Amaya: The First Philippine Historical Series on Primetime

[Guest kapuso4ever]

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.

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 Batangas, 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 IMBd list of Best TV Shows for 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

The story is set in Central Visayas in the 1500s, during the time of Rajah Mangubat's reign. He was not only known as a good warrior, but also as an undefeated one. Nobody stood a chance against him especially with his extraordinary battle skills and extra ordinary strength that even his fingertips emanate power. In one of Rajah Mangubat's expeditions, he met a village priestess or babaylan who prophesized that he would be killed by a woman with a twin snake someday.Because of this prophesy, Rajah Mangubat killed the said Punong Babaylan.

Rajah Mangubat becomes anxious about the prophecy not only because he will eventually be killed, but also because the person who will take over his power is a girl - a girl who has a snake for a twin. With this, he orders his warriors to kill all pregnant women in his own village tribe and the other villages that are under his govern.Only Datu Bugna's village survives Rajah Mangubat's terror because they have long been friends and alliances.

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. Amaya is Datu Bugna's daughter from Dal'lang, an uripon. And because he wants to protect Amaya, he hides her in a secret chamber as a "binukot" and tells her that Dal'lang, is already dead. Amaya's twin snake is thrown away to the forest and is told that it may only come back if Amaya is in dire need of help.

Amaya has once attempted to escape from her chamber when she wanted to see the outside world for the first time. That was when she saw Prince Bagani for the first time. They immediately fell in love with each other. No matter the distance and the years that have passed, they still have not forgotten that day when they first met.

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, turns her as one of his new slaves. 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.

[Guest ikkie_monster]

thanx kapuso4ever for making this thread...i hope that this thread will be like in PEX that reached 9 threads...reminders everyone...if your going to post in Tagalog or any dialect in the Philippines, please give subtitles...or use English as a mode of communication...thanx...see you around

[Guest kapuso4ever]

Cast and Characters

Main cast

• 
  
  
• Marian Rivera as Amaya, the daughter of Datu Bugna and Dal'lang. Destined to put an end to the reign of terror of Rajah Mangubat. Will fall deeply in love with Bagani. She is a Bai (princess), but will soon become an uripon (slave) due to Dian Lamitan's treachery, and finally become a "Punong Alabay" (Babaylan's head apprentice).
  
• Sid Lucero as Bagani, the son and heir of Rajah Mangubat. Will fall deeply in love with Amaya but will be forced to avoid her after he finds out Amaya's secret. He married Marikit, but the marriage is later annulled.
  
• Mikael Daez as Lumad, an uripon of Atubang. Was once the son of a Datu, until their puod was raided by Rajah Mangubat. She has a wife named Nibulan and their unborn son but was killed in the raid.
  
• Glaiza de Castro as Binayaan, the second daughter of Datu Bugna and Dian Lamitan. Her name, Binayaan comes from the word baya which means left alone/forsaken. Unloved by her parents (they are expecting a male child), she will pretend as Amaya when Dal'lang found her during the invasion of Rajah Mangubat. She changed her name as "Yang Tersayang" (which means beloved one).
  
• Rochelle Pangilinan as Marikit, the first daughter of Datu Bugna and Dian Lamitan. She was the wife of Bagani (although the marriage is annulled) and prevent him from falling to Amaya at all costs.
  
• Gardo Versoza as 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.
  
• Lani Mercado as Dal'lang, the uripon mother of Amaya. She is loving and caring. She wishes to be with her daughter.
  
• Gina Alajar as Dian Lamitan, the wife of Datu Bugna. She is violent against Amaya due to her being Bugna and Dal'ang's daughter.
  
• Raymond Bagatsing as Datu Bugna, the husband of Dian Lamitan. He had a daughter to Dal'lang named Amaya, the woman with a twin snake
  

Extended cast

Timawa, Tumao, and Babaylan

• 
  
  
• Ryan Eigenmann as Angaway, the grandson of Uray Hilway and a relative of Rajah Mangubat, has lustful intentions towards Amaya. He plans to overthrow Mangubat and become the next Rajah.
  
