La Luna Sangre

La Luna Sangre
Genre	Fantasy, Horror, Drama, Romance, Comedy, Action, Suspense, Supernatural
Developed by	Malou N. Santos Des M. De Guzman
Written by	Adam Cornelius Asin Mary Pearl Urtola
Directed by	Richard I. Arellano Rory B. Quintos Mae Cruz-Alviar GB Sampedro (Second Unit) Lester Pimentel (Action) Wang Yanbin (Action) Cathy Garcia-Molina (Pilot Week)
Starring	Kathryn Bernardo Daniel Padilla Richard Gutierrez Angel Locsin
Opening theme	"Ikaw Lang Ang Mamahalin" by KZ Tandingan
Composers	Louie Ocampo Joey Albert
Country of origin	Philippines
Original language	Filipino
No. of episodes	95
Production
Executive producers	Fe Catherine DV Ancheta Marissa Kalaw Kristine P. Sioson
Editors	Joshua Ducasen Mark Angos
Running time	45 minutes (Pilot) 20 - 30 minutes
Production company	Star Creatives
Original release
Network	ABS-CBN
Release	June 19, 2017 (2017-06-19) – present

La Luna Sangre (lit. 'The Blood Moon') is a 2017 Philippine horror-fantasy drama television series. Directed by Richard Arellano, Rory Quintos and Mae Cruz-Alviar, it stars Kathryn Bernardo, Daniel Padilla, Richard Gutierrez, and Angel Locsin. It is the third installment of Lobo and the sequel to Imortal. The series premiered on ABS-CBN's Primetime Bida evening block and worldwide on The Filipino Channel on June 19, 2017, replacing My Dear Heart.

Summary

The series revolves around the prophecy called “la luna sangre”, which says that the daughter of the most powerful vampire and the chosen wolf will end the evil of the vampire marked with the cursed ink.

Following the events from Imortal, Mateo (John Lloyd Cruz) and Lia (Angel Locsin) are living their simple lives as mortals in the corn fields of San Isidro along with their 7 year old mortal daughter. They lost their powers and became mortals when they revived their stillborn infant daughter, Malia (Kathryn Bernardo). They relinquished their leadership of La Liga Unida (or LLU) to werewolf Frederick Arguelles (Victor Neri).

Sandrino (Richard Gutierrez), the king of vampires and also known as the Supremo, heard about the prophecy and ordered all his forces to hunt and kill Mateo, Lia and their daughter Malia to prevent the prophecy's fulfillment and ensure his ascendancy into power.

To protect Malia, LLU mobilized their forces to relocate them from San Isidro to Borneo. Before they could transport them safely, they were betrayed by Veruska (Ina Raymundo), a werewolf and wife of Frederick Arguelles, who pointed their location to the Supremo in exchange for safety of the remaining werewolves. A major battle ensued between the forces of LLU and the Supremo's vampire horde. In the end, Supremo won the battle killing Mateo and Lia. He didn't know that the child he killed in Lia's arms was not the real Malia. In fact, the real Malia was carried off by a werewolf named Baristo (Joross Gamboa) to a secret LLU base in Tanay, Rizal.

Malia was left an orphan under the care of other vampires and werewolves. For the next 14 years, she lived in LLU secret camp. She was reared on martial arts and special battle defense training like the rest of the residents. Everyone pinned their hopes on Malia that destined to save the vampires and werewolves from the tyranny of the Supremo. However, many community members became skeptical after Malia failed to manifest her supernatural powers during her 21th birthday.

Soon, Sandrino located the new LLU's secret camp and decimated most of its members (including the head guardian) that leaving only a handful of what was once a powerful and formidable organization. Though the remnants were scattered after the battle, they eventually find each other in Manila and together with Malia try to pick up the pieces of their group. They keep Malia’s true identity a secret. In Manila, Malia meets Tristan (Daniel Padilla), a young man on a mission to avenge his father's death caused by vampires. Tristan joins up with a youth vigilante group called Moonchasers, whose agenda is to kill vampires and protect Supremo’s targeted victims.

It is at this time that the first part of the prophecy begins to unfold. Malia’s and Tristan’s fates are linked. Jethro Kabigting (Dino Imperial) explained that the “spark” or electric charge they felt when they held hands was similar to Mateo’s and Lia’s in Imortal. The young couple don’t fully understand the impact of their relationship.

