Encantadia Chronicles: Sang'gre
Encantadia Chronicles: Sang'gre is a Philippine fantasy drama television series that premiered on June 16, 2025, on GMA Prime, serving as a spin-off and continuation of the iconic Encantadia franchise.[1] The series follows Terra, a timid 18-year-old girl raised in the mortal world with the unique ability to communicate with animals, who discovers her destiny as the last princess of the enchanted realm of Encantadia upon awakening her superpowers.[2] Alongside a new generation of royal diwatas known as Sang'gres—including Adamus, Deia, and Flamarra—she must battle the malevolent Queen Mitena of Nyebe, who seeks to conquer Encantadia and threaten the human world.[3] The narrative weaves together elements from the original 2005 Encantadia series, with returning characters such as the Sang'gres Pirena, Danaya, Alena, and Amihan providing guidance to the protagonists amid themes of destiny, family legacy, and epic confrontations between good and evil.[3] Produced by GMA Network, the show features a creative team led by head writer Onay Sales-Camero and original concept creator Suzette Doctolero, under the direction of Enzo Williams, and airs weekdays at 8:00 PM, with episodes typically lasting 45 minutes.[3] Key cast members include Bianca Umali as the central character Terra, Faith Da Silva as Flamarra, Angel Guardian as Deia, Kelvin Miranda as Adamus, and Rhian Ramos as the antagonist Mitena, while veteran actresses Glaiza de Castro, Sanya Lopez, Gabbi Garcia, and Kylie Padilla reprise their roles as the original Sang'gres.[3] As of November 2025, the series has aired over 100 episodes, continuing to expand the lore of Encantadia with high-stakes adventures, magical transformations, and explorations of royal bloodlines.[4]Background
Franchise Origins
The Encantadia franchise originated with the creation of its inaugural television series in 2005, conceived by screenwriter Suzette Doctolero during a GMA Network drama summit in 2003 aimed at developing original content distinct from competitors. Initially pitched as a fantasy film idea to network executive Jimmy Duavit, the concept evolved into a full-fledged soap opera format after two years of pre-production, premiering on May 2, 2005, as a groundbreaking Philippine telefantasya directed by Mark A. Reyes. Doctolero, drawing from Filipino folklore and mythology, crafted a narrative centered on a mythical realm, with the title "Encantadia" coined by writer Don Michael Perez and expanded to include a unique language and societal structures.[5] At its core, the franchise revolves around Diwatas—ethereal fairy-like beings—and the four elemental gems representing Earth, Fire, Water, and Air, which hold immense power and drive conflicts among kingdoms such as the wind-swept Lireo, the earth-bound Sapiro, the water-aligned Adamya, and the fire-ruled Hathoria. These elements underscore ongoing struggles between forces of good and evil, emphasizing themes of sisterhood, duty, and resilience in a matriarchal society inspired by indigenous Philippine myths. The original series shifted focus from an initial love story between secondary characters to the four Sang'gre princesses as leads, a change prompted by strong audience engagement that solidified the franchise's emphasis on empowered female warriors.[6] The franchise expanded shortly after with Etheria: Ang Ikalimang Kaharian ng Encantadia, a 50-episode sequel-prequel that premiered on December 12, 2005, on GMA Network, transporting characters back in time to explore ancient histories and further enrich the lore. This was followed by a major reboot in 2016, marking the fourth installment and celebrating the original's 10-year anniversary as a "requel" blending retelling and sequel elements to appeal to new and returning viewers. The 2016 production scaled up significantly, with costs doubling or tripling from 2005 levels, incorporating advanced technologies like 3D-printed props, animatronics, and drone cinematography, while filming across remote Philippine locations such as Fortune Island and Rizal province. This reboot played a pivotal role in revitalizing Pinoy fantasy television, fostering a dedicated fanbase known as Encantadiks and sparking discussions on Filipino mythology through merchandise and cultural references.[7][8] Across its early iterations up to 2016, the franchise achieved substantial viewership milestones, with the 2005 series peaking at a 51.7% rating for a single episode according to AGB Nielsen, topping primetime charts and securing a 49.9% viewership share in Mega Manila at its height. The 2016 reboot similarly dominated Urban Luzon ratings, often leading nationwide primetime slots despite competition from high-rated dramas, and contributed to GMA Network's overall leadership in 2016 full-year ratings. Awards recognized its excellence, including the 2005 Teleserye of the Year accolade and Golden Screen TV Awards for outstanding performances, while the reboot earned the 2017 Apollo Awards for Best Visual Effects in the long-form category, highlighting its production innovations and cultural resonance in Philippine media.[9][10][11][12][13]Connection to Prior Series