• Irma Adlawan as Mantal, the umbo of Dian Lamitan.
  
• Ayen Munji-Laurel as Hara Lingayan, the wife of Rajah Mangubat.
  
• Robert Villar as Banuk, the young brother of Bagani.
  
• Abby Bautista as Alunsina, the youngest of the alabays. She is the first one to know Amaya's secret
  
• Angie Ferro as Uray Hilway, the Punong Babaylan (head 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 plans to overthrow Mangubat by using the girl with the twin snake fulfill her destiny.
  
• Mon Confiado as Songil, a warrior of Rajah Mangubat
  
• AJ Dee as Paratawag, a warrior of Rajah Mangubat
  
• Rob Sy as Paragahin, a warrior of Rajah Mangubat
  
• Mia Pangyarihan as Silay, an alabay of Uray Hilway
  
• Daniel Fernando as Atubang, second-in-command to Rajah Mangubat and in charge of the armory.
  
• Janina San Miguel as Hiyas
  
• Jan Manual as Usbog
  
• Maybelyn Dela Cruz as Asinas, a "babaylan". She will act as the teacher of alabays.
  
• Tanya Garcia as Pandaki
  
• Aubrey Miles as Magwayen
  

Uripon

• 
  
  
• Roy Alvarez as Awi, the brother of Datu Bugna. Being an ally to Rajah Mangubat in the past, he was not killed but turned into an uripon.
  
• Sheena Halili as Ahak, in the past, she was the "ayuey" of Amaya. Currently the uripon of Atubang.
  
• Ana Capri as Agang, an uripon in the Banwa of Datu Bugna
  
• Ana Feleo as Bayang, a former alabay and the hayohay of Bagani.
  
• Roxanne Barcelo as Kayang, the hayohay of Marikit
  
• Dion Ignacio as Kuling, an uripon of Atubang
  
• Pancho Magno as Agul, an uripon/panday of Atubang
  
• Dindo Arroyo as Badu, an uripon that kidnapped the young Amaya (with commands from Dian Lamitan). Killed by the twin snake of Amaya.
  

thanx kapuso4ever for making this thread...i hope that this thread will be like in PEX that reached 9 threads...reminders everyone...if your going to post in Tagalog or any dialect in the Philippines, please give subtitles...or use English as a mode of communication...thanx...see you around

I agree. We must remember that this is a forum that is frequented not only by us Filipinos, but more so by non-Filipino netizens.

[Guest kapuso4ever]

IGMA.TV

AMAYA

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

http://www.igma.tv/amaya

FACEBOOK

Official page: https://www.facebook.com/AmayaGMA

Unofficial page: https://www.facebook.com/AmayaGMA7

TWITTER

http://twitter.com/#!/AmayaGMA

http://twitter.com/#!/GMAAmaya

Vietnam Thread

Amaya Vietnamese Thread

Episode Recaps

http://filipinasinshowbiz.com

http://www.pinoydramarewind.com/

Amaya Teasers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2X2Rfp7fLVE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gy44aag3L1I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3AoqlJdAdY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmL2u8GmflU

[Guest ikkie_monster]

Talahuluganan (Glossary)

Abba - God

Alabay - Babaylan apprentice

Alibugha - prodigal

Anito - sacrifice, formal act of worship conducted by a babaylan

Atubang - adviser, minister

Babaylan - shamans or spirit mediums, priestess

Baba - Father

Bakunawa - a dragon-like snake that rises from the sea and reaches up to the sky to brazenly eat the moon. It is considered to be the cause of eclipses.

