Amaya (TV series)

Amaya
File:Amayatitlescreen.jpeg
Created by	Suzette Doctolero
Written by	Onay Sales Marlon Miguel Geng Delgado
Directed by	Mac Alejandre
Starring	Marian Rivera Sid Lucero Glaiza de Castro Mikael Daez Rochelle Pangilinan
Theme music composer	Von de Guzman
Opening theme	"Amaya" Theme by Von de Guzman
Country of origin	Philippines
Original languages	Filipino, Tagalog, Visayan, Malay
No. of episodes	165 (final)
Production
Executive producers	Michelle Borja Camille Gomba-Montaño
Editor	Tara Illenberger
Running time	30–45 minutes
Original release
Network	GMA Network
Release	May 30, 2011 – present

Amaya is a Philippine historical fiction and period drama created and developed by Suzette Doctolero, with Marian Rivera in the title-role. Directed by Mac Alejandre, it premiered on May 30 on GMA Network and on June 1, 2011 on GMA Pinoy TV.

This show is set on the time period prior to the Spanish occupation of the Philippines. It is set in the Visayas region in the mid-1500s.

A primer titled Amaya: The Making of An Epic was aired on May 28 in the Philippines and May 29 on GMA Pinoy TV worldwide. Multi-awarded actor and director Cesar Montano served as the host.

Amaya is said to be the most expensive drama for 2011. Overall cost stated for 15 Million pesos. It is the also the first historical epic drama in the Philippine Television.

Production

Amaya was conceived in late 2009 and was presented at the Q1 2010 GMA Network Trade Launch as part of the future programs to be launched by the network for 2010. Initially titled "Sultana", the show underwent major title changes before arriving to the final title "Amaya", which was announced on November, 2010.

Due to production requirements, GMA Network did not push the program's scheduled Q4 2010 airing but instead opted to delay the show's premiere to the 2nd Quarter of 2011. The plot of the series, which involved pre-colonial setting, urged the producers to build sets on various locations such as Pagsanjan in Laguna, Bolinao, Pangasinan, and Bagac, Bataan. The scope of the series would require the filming of the scenes on-location as opposed to what the producers have done for Encantadia (a television series) which was shot in soundstages.

The production also built an ancient warship known as Karakoa. It was made from an existing hull of a modern boat and was redesigned to fit the ancient descriptions of the legendary warship. The production spent more or less two million Pesos for a single unit of Karakoa.

The producers involved historians during the conception of the show. Dr. Vic Villan and Prof. Neil Santillan of the University of the Philippines Diliman History Department served as history consultants for the show. Theater director and independent filmmaker Dennis Marasigan was hired as movement director.

Marian Rivera was the first actor to be attached to the show. Auditions were held to fill-out the remaining cast. Newcomer Mikael Daez was casted as Lumad on January, 2011. Sid Lucero was invited to audition, even though at that time he was still associated with rival network ABS-CBN. Lucero would eventually bag the role Bagani and was signed up for the project.

The TV series is filmed and shot in Hi-Def 1080p, as GMA Network plans on standardizing all of its shows to have and use HD cameras by the end of 2011, although it is broadcasted in 480i for standard definition as digital television has not yet been activated in the Philippines. In August 2011, the said show peaked at number 1 at the IMDb list of Best TV Shows for 2011.

In August 2011, there were speculations about Aljur Abrenica joining the cast. In September 2011, the management has confirmed the news about this and Aljur Abrenica will be introduced as Dayaw , who is next in line to be a warrior chief, on October 4, 2011.

Music

The theme song to the series is entitled Tayong Dalawa composed by Ogie Alcasid and sung by Gian Magdangal. The Entertainment TV department of the GMA Network commissioned an all-original musical score for the series, with composer Von de Guzman creating the themes for the series. The series used music as a tool for character development and story progression, thus giving a show a musical flavor. Some of the narrations are presented in a musical format, with characters singing about their emotions and their current situation. The first sequence of the series involves an epic chanter (Bituin Escalante) who narrates the epic backstory of Rajah Mangubat.

Synopsis

In Central Visayas, during the 1500s, Rajah(King) Mangubat was known throughout the land as a great undefeated warrior. With his extraordinary skills in battle and great strength no one stood a chance against him. On day, during one of Rajah Mangubat's expeditions, he met a village priestess or babaylan who prophesized that he would be killed by a woman who had a snake for a twin. Enraged by her prophesy, Rajah Mangubat kills the Babaylan.