Encantadia Chronicles: Sang'gre serves as a direct sequel and spin-off to the 2016 reboot of Encantadia, shifting focus to the next generation of characters following the resolution of the prior series' events.[1][14] In the 2016 finale, Encantadia achieves peace under Queen Danaya's rule after the defeat of major threats like the Hathors, setting the stage for new conflicts involving undiscovered royal lineage.[15] This continuity allows Sang'gre to explore lingering elements from the established canon while introducing fresh narratives tied to the original 2005 series that launched the franchise.[1] Key returning characters reinforce the narrative bridge, with core Sang'gre sisters reprising their roles to guide the storyline. Sanya Lopez returns as Hara Danaya, the steadfast queen; Glaiza de Castro as Hara Pirena, the cunning yet reformed sister; Kylie Padilla as Hara Amihan, the ethereal warrior; and Gabbi Garcia as Hara Alena, the compassionate healer.[1] These portrayals maintain character arcs from 2016, such as Danaya's protective leadership, while integrating into plots centered on lost royalty emerging from the human world.[15] The production's intent, announced by GMA Network on December 31, 2021, emphasized continuing the saga with innovative stories that honor the existing lore and appeal to both longtime fans and new audiences. Originally planned for a 2022 release, the series premiered on June 16, 2025.[14][16] This approach ensures Sang'gre builds directly on the 2016 resolution, where Encantadia's stability is tested by crossovers between realms and unresolved royal bloodlines, without altering prior canon.[1]Premise and Setting
Core Plot
Encantadia Chronicles: Sang'gre centers on Terra, portrayed by Bianca Umali, the long-lost daughter of Queen Danaya, who was raised in the mortal world without knowledge of her royal Sang'gre lineage as a keeper of the Earth Gem.[2][17] On her 18th birthday, Terra awakens to her latent superpowers, prompting her return to the enchanted realm of Encantadia, where she confronts the villainous Mitena, played by Rhian Ramos, a powerful antagonist intent on seizing control and disrupting the balance between realms.[2][18] The narrative unfolds through Terra's transformative journey to embrace her destined role, forging alliances with fellow Sang'gres amid escalating conflicts over the four elemental gems that maintain Encantadia's harmony.[19][20] As of November 19, 2025, the series has aired 113 episodes, divided into key arcs highlighting Terra's awakening, invasions threatening the realms, and reunions that strengthen familial bonds among the Sang'gres.[21]Mythological Elements
In the mythology of Encantadia Chronicles: Sang'gre, diwatas are depicted as immortal, ethereal beings who serve as guardians of the enchanted realm of Encantadia, possessing innate affinities to the four classical elements—fire, air, water, and earth—which influence their abilities and roles in preserving cosmic balance.[3] These affinities grant diwatas enhanced resilience, longevity, and elemental manipulation, allowing them to wield natural forces in defense of their world, though they remain vulnerable to specific weaknesses such as iron weapons or disruptions in elemental harmony.[3] Sang'gre represent the elite royal bloodline among diwatas, inheriting amplified powers that surpass those of ordinary diwatas, including heightened elemental control and the capacity to bond with sacred artifacts.[3] This lineage traces back to ancient queens like Minea, emphasizing themes of destiny, inheritance, and leadership in maintaining Encantadia's equilibrium against chaos.[22] Central to the lore are the four elemental gems, known as the Brilyante ng Apoy (Gem of Fire), Brilyante ng Hangin (Gem of Air), Brilyante ng Tubig (Gem of Water), and Brilyante ng Lupa (Gem of Earth), which were originally cleaved from a singular Mother Gem by the elder diwata Cassiopea to prevent any single entity from wielding absolute power and to distribute guardianship among the kingdoms.[22] Each gem embodies its respective element and bestows profound abilities upon its keeper, a Sang'gre selected for their purity and strength; for instance, the Brilyante ng Apoy enables the wielder to generate fire blasts, absorb heat, and shapeshift into flames for evasion, while the Brilyante ng Lupa allows landscape manipulation, wound healing through earth energies, and animal communication to summon allies.[23] The Brilyante ng Hangin grants flight, wind control for barriers or attacks, and spirit detection, and the Brilyante ng Tubig facilitates water summoning, memory alteration, and purity testing to discern truth.[23] Historically, these gems have served as both instruments of protection and sources of conflict, symbolizing the fragile balance of elements; their guardians are bound by oaths to prevent misuse, as imbalance could lead to the realm's destruction.[22] Encantadia itself is structured as a multifaceted world comprising distinct kingdoms interconnected by mystical portals that enable travel between realms, governed by ancient rules limiting crossings to those with diwata blood or gem authorization to avoid corruption by external influences.[3] The primary kingdoms include Lireo, the matriarchal diwata stronghold focused on wisdom and air affinities; Sapiro, a warrior realm emphasizing earth-based strength and sword mastery; and Adamya, a serene territory aligned with water elements, serving as a neutral haven for healing and diplomacy.