Bai - princess

Balay - house

Bana - spouse

Banwa - territory/community

Baroto - boat or canoe

Bata-bata - dolls made from wood

Batuk - tattoo

Bankaw - spear

Baladaw - short broad dagger

Binukot - young women(usually the daughters of a datu or rajah)who were kept inside the house away from public eye

Bingil - virgin

Bugay - dowry

Bugna - destiny

Bulawan - gold

Bunga - Betel nut

Busaw - engkanto / forest spirits

Datu - chief or a lord of vassals

Dada - auntie

Diwata - Gods/Goddesses

Gahat - to raid by land

Ginoo - prince

Gubat - general term for warfare

Iloy - mother

Haop - Datu's following (barangay)

Hara - wife of a Rajah

Hayohay - an uripon (slave)

Hilugo - blood price

Himalad – palm reading

Himaraw - gift

Husay - comb / hair accessory

Ilawod - downstream

Iraya - upstream

Kalag - soul

Kadatoan - from a lineage of a datu or any nobility

Kagon - Mediator

Kaponoan – most sovereign

Karakoa - warship

Kandu - poem

Kampilan - a heavy pointed cutlass or sword

Kapid - twin

Katipan - boyfriend

Ka-uban - companion

Kiral - lewd or a prostitute

Kalis - Kris(sword)

Kunggit - sungka

Lalangban - spiritual river

Paganito - an act of sacrifice

Pagka-bingi - virginity

Pag-unong - Suicide

Panday - blacksmiths,general term for carpenters,boat-builders and jewellers

Pangasi - Rice Wine

Putong - turbanlike male headdress

Rajah - ruler

Mabaw - illegitimate child

Magdaragat - sea man

Maiisog - brave

Mangayaw - to raid by sea

Mangkaw - marriage courtship

Saad - heaven

Sandig - warrior

Sandil - secondary wives

Silat - a kind of toothbrush made of vegetable husk for cleaning and polishing the teeth

Sulad - land of the dead / purgatory

Tagna - prophecy

Tanlag - conscience

Tala - star

Timawa - freeman

Tinubos - redeemed or ransomed

Tumao - Second degree royal lineage; lower nobleman or woman

Oyo - a polite term by w/c an older brother addressed his younger brother

Yoyo - uncle

Umalagad - ancestor spirits

Ungwento - ointment

Uripon - slave

Umbo - term for an older sibling

[Guest ikkie_monster]

additional information regarding the cast and characters:

Cast and Characters

Main cast

• Marian Rivera as Amaya, the daughter of Datu Bugna and Dal'lang. Destined to put an end to the reign of terror of Rajah Mangubat. Will fall deeply in love with Bagani. She is a Bai (princess), due to Dian Lamitan's treachery she will become an "uripon" (slave) but after escaping the clutches of death she became a "punong alabay' (shrine maiden) and eventually, she was choosen by Hilway to be her apprentice to become the next punong babaylan (head priestess)
• Sid Lucero as Bagani, the son and heir of Rajah Mangubat. He falls in love with Amaya the first time that he will she her. He first meets Amaya when they are still small when Bagani earns his first batuk (tattoo.) He will do everything in his power to save Amaya. Later,he will be forced to marry Marikit, in exchange of Amaya's safety. He will know the truth about Amaya's twin snake but he will stop fate at all cost so that the foretold fate will not come true
• Mikael Daez as Lumad, an uripon of Atubang. Was once the son of a Datu, until their puod was raided by Rajah Mangubat. She has a wife named Nibulan and their unborn son but was killed in the raid. He will help Amaya in her quest.
• Glaiza de Castro as Binayaan, the second daughter of Datu Bugna and Dian Lamitan. Her name, Binayaan comes from the word baya which means left alone/forsaken. Unloved by her parents (they are expecting a male child), she will pretend as Amaya when Dal'lang found her during the invasion of Rajah Mangubat. She changed her name as "Yang Tersayang" (which means beloved one). She will capture the heart of a young datu named Datu Saghid
• Rochelle Pangilinan as Marikit, the first daughter of Datu Bugna and Dian Lamitan. She was the wife of Bagani (although the marriage is annulled) and prevent him from falling to Amaya at all costs. She will later become one of Rajah Mangubat' sandil (concubine)
• Gardo Versoza as 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. It is also said that power emanates even from his fingertips
• Lani Mercado as Dal'lang, the uripon mother of Amaya. She is loving and caring. She wishes to be with her daughter. Thought to be dead due to Dian Lamitan's doing,she will take care of Binayaan thinking that she is Amaya.
• Gina Alajar as Dian Lamitan, the wife of Datu Bugna. She is violent against Amaya due to her being Bugna and Dal'ang's daughter. She will do everything to keep her power and stature in the village
• Raymond Bagatsing as Datu Bugna, the husband of Dian Lamitan. He had a daughter to Dal'lang named Amaya, the woman with a twin snake. He will be very protective when it comes to Amaya. He will die in the hands of Rajah Mangubat because of the accusations of Dian Lamitan against him.