After hearing the prophecy Rajah Mangubat becomes anxious over his killer, who has a snake for a twin, but is more angered that he will be killed by a woman. With this, he orders his warriors to kill all pregnant women in his village tribe and the other villages that are under his control. The only village that survives Rajah Mangubat's terror is Datu Bugna's because of their long time friendship and alliance.

What Rajah Mangubat doesn't know is that the baby girl that he has been looking for to be killed has been born in Datu Bugna's territory. The girl with the snake for a twin is named, Amaya and is Datu Bugna's daughter from Dal'lang, an uripon. In order to protect his daughter, while Amaya is still an infant, Datu Bugna orders his men to separate Amaya from her mother and hide his daughter in a secret chamber called a "binukot". At the same time, her snake twin is released into the forest and is told that it may only come back if and when Amaya is in dire need of help.

While growing up Datu Bugna tells Amaya that her mother, Dal'lang, is already dead. When Amaya was still a young girl, she was kidnapped by an uripon and was threatened to be killed. But her twin snake came and killed the uripon. During this time, she meet the young Bagani who was the successor of Rajah Mangubat.

Because of Dian Lamitan's evil desire to get rid of Amaya, she betrays her husband Datu Bugna and tells Rajah Mangubat her husband's plan of revolt. Rajah Mangubat's men take Amaya from her chamber and use her as blackmail to make Datu Bugna confess. He eventually does and Rajah Mangubat kills him in front of Amaya.

Rajah Mangubat takes Amaya to his village and there, Dian Lamitan stripped her of her right as a princess and made an uripon. Amaya sees the treacherous Lamitan and becomes enraged with her father's double-crossing wife. She promises that she will do anything to avenge her father. But Rajah Mangubat still has no idea about Amaya's true identity - the girl with the twin snake

Amaya is surprised to see her long lost love, Bagani, but is devastated to find out that he is Rajah Mangubat's son. Bagani is shocked as well when he finds out that the girl he once fell in love with is now a slave. In spite of this, he still remains in love with her. However, Amaya tries to get rid of her feelings for him all for her plans' sake.

Bagani tries to protect Amaya with all of his power. He was forced to marry Marikit to be able to save Amaya. When the Punong Babaylan learned that a snake frequents the house of Dian Lamitan, she suspects that the girl with a twin snake lives in that house. She went there to see who has the twin snake. When the Babaylan with the gift of telling the past when she touches something was about to touch the hands of Amaya, she and Amaya were both bitten by snakes. Amaya, later on became a babaylan because she was able to return to life.

Amaya, as an Alabay or an apprentice to became a Babaylan studied earnestly because she wants to become a Babaylan, hearing from Bayang that she will have equal power with the Rajah if she becomes a Babaylan.When the plan to assassinate Bagani failed, Amaya was the only one who was able to cure Bagani, thus gaining her rank as the Punong Alabay. Amaya learned that the Punong Babaylan's son-in-law and grandson was behind the assassination of Bagani, she warns Bagani. Later on, Bagani revealed that he already knew of Amaya's secret. Amaya used her twin snake to manipulate the Punong Babaylan to descend from her position. In the process, Amaya killed Atubang. Later on, Amaya was named as the next Punong Babaylan after she completes her training with Hilway.

Due to unfortunate events, Bagani was stripped of his title as the successor. He will be outcasted and come to the place of the man he freed before when he gained his first batuk. there he trained to become a fierce warrior. Marikit in the other hand, becomes the sandil of the Rajah. Amaya, proves that she can be trusted to become the Punong Babaylan but she will look for her mother with the help of the people around her.

Amaya passed the first test, which was to make the sky cry rain. However, she did not pass the second, which was to walk on water. Therefore, she was flayed of her status as the punong alabay. However, she managed to get it back when she claimed that Dian Lamitan only used her daughter Marikit to gain status in the land, and Mantal proved it when she asked the Rajah to go into his wife's quarters. Amaya got to be the punong alabay and the in-waiting punong babaylan, and Lamitan was sentenced to be an uripon for the rest of her life. However, when she was asked by a fellow uripon why she was sentenced such a ruthless punishment, Lamitan, despised by Hara Lingayan, claimed that her status as an uripon will not last long.