[3] Opposing these is Hathoria, a shadowy domain tied to fire and conquest, home to antagonistic hathors who seek dominance over the gems.[3] Adjacent to Encantadia lies the Mundo ng Tao, the mortal human world, separated by veils that portals pierce, allowing rare interactions but risking the exposure of magical secrets.[3] In Sang'gre, the mythology evolves with the introduction of hybrid human-diwata dynamics, exemplified by protagonists raised in the Mundo ng Tao who awaken latent powers upon discovering their heritage, blending mortal resilience with diwata immortality.[3] This iteration also expands gem lore post the 2016 series events, incorporating prophecies of new keepers who must reunite the gems amid emerging threats like ice-based sorcery, reinforcing the ongoing theme of adaptation in elemental guardianship.[3]Cast and Characters
Lead Roles
Terra (Bianca Umali)Sang'gre Terra serves as the central protagonist of Encantadia Chronicles: Sang'gre, portrayed by Bianca Umali as the innocent yet powerful heir to the Earth Gem, raised in the human world by her mother Danaya and stepfather Theo after being hidden from Encantadia's dangers.[1] Her character arc traces a transformative journey from an ordinary mortal life—where she operates as a superhero codenamed "Sang'gre"—to embracing her royal destiny as a warrior destined to protect Encantadia and confront emerging threats like the ice queen Mitena.[1] Umali, a rising star at GMA Network since her early roles in fantasy series like Mulawin vs. Ravena (2017), was selected for Terra three years prior to the premiere, marking her lead debut in the franchise after appearing in promotional concept art revealed at a 2023 comic con.[24][25] Danaya (Sanya Lopez)
Sanya Lopez reprises her role as Sang'gre Danaya, the steadfast queen of Lireo and protective mother figure to Terra, whose arc in the series explores themes of grief, resilience, and renewed love following the tragic deaths of her first husband Aquil and daughter Gaiea, leading her to unleash her elemental powers in defense of her family and realm.[26][27] As a returning character from the 2016 Encantadia series, Danaya mentors the new generation of gem keepers while navigating alliances against antagonistic forces, emphasizing her evolution from a young Sang'gre to a wise, unyielding leader.[1] Lopez, who first embodied Danaya in the 2016 reboot and earned acclaim for her portrayal of the earth-wielding royal, brings depth to the character's vulnerability and strength, drawing on her established chemistry with co-stars from the original production.[28] Pirena (Glaiza de Castro)
Glaiza de Castro reprises her role as Sang'gre Pirena, the cunning and strategic Hara of Lireo, whose arc involves leveraging her fiery intellect and lineage to guide the new Sang'gres, forge alliances, and counter threats from Mitena while exploring themes of redemption and sisterhood.[29][1] As a key figure from the 2016 series, Pirena influences internal dynamics and battles, balancing her complex past with protective instincts toward the protagonists. De Castro, acclaimed for her original portrayal, infuses the role with intensity and nuance, building on her franchise legacy.[30] Mitena (Rhian Ramos)
Rhian Ramos embodies Mitena, the primary antagonist and ambitious ice queen of Nyebe (formerly Mine-a-ve), whose ruthless pursuit of the throne and vengeance against the Sang'gres drives much of the series' conflict, positioning her as Encantadia's most malevolent force with powers rooted in cold and deception.[1][31] Mitena's arc highlights her transformation from a displaced royal to a vengeful overlord, challenging the gem keepers through manipulation and battles that test the protagonists' unity.[32] Ramos, known for dramatic roles in GMA productions, was handpicked for this villainous turn despite initially avoiding fantaseryes, marking her shift to high-impact antagonistic characters in the network's fantasy genre.[33][34] Alena (Gabbi Garcia)
Gabbi Garcia returns as Sang'gre Alena, the compassionate and warm-hearted Hara of Lireo, whose arc focuses on familial bonds and protective instincts as she supports Terra's emergence while confronting threats to the Sang'gre lineage, often serving as the emotional anchor among the sisters.[1] In her reprisal from the 2016 series, Alena's journey intertwines with Terra's, emphasizing themes of sisterhood and redemption amid escalating wars.[35] Garcia, who broke out with the role of Alena at age 17 in the 2016 reboot, infuses the character with grace and power, reflecting nearly a decade of growth in her performance.[36] Amihan (Kylie Padilla)
Kylie Padilla reprises Sang'gre Amihan, the fierce warrior queen and eldest sister figure, whose protective role extends to guiding the new gem keepers like Terra against Mitena's invasions, with her arc delving into leadership and martial prowess in defense of Encantadia's balance.[1] Drawing from her 2016 portrayal, Amihan's story highlights redemption and unity, as she navigates past losses to bolster the protagonists' fight.[37] Padilla, trained in martial arts and a staple in GMA fantasies since her Encantadia debut, brings authenticity to Amihan's combat scenes and emotional depth, redeeming her character's abrupt exit from the prior series.[38][39]