Extended cast
Timawa, Tumao, and Babaylan

• Ryan Eigenmann as Angaway, the grandson of Uray Hilway and a relative of Rajah Mangubat, has lustful intentions towards Amaya. He plans to overthrow Mangubat and become the next Rajah. He was bitten by Amaya's twin snake when they used Amaya to threaten Bagani
• Irma Adlawan as Mantal, the umbo of Dian Lamitan. She has dual characteristics and usually manipulates Dian Lamitan when they are scheming plans against Amaya
• Ayen Munji-Laurel as Hara Lingayan, the wife of Rajah Mangubat.
• Robert Villar as Banuk, the young brother of Bagani. When Bagani was overthrown as the successor,he was named by Rajah Mangubat as the apparent heir to the thrown
• Abby Bautista as Alunsina, the youngest of the alabays. She is the first one to know Amaya's secret, for a certian period,she vowed that she will tell Amaya's secret but decided to keep it due to Amaya's kindness
• Angie Ferro as Uray Hilway, the Punong Babaylan (head 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 plans to overthrow Mangubat by using the girl with the twin snake fulfill her destiny. But she will later decide to train Amaya as her apprentice to help her in her schemes
• Mon Confiado as Songil, a warrior of Rajah Mangubat. Later choosen to be the next in command when atubang was killed by Amaya
• AJ Dee as Paratawag, a warrior of Rajah Mangubat. He is in charge of the communications from the Rajah
• Rob Sy as Paragahin, a warrior of Rajah Mangubat. He is often seen as the messenger of the Rajah in other villages
• Mia Pangyarihan as Silay, an alabay of Uray Hilway. She doesn't like Amaya because she sees her as a threat to her in becoming an alabay (priestess)
• Daniel Fernando as Atubang, second-in-command to Rajah Mangubat and in charge of the armory. Later killed by Amaya in a duel
• Janina San Miguel as Hiyas Rajah Mangubat's mother
• Jan Manual as Usbog the trusted uripon (slave) of Bagani. He will later be killed by Amaya in a duel
• Maybelyn Dela Cruz as Asinas, a "babaylan". She will act as the teacher of alabays. She will help Amaya in finding her mother
• Tanya Garcia as Pandaki the diwata (fairy) that brings the soul of a person who isn't destined yet to die due to other important tasks that needs to be done
• Aubrey Miles as Magwayen  the diwata that brings souls to the sulad (purgatory)

• Roy Alvarez as Awi, the brother of Datu Bugna. Being an ally to Rajah Mangubat in the past, he was not killed but turned into an uripon.
• Sheena Halili as Ahak, in the past, she was the "ayuey" of Amaya. Currently the uripon of Atubang.
• Ana Capri as Agang, an uripon in the Banwa of Datu Bugna. She is Dal'lang friend
• Ana Feleo as Bayang, a former alabay and the hayohay of Bagani. She will serve as Amaya's confidant
• Roxanne Barcelo as Kayang, the hayohay of Marikit. When Amaya was still an uripon, she helped Amaya in the tasks that Dian Lamitan gives her
• Dion Ignacio as Kuling, an uripon of Atubang
• Pancho Magno as Agul, an uripon/panday of Atubang
• Dindo Arroyo as Badu, an uripon that kidnapped the young Amaya (with commands from Dian Lamitan). Killed by the twin snake of Amaya.