Magnus' vampire daughter named Samantha (Maricar Reyes-Poon), who turned her back on her father and chose to ally with Mateo and Lia, returned to help the Moonchasers battle Supremo. She investigated the connection between Tristan and Malia from the two seers, Madame Star (Mel Kimura) and Jethro. Jethro saw a dead Tristan while Madame Star saw a vampire Tristan. Despite Moonchasers and LLU’s shared goals, Samantha is adamant they can’t have a connection. Meanwhile, Samantha learned from Magnus' loyal seer named Barang (Shamaine Centenera-Buencamino) that Sandrino is her half-brother.

Jacintha (Angel Locsin) goes on to investigate Gilbert and discovered his real name is Sandrino Villalobo. Despite this information, she decided to help Gilbert, who has fallen in love with Jacintha, stirring his heart to beat again as a mortal man. Jacintha’s complicity with Samantha was later revealed. Many speculate she is Lia who transformed into a hybrid and together they plan to thwart Supremo’s plans by destroying or weakening his powers.

At the presidential campaign, the Supremo was critically injured. Taking advantage of his weakness, the LLU attacked his lair and killed most of his vampire allies. In retaliation, the Supremo targeted the Moonchasers’ families to convert into vampires or hybrids. Veruska and Greta (Meryll Soriano) were among the victims.

Malia and Tristan remain unaware of each other's role in the prophecy and quickly become close friends. He is stunned after discovering Malia’s alliance with the LLU that consist of vampire and werewolf members.

Tristan was conflicted when he discovered the true nature of the LLU members, but still determined to destroy Supremo. Will Malia be the key to the justice that Tristan is looking for? Will Malia accomplish her mission to end Sandrino's life? How will the prophecy affect the budding romance between Malia and Tristan if they are destined to be enemies?Her parents who were originally destined to be mortal enemies, changed their fate from the strength of their love. Will Malia and Tristan experience the same success or will they fail?

Cast

Main article: List of La Luna Sangre characters

Malia Rodriguez ( Malia Ortega Rodriguez)

Characterized by Kathryn Bernardo (adult) and Erika Clemente (child). The main female protagonist of the series. She is known from Jethro's prophecy as the werewolves’ “new chosen one” who will triumph over all evil vampires under the reign of a vampire born with a mark of the cursed ink before the night of the "la luna sangre". She is the hybrid offspring of Mateo and Lia, a vampire and a werewolf. When her parents died, she began living with the La Liga Unida (or LLU) community under the care of Baristo, Lydia, and Catleya. During her 21th birthday, Malia failed to transform as a werewolf or a vampire. She failed to kill Sandrino as well, during the LLU attack that decimated the community. She was saved by Gael and escaped the massacre. After the massacre, she lived in Manila and took on dual identities as Emilio "Miyo" D. Alcantara (male) and Toni Lumakad (female) as part of her plans to overthrow Supremo. She was shot multiple times in the bottom of the gorge by three policemen who were under Supremo's hypnotic control. She died, but was resurrected by the supernatural power of the full moon. Police authorities found Miyo's bloody clothes, and assumed he was killed. Malia continued with her identity as Toni. Her full powers have not yet manifested, but since her resurrection, it was determined that she has both vampire and werewolf powers. After the successful raid on Supremo’s headquarters, Baristo declared Malia as LLU’s new head guardian.

Tristan Toralba

Characterized by Daniel Padilla (adult) and Justin James Quilantang (child). The main male protagonist of the series. He is Tonio and Rica's mortal son. When Tristan was seven years old, vampires killed his father. He grew up with his maternal aunts, the Sison sisters, who took him to live with them in Manila. His keen interest in vampires and desire to avenge his father’s death led him to join the Moonchasers. He has an aggressive and stubborn personality. Moonchasers' headmaster named Prof. T described him as a warrior and "special, but difficult to control". On the other hand, Moonchasers' founder named Samantha Imperial believes he plays a major role with Malia in Jethro’s prophecy. Jethro saw Tristan as a child linking hands with Malia under the giant full moon. This vision manifested 21 years ago, when Jethro met Tonio and Rica. Jethro laid his hand on Rica's pregnant belly. Madame Star is afraid of Tristan. She used to see him in her dreams before she actually met him. In her dreams, he was walking down a dark alley very similar to where they lived, with glowing red eyes like a vampire.