Amaya kills Rajah Mangubat and he dies. Bagani, finding out that the girl he loved killed his father. Enraged, he sets out to find Amaya and kill her but cannot because of his weak soul. He seeks the help of Uray Hilway and does a ritual that will strengthen up his soul. Then he sets out again and finds torn piece of cloth belonging to Amaya. Then he finds Amaya and the two battle but Amaya escapes after being stabbed. Then they end up on the edge of a cliff. But Amaya tells him that she doesn't want his hands to be covered with her blood, so Amaya jumps off the cliff. Bagani then jumps off the cliff to save her.

Cast and Characters

Main Cast

Cast	Character	Character Information
Marian Rivera	Amaya	The daughter of Datu Bugna and the uripon Dal'lang, the girl with the twin snake, who was destined to put an end to Rajah Mangubat's reign of terror. However, in a twist of fate, she and Bagani met and fell in love. She was a Bai (princess), who became an uripon (slave) due to Dian Lamitan's (her father's legitimate wife) treachery. Eventually, she rose among the ranks to become a "Punong Alabay" (Babaylan's head apprentice) until she was forced to flee after she (in self defense) killed Rajah Mangubat. While in exile among the Manobo, she became their Baybayin teacher and in turn learned their fighting style to become a full-fledged Warrior.
Sid Lucero	Datu Bagani	The son and heir of Rajah Mangubat. However, knowledge of Amaya's destiny has given him conflicted feelings towards the girl he's deeply in love with. He was married to Marikit (Amaya's older half sister,) but the marriage was annulled and their unborn child aborted. He was later stripped of his title and exiled by his father. In exile, he became the ruthless datu of the mangatangs (raiders/pirates) because he believed that he should be like his father. He is currently being eyed upon by Binayaan (Amaya's younger half sister.)
Mikael Daez	Lumad †	An uripon of Atubang and Amaya's friend and ally. He was the son of a datu, until their puod was raided by Rajah Mangubat. He had a wife named Libulan who was carrying their unborn son but was killed in the raid. He was killed by Bagani in a fight while aiding Amaya to flee.
Aljur Abrenica	Dayaw †	A Manikiad, Manobo warrior, who becomes Amaya's new ally and protector. He is the son of Posaka, the Bagani or Warrior chief of the Manobo tribe.
Glaiza de Castro	Binayaan	The second daughter of Datu Bugna and Dian Lamitan. Her name, Binayaan comes from the word biya which means left alone/forsaken. Unloved by her parents (they were expecting a male child), she posed as Amaya when Dal'lang found her after Rajah Mangubat invaded their banwa. She changed her name to "Yang Tersayang" (which means beloved one) because she felt guilty using her sister's name and to avoid being identified as Datu Bugna's daughter.
Rochelle Pangilinan	Marikit	The first daughter of Datu Bugna and Dian Lamitan. She tried to steal Bagani away from Amaya at all costs and eventually became his wife. Soon after Bagani was disowned by Mangubat, her own mother, Dian Lamitan, had her unborn child aborted and their marriage annulled to retain prestige in the puod. Furthermore, Lamitan, to gain higher status in the puod, forced her to marry Mangubat (who was given a love potion to fall in love with Marikit.) Marikit lost her mind after this as she believed her unborn child was still in her womb.
Diana Zubiri	Kapid	The twin snake of Amaya in human form. She would repeatedly intercede in Amaya's behalf to have her succeed in her tasks. She would even sometimes appear in Amaya's dreams to give her guidance.
Gardo Versoza	Rajah Mangubat †	A great ruler of a Puod (a collection of banwa). Legend tells (revealed in the pilot episode) that Rajah Mangubat aged to adolescence on the very same day he was born. He is married to Lingayan, and recently, to Marikit because of her mother, Dian Lamitan.
Lani Mercado	Dal'lang	The uripon mother of Amaya. She is loving and caring. She wishes to be with her daughter.
Gina Alajar	Dian Lamitan	The wife of Datu Bugna. She is violent to Amaya due to her being Bugna and Dal'ang's daughter. The Rajah later found out that she was the reason why Bugna died, why Marikit succumbed to mental illness, and why Amaya got flayed of her status as a binukot - and so he stripped Lamitan of her status as a Dian. She was sentenced to be an uripon for the rest of her lifetime but regained her status when her ally Angaway became the new Rajah of the Puod.
Ayen Munji-Laurel	Hara Lingayan †	The wife of Rajah Mangubat and the mother of Bagani and Banuk. The people love and respect her because of her righteousness and intelligence. She is the enemy of Dian Lamitan and once became Amaya's ally. She hated Amaya after Amaya killed her husband. She was forced to accept the marriage proposal of the new Rajah, Angaway, to protect her children. She also got killed when Dian Lamitan told a friend to 'paslangin' (murder)her.

