROM FILM TO TV
Originally, Encantadia was conceived as a movie project.
Suzette said, “Kasi noong 2003, I was asked by Mr. Jimmy Duavit ng concept for a movie na fantasy.
"[Sabi niya,] ‘Teka muna, mas magandang soap opera ito kaysa pelikula lang.
“So tinurn over niya yung kuwento and then pinitch ko."
But then, not everyone welcomed Suzette’s concept.
She continued, “Meron doong isang department na nakikinig sa pitching at medyo kumontra.
”Kasi siyempre ang Encantadia ay binago ko yung konsepto ng diwata, di ba?
"Palaban yung mga diwata, hindi ito nakaputi lang. So meron doong isa na nagreact na… trabaho kasi nilang mag-criticize, e.
"So bakit daw ganoon? Hindi raw kapani-paniwala kasi wala raw enkantadang humahawak ng sword. So meaning siguro, ayaw niya.
“Sabi ko sa kanya, ‘Kung makakita ka ng diwata na hindi humahawak ng sword, ipakilala mo sa akin, babaguhin ko yung konsepto.’
“Mabuti na lang, si Ms. Lilybeth Rasonable nandoon, na head ngayon ng Entertainment Group.
“Ipinagtanggol niya yung Enca at sinabi niyang ‘gusto ko’ at ipo-produce na ang Encantadia so natahimik yung kung sinumang nagsasalita na iyon.”
GMA-7 decided to finally produce the concepts that were broached at the drama summit.
Encantadia was still in pre-production when Mulawin aired in 2004.
Suzette explained, “Mas mahirap lang gawin ang Encantadia gawin kaysa sa Mulawin kasi ang Mulawin, nasa human world pa rin siya, e.
"Nandoon lang siya sa bundok, hindi katulad ng Encantadia na gagawa ka ng bagong mundo.
“So mas matagal siyang iprinepare, mas matagal siyang iprine-prod kaysa Mulawin, pero sabay umaandar iyang dalawang show na iyan, mas nauna lang ipinalabas yung isa.
Mulawin’s creator, Don Michael Perez, then thought of introducing Suzette’s concept in his show and coined the kingdom’s name, which would then be the title of the show.
According to Suzette, “Alam ni Don Michael Perez ang tungkol sa Encantadia. At that time, ang working title ay ‘Ada’ or ‘Maria Makiling,’ it’s just a working title. Wala pa kaming maisip.
“Nagpaalam si Don Michael na gagamitin niya at i-introduce ang mga diwata sa kanyang Mulawin.
"It was him who actually coined the term ‘Encantadia,’ ginawa niyang Encantadia yung world ng mga diwata and it clicked.
“So sabi namin, gagamitin na lang namin iyan. So ginamit naman 'tapos pinalawak na lang gumawa kami ng language at yung Encantadia, hinati namin sa four main kingdoms at maraming tribes.”
THE ORIGINAL StORY
Encantadia tells the story of four sisters who are the Sang’gres or the royalty of Encantadia. They are entrusted to take care of the four gems: fire, air, water, and earth.
The Sang’gres of the 2005 version were Pirena (Sunshine Dizon), Amihan (Iza Calzado), Alena (Karylle), and Danaya (Diana Zubiri).
But also pivotal in the story were the characters of the Sang’gre’s children—Amihan’s daughter, Lira (Jennylyn Mercado); Pirena’s daughter, Mira (Yasmien Kurdi); and Lira’s mortal love interest, Anthony (Mark Herras).
Did you know that the Sang’gres are really not the original lead characters of Encantadia?
Suzette revealed, “Originally, ang kuwento niya talaga ay si Milagros… si Jennylyn at saka si Mark Herras. Love story siya, e.
“Nandoon pa rin yung apat na Sang’gre, pero hindi sila yung apat na bida. Nandoon din yung kuwento nila kaya lang ang ganda kasi ng background nila na awayan ng magkakapatid 'tapos yung betrayal sa nanay, betrayal sa isa’t isa.
“Noong pinalabas namin, mabuti na lang at that time, kapag pinrodyus namin, siguro two weeks or three weeks lang yung material.
"The rest ay ite-taping pa lang kaya noong pinalabas siya at grabe ang first week, nag-rave yung mga tao sa apat na Sang’gre, lumiko kami ng kuwento."
THE SANG'GRES take center stage
The main storyline was untouched, but Pirena, Amihan, Alena, and Danaya became major characters.
“Walang binago ha, nilakihan lang yung kuwento ng apat na Sang’gre and then, nakita namin na mas gusto yung sa Encantadia, mas nilakihan pa namin ang kuwento ng Encantadia kaysa sa mortal world. Mas mortal world din sana.”
The revisions proved to be a good decision when Encantadia became one of GMA-7’s iconic and top-rating telefantasyas of GMA-7.
Its original version ran for a year and in 2016, it spawned a remake-sequel which also ran for nine months.
In 2022, GMA-7 will continue to produce more stories about the series as its producers have started the show's pre-production for Sang’gre, the first installment of Encantadia Chronicles.
READ MORE STORIES ABOUT ENCANTADIA:
- The Original Sang'gres: The friendship that defies the network war
- Here's what you need to know about Sang'gre, Encantadia spin-off
- How Kapuso lead actress in Sang'gre, Encantadia spin-off gets chosen
- Janine Gutierrez recalls being turned down to play Amihan in Encantadia 2016
- Audience Favorites: The 12 Top-Rating GMA-7 Teleseryes Of All Time
- ON THIS DAY: Encantadia 2016 premiered on GMA-7