Sandrino Villalobo

Characterized by Richard Gutierrez (adult) and Zyren Leigh Luansing (child). The main antagonist of the series. His aim is to provide a perfect world for vampires and keep mortals as the vampires’ main food source. He plans to dominate the Philippines and the world. He is the king of vampires and referred to as "Supremo". His powers are more advanced than ordinary vampires. He is Magnus' long lost son and Samantha's adoptive brother. His mortal mother named Maria was one of the many women raped by Magnus in his efforts to sire the child that will save the vampire race as foretold in Barang's prophecy. Sandrino considers himself as the vampires’ true chosen one because he killed Mateo. During Sandrino's childhood, his mother imprisoned him due to his violent blood thirsty acts. He eventually killed her. His nanny helped him escape until Barang came, took him away and reared him. He is the vampire marked with the cursed ink, whose downfall was prophesied to happen by the hand of the new chosen one. His determination to prevent the prophecy's fulfillment drove him to pursue and destroy Malia and her connections. However, the prophecy changed a decade later when Jethro saw a new vision that the Supremo did not die and will rise on the evening of the blood moon. The Supremo is using his alter-ego as Gilbert Imperial, Youtopia's founder and CEO, to fulfill his plans by running as the president of the Philippines with the help of his political strategist named Jacintha. Falling in love with his strategist made him vulnerable, awakened his heart and weakened his powers.

Lia Ortega-Rodriguez/Jacintha Magsaysay

Characterized by Angel Locsin. Known as the chosen wolf in Imortal series. She is the youngest among the three children of Noah and Lyka. She is Mateo’s wife and together established La Liga Unida (or LLU). She became a mortal woman when she and Mateo transferred their powers to revive their infant daughter, Malia. Her family's peaceful life in San Isidro ended when Supremo discovered their whereabouts due to Veruska's betrayal. Lia saved her daughter's life when she switched her child with another child. She was supposedly killed by Supremo, along with her husband Mateo. 14 years later, Jacintha Magsaysay surfaced. She appears to be Lia Ortega-Rodriguez' Doppelgänger. Gilbert Imperial flew to Jakarta, Indonesia to hire her as his Political Strategist to aid him in his campaign for President of the Philippines. Suspecting she was Lia, Gilbert tested her constantly until he was convinced Jacintha and Lia were not the same person. Jacintha was born in Negros Oriental, though she spent all her high school and college years in Dumaguete. After graduating, Jacintha joined one of the largest PR Communications firm owned by her former university professor, Bill Mejia. Through his firm, she was retained by the current president of Indonesia, as his permanent consultant, since he credits her for leading his campaign strategy and winning the presidency for him, despite a major scandal. Jacintha joined Gilbert to lead his campaign, but not until after she investigated his background and confirmed that he was Sandrino. She participated in a conspiracy to destroy Supremo at the presidential campaign but failed. She was revealed as the woman behind the red robes who previously attempted to assassinate Supremo. After killing Barang, a vampire seer who raised Sandrino, this proved how much she's changed over the years. As Jacintha, she can kill anyone in her way with no hesitation. Jacintha is working with Samantha, plotting to weaken Supremo and his organization, and deliver him to Malia to defeat him. She reprised her role from Imortal.

Reception

Kantar Media National TV Ratings
(8:30PM PST)

Pilot Episode	Finale Episode	Peak	Average
33.9% June 19, 2017	TBD	36.8% September 19, 2017	TBD

Production

The writers of the series are Adam Cornelius Asin who wrote for the 2015 iteration of Pangako Sa'Yo and Mary Pearl Urtola who wrote for Dolce Amore.

Marketing

La Luna Sangre was first revealed during the network's trade launch on November 2016. After releasing another teaser trailer on late March 2017, the soap opera premiered on June 19, 2017.

Since May 15, 2017, ABS-CBN has started uploading all the episodes of Lobo and Imortal on the network's Youtube channel, as prior to the premiere of La Luna Sangre.

In October 4, 2017, iWant TV exclusively expands La Luna Sangre universe with "Youtopia" web series which centers on a group of friends whose friendships and trust in each other are tested, as they cross paths with the vampires of Sandrino’s army. The Youtopia's cast are Axel Torres (played as Ryan Magno), Edrei Tan (played as Charlie Magno), Kate Alejandrino (played as Nica Enriquez), Jal Galang (played as Benj Alvarado), Gabby Padilla (played as Viv Enriquez), Mary Joy Apostol (played as Alex Alvarado), and Larissa Alivio (played as Crystal Reyes).

See also

• List of programs broadcast by ABS-CBN
• List of drama series of ABS-CBN
• List of vampire television series