Extended Cast

Cast	Character	Character Information
Angie Ferro	Hilway	The Punong Babaylan (high priestess) of the "Puod" of Rajah Mangubat. She has the ability to communicate with a diwata or an umalagad by letting them possess her body. With Angaway and Atubang, she planned to overthrow Mangubat by using the girl with the twin snake through the fulfillment of her destiny.
Ryan Eigenmann	Angaway †	The grandson of Uray Hilway and a relative of Rajah Mangubat who has lustful intentions towards Amaya. He orchestrated the revolt that usurped Mangubat's power to become the next Rajah. He got killed by Hilway.
Irma Adlawan	Mantal	The umbo or older sister of Dian Lamitan. She was once Lamitan’s closest ally but turned against her to save Marikit from . She was punished by Lamitan to become an Uripon.
Sheena Halili	Ahak	In the past, she was the "hayohay" of Amaya. She became the uripon of Atubang. When Atubang was killed she was automatically freed from being an uripon. She was officially freed by Amaya after they fled their puod.
Roy Alvarez	Awi †	Amaya’s yoyo or uncle. He treated and protected Amaya like his own daughter when his younger brother Datu Bugna died.
Ana Feleo	Bayang	A former Alabay and hayohay of Bagani. She is one of Amaya’s friends.
Roxanne Barcelo	Kayang	The Hayohay of Marikit.
Dion Ignacio	Kuling	He is an uripon and Ahak’s boyfriend.
Buboy Villar	Banuk	The young brother of Bagani. He is the youngest son of Rajah Mangubat and Hara Lingayan.
Abby Bautista	Alunsina	The youngest of the alabays. She is the first one to know Amaya's secret. At first, she is eager to tell Amaya's secret to the Rajah, but then she change her mind and not to tell Amaya's secret. After that, she and Amaya became close friends and she is the only one defending Amaya to the other Alabays. Amaya promises that after she finishes her mission to the people, she will help Alunsina to find her father.
Mon Confiado	Songil	A warrior of Rajah Mangubat. He taught Bagani how to fight. He became Rajah Mangubat’s chief minister when Atubang died.
AJ Dee	Paratawag	A Sandig or warrior of Rajah Mangubat. He is the town crier. He tells the announcement and proclamation of the Rajah.
Rob Sy	Paragahin †	A Sandig or warrior of Rajah Mangubat. He is capable of speaking Malay language. He collects tribute and products for the Rajah. A turncoat who sided with Angaway in his rebellion and consequently became his second-in-command.
Ana Capri	Agang †	An uripon and bestfriend of Dal’lang. She is the mother of Pingas. She is the first to believe in Binayaan's lies. Paragahin kills her by mistake when tasked by Angaway to murder Dal'lang for her (failed) attempt on his life.
Mia Pangyarihan	Silay †	An alabay of Uray Hilway and an ally of Dian Lamitan. Bitten by Kapid (in her snake form) when the former asked her identity and somehow interfered in Amaya's second assault through the puod, slowly succumbing to Kapid's venom, and died in front of Datu Pulajan, to attest to Kapid's power and might as an umalagad.
Yasmien Kurdi	Apila	A female priestess who secrtely admires Dayaw. She is hostile towards Amaya. But when Amaya saved her, they become close friends.
Ronnie Lazaro	Posaka	Chief warrior and Dayaw's courageous father.
Daniel Fernando	Atubang †	Second-in-command to Rajah Mangubat and in charge of the armory. He was the father of Angaway and was killed by Amaya when he attempted to kill her.
Juan Rodrigo	Datu Pulajan	He is the leader of a tribe who became an ally of Dian Lamitan who will help in her revenge against Amaya. They will join forces to rule the tribe.
Leopoldo Wendell Salgado	Banu	One of Bagani’s friends.
Edgar Manuel	Waba †	One of Bagani’s friends.
Jan Manual	Usbog †	One of Bagani’s friends. Killed by Lumad to save Amaya.
Maybelline Dela Cruz	Asinas	A "babaylan". She will act as the teacher of alabays.
Aubrey Miles	Magwayen	The Diwata who takes the dungan or soul to Sulad.
Julius Danielle Gareza	Pingas	Son of Agang.
Pancho Magno	Agul	An uripon of Atubang and friend of Lumad. He became one of Amaya’s allies.
Chrome Cosio	Apong	The uripon of the babaylans.
Yutaka Yamakawa, Jr.	Gadang	A friend of Silay.

