Unforgettable Encantadia

Encantadia has got to be one of the best things that happened to me since I joined the Kapuso Network, hands down.

From the moment I heard of its marvelous concept, saw the colorful sketches of the intricate costumes and sets, and set foot inside the 2,000 square-meter studio, I was spell-bound. Seeing the telefantasya's audio-visual presentation, which included the music video of the theme song "Mahiwagang Puso" for the first time during the press launch brought me to tears, and seven months later, my eyes welled up when I saw the music video in full again; I felt somehow nostalgic that "Encantadia" has come to an end.

Don't we all feel sentimental about the great things that happen in our lives; the beautiful things we come across with? That's why I chose to begin my column for The FREEMAN by paying tribute to something dear to my heart which I am quite sure Cebuanos find lovely as well; and later sharing with you another big thing that's making the ending of "Encantadia" much bearable for Encantaddicts like me: Etheria (the fifth kingdom of Encantadia), the newest telefantasya in GMA's primetime block which would begin on Monday, December 12.

Before I move on to "Etheria," I would just like to share a few of the many reasons I consider "Encantadia" as one of the best things that ever happened to me. First, it made me feel proud that I got to be part (no matter how small my role has been) of GMA's top-rating program. Second, I am proud to have met its brilliant production team and all members of its star-studded cast, including Dingdong Dantes, Karylle, Cindy Kurleto, Polo Ravales, Bobby Andrews, all of whom were part of the show's mall tour in SM Cebu last August. This brings me to another reason I am grateful for "Encantadia": the opportunity to visit Cebu, one of the loveliest places I've ever been to and home to some of the nicest people I've ever met.

Yet now that "Encantadia" has come to a close, it's time to focus our sights on something equally promising and mesmerizing from the makers of GMA Network's grandest, most ambitious, and biggest production ever: "Etheria." As the story goes, in the days of the old Encantadia, the kingdom of Etheria dared to conquer its neighboring kingdoms. Lireo, Sapiro, Adamya, and Hathoria then joined forces to stop Etheria and completely destroy it. But Etheria was not completely obliterated. Its source of power, the Golden Hourglass, was kept and forgotten in time. Now, with the rediscovery of the Golden Hourglass, it threatens to return Etheria to power, and with its rising comes the threat that it might completely destroy Encantadia. That is why the four Sang'gres-Pirena (Sunshine Dizon), keeper of the gemstone of fire; Amihan (Iza Calzado), keeper of the gemstone of wind; Danaya (Diana Zubiri), keeper of the gemstone of earth; and Alena (Karylle), keeper of the gemstone of water-must travel back to the time of the old Encantadia to completely ruin the Golden Hourglass and ensure the safety of Encantadia.

But the Golden Hourglass has four guardians from the four tribes of Etheria-Hera Volo, Hera Sensa, Hera Aega, and Hera Andal. They are Andora (Alessandra de Rossi) from Hera Sensa who has the power to know the past of anything she touches; Avria (Francine Prieto), Queen of Etheria and Head of Hera Andal who has the power to steal the strength of different creatures; Odessa (Pauleen Luna) from Hera Aega who guards the Olontre, the powerful flower that gives extraordinary strength; and Juvila (Jopay Paguia), leader of the forces of Hera Volo who has the power to stop or speed up time.

From the direction of Mark Reyes and Gil Tejada, Jr., get to know the beings from the different Heras that make up the world of Etheria and rejoin the four Diwatas in a new adventure as they travel through time to Encantadia's past and to a different world. If the viewers were amazed at the beautiful and colorful costumes and sets of "Encantadia," they would likewise be mesmerized by those of "Etheria." Also part of Etheria's star-studded cast are Dingdong Dantes, Dennis Trillo, Alfred Vargas, Cindy Kurleto, Nadine Samonte, Sid Lucero, Rainier Castillo, Aiza Marquez, Mike "Pekto" Nacua, Ping Medina, Empress Schuck, Ella Guevarra, and BJ Forbes. "Etheria" airs from Monday to Friday beginning December 12 on GMA Telebabad.

(In Between Takes is a twice-a-month column on exclusive Q&As with today's hottest stars and on other showbiz scoops. - Ed.)