[Guest ikkie_monster]

The Amaya Cast, Characters and Crew:

The Creator/ Writer Suzette Doctolero

The Director: Mac Alejandre

Marian Rivera as Amaya

Sid Lucero as Bagani

Mikael Daez as Lumad

Glaiza De Castro as Binayaan/ Yang Terasayang

Rochelle Pangilinan as Marikit

Raymond Bagatsing as Datu Bugna

Lani Mercado-Revilla as Dal'lang

Gardo Versoza as Rajah Mangubat

Gina Alajar as Dian Lamitan

[Guest yoonaok]

for real this is soompi amaya thread !!!!!!!!!wowwwwwwwww....

[Guest lady_sujini]

Amaya For The Win!   

[Guest lady_sujini]

Irma Adlwan as Mantal

Roy Alvarez as Awi

Ana Capri as Agang

Robert "Buboy" Villar as Banuk

Ryan Eigenmann as Angaway 

Ayen Munji Laurel as Hara Lingayan

Sheena Halili as Ahak

Roxanne Barcelo as Kayang

Ana Feleo as Bayang

Dion Ignacio as Kuling

Angie Ferro as High Priestess Hilway

Mia Pangyarihan as Silay

AJ Dee as Paratawag

Mon Confiado as Songil

Daniel Fernando as Atubang

Leopoldo "Wendell" Salgado as Banu

Edgar "Egay" Manuel as Waba

Jan Manual as Usbog

Rob Sy as Paragahin

Pancho Magno as Agul

Leon Miguel as one of the warriors

[Guest yoonaok]

peeps in pex should come and visit here too ,lets keep this thread rolling

[Guest reigne80]

congrats guys for making an amaya thread here :-)..

^yoonaok: yeah pexers should come and post often here, im sure this thread will be as lively just like in pex

[Guest AmayaBenBugna]

credit to il_borderline

Amaya braving the forests with the help of her twin (reliable GPRS substitute and live bracelet)

that look ...

secrets of the snake sisterhood (LOL)

kiss to a snake (EEK!!!)

that face, that beauty, that allure ...

[Guest LeCiel.]

Ooh, I watch this sometimes on GMA Pinoy TV. Haha.

[Millie]

It's about time somebody makes a series showcasing our own culture. True, we were a victim of colonization, but what country wasn't? It's up to us to reclaim and reestablish our own identity. I'm actually ABS-CBN biased, but I've always admired GMA for making shows like these, starting with Mulawin and Encantadia. =) Even if the results aren't yet comparable to counterparts in other countries, this is just the first step. I hope our TV show industry develops more and more.

[Guest lady_sujini]

Abby Bautista as Alunsina

Rustica Carpio as High Priestess Digan 

Maybelline Dela Cruz as Asinas

as Nana Sala

Luz Fernandez as Gawas

as Bitoon

as Abyang

as Apong

Perla Bautista as Uray Gurang

Bituin Escalante as Epic Chanter

Aubrey Miles as the Goddess Magwayen

Tanya Garcia as the Goddess Pandaki

as the God Munsad Buralakaw

Dindo Arroyo as Badu

Janina San Miguel as Hiyas

Sarah Lahbati as Libulan

Edelweiss Jhyreele Tuzon as young Amaya

Carlo Lacana as young Bagani

Byron Ortile as young Bagani

Julian Trono as young Rajah Mangubat

Kate Velarde as young Marikit

Francheska "Cruzita" Salcedo as young Binayaan

Amaya Photos

[Guest yoonaok]

goodness binayaan and amaya will get to meet tom. episode ,my heart stop for a while with that scene i kinda like lumad character than bagani ,seriously .

[uruchai]

I guess it's safe to promote here the english-subtitled episodes.

i'm sure most soompiers are aware of this site, viki. here's the link:

http://en.viki.com/channels/3306-amaya

[Guest butteredapples]

i love the deep filipino words that they're using here in Amaya.

made me miss my Filipino teachers waaaay back in highschool and college ;]

atleast here, we'll know who are the fellow pinoys ;p

[Guest yoonaok]

this week episodes is quite unpredictable