Guest Cast

Cast	Character	Character Information
Raymond Bagatsing	Datu Bugna †	The husband of Dian Lamitan. He had a daughter to Dal'lang named Amaya, the woman with a twin snake.
Jordan Herrera	Datu Saghid †	He became Yang Tersayang/ Binayaan’s husband. Betrayed by her wife Binayaan and killed by Datu Bagani.
Sarah Lahbati	Libulan †	The pregnant wife of Lumad. She was killed when Rajah Mangubat raided their banwa.
Dindo Arroyo	Badu †	An uripon that kidnapped the young Amaya (with orders from Dian Lamitan). Killed by the twin snake of Amaya.
Spanky Manikan	Datu Bulang †	The captive saved and freed by Bagani. He became the datu of the mangatangs and became Bagan's mentor. He was betrayed and killed by the mangatang Mardog whom Bagani killed in turn. He was succeeded by Bagani as the datu of the mangatangs.
Rustica Carpio	Digan †	The Punong babaylan (head priestess) who prophesied about the girl with a twin snake. She was killed by Rajah Mangubat.
Janina San Miguel	Hiyas	Mother of Rajah Mangubat
Chris Aguilar	Datu Usog †	Datu of Bayang's and Digan's banwa. He was killed by Rajah Mangubat just by using his index finger.
Archie Adamos	Mardog †	A Mangatang (Pirate) who killed his leader Datu Bulang. He was in turn killed by Bagani.
Jordan Castillo	Taban †	A Mangatang (Pirate) who was killed by Songil.
Antonette Garcia	Ka-ak	Hayohay of Amaya.
Edelweiss Tuzon	Young Amaya
Byron Ortile	Young Bagani
Carlo Lacana	Teen Bagani
Kate Velarde	Young Marikit
Cruzita Salcedo	Young Binayaan
Julian Trono	Young Rajah Mangubat
Abner Delina	Agto

Reception

Ratings

According to data from the more widely recognized industry ratings supplier Nielsen TV Audience Measurement, Amaya enjoyed an impressive 26.2 percent Mega Manila household rating last Monday, May 30. On Tuesday, it ruled once again with 26.7 percent overnight rating.

Anticipation is high for the Kapuso network's most expensive and biggest TV production which is topbilled by a grand ensemble of cast headlined by Marian Rivera.

Citation from National Historical Commission of the Philippines & DepEd

Amaya is promoted by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines and Department of Education due to its cultural concept that shows and depicts the Filipino beliefs,tradition,and mores in the Pre-Hispanic era .It also teaches the history of the Philippines. In means of Epics and Legends that passed through generations.The show’s creators relied heavily on classic Philippine history reference materials such as the Boxer Codex, an early pictographic account of Filipino culture and physical appearances around the time the Spaniards began colonizing the islands. But the historians are quick to remind that the story is still fictional. However Culture scholars has issued a negative statement concerning the series calling it "inaccurate" and "misleading",but despite of those controversy the historians of University of the Philippines defend Amaya and held a conference with its writers and staffs.

Critical Reception

On August 25, 2011, UP Diliman held a discussion forum about the show with the cast present.

Awards and Nominations

Year	Organization	Category	Nominee	Result
2011	Golden Screen Awards	Outstanding Original Drama Series	Amaya	Won
2011	Golden Screen Awards	Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Drama Series:	Marian Rivera	Nominated
2011	Golden Screen Awards	Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Drama Series	Sid Lucero	Nominated
2011	Golden Screen Awards	Outstanding Breakthrough Performance by an Actor	Mikael Daez	Nominated
2011	Golden Screen Awards	Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series	Gardo Versoza	Nominated
2011	Golden Screen Awards	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series	Lani Mercado	Nominated
2011	Golden Screen Awards	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series	Irma Adlawan	Nominated
2011	Golden Screen Awards	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series	Gina Alajar	Won
2011	K-Zone Awards (Philippines)	TV Show of the Year	Amaya	Won
2011	2011 Anak TV Seal Awards	Top 10 Most Child Friendly Program	Amaya	Rank 6

Trivias

• A karakoa , a prehistoric warship, was built for the tv series.

See also

• List of programs broadcast by GMA Network