Catching the Encantadia fever

The No. 1 show on TV right now is GMA 7’s big-budgeted telefantasya, Encantadia, that rates anywhere from 40 to 42 percent every night. The story of a people living in an enchanted land where a consuming battle between good and evil forces rages on, it is now the talk of the town in schools and offices as loyal viewers follow up on the latest happenings in the lives of the four sisters who keep the four gems of earth, air, fire and water to maintain the precarious balance in their own world.

We got to visit the new set of Encantadia for the Barbaros, new creatures who help Lira (Jennylyn Mercado) and Danaya (Diana Zubiri) in their journey to Devas (the nether world) to seek the advice of Inang Reyna (Dawn Zulueta). The Barbaros are led by Wahid (played by Benjie Paras) along with other cagers like Alex Crisano (boyfriend of Ethel Booba) and Chris Tan (husband of Sherilyn Reyes). The story gets more intriguing as the characters divide into factions in preparation for a big war that will rock the whole of Encantadia. Everyone on the sound stage of the old Mariwasa warehouse in Pasig is beaming because of the show’s consistently high ratings.

We spot Jennylyn looking sexy in her revealing warrior costume that shows off a lot of skin. "We thought you’re black and blue," we tell her, referring to the story that she is the battered girlfriend of Mark Herras who allegedly beats her up.

"That’s not true," she says. "If my boyfriend would hurt me physically, I wouldn’t take it sitting down. I’d fight back. I won’t allow myself to be a battered girlfriend."

Another columnist wrote that she really wanted to break up with Mark but GMA 7 stopped her as this would negatively affect the showing of their forthcoming movie, Lovestruck. "Also not true. I don’t really know where they get their stories. Kung gusto ko nang makipag-split, no one can stop me from doing so. I don’t know why alaga nila kaming gawaan ng intriga ni Mark. We admit that we have our own spats every now and then. Galit-bati talaga ang relasyon namin, but we’re still okay."

As of now, she’s really enjoying her role as Lira in Encantadia. "I’m now doing action scenes and I have to train for the fight sequences. At first, I was nervous, kasi baka magkamali ako at may masaktan ako o ako ang masaktan in the sword fights, but I’m proud to say I was able to master my moves very quickly."

"That’s not surprising," says their director, Mark Reyes. "Jen is a good dancer so it’s easy for her to learn the choreography in the fight routines. Madali siyang matuto."

Dawn Zulueta looks so beautiful on her sixth month of pregnancy. She’s wearing an empire cut gown to conceal her growing tummy. We tell her it’s good her husband, Anton, allowed her to go back to work.

"He did, but with a heavy heart," she says. "He’s asking me nga kung bakit kailangan ko pa to work again and I told him I enjoy what I’m doing. Also, my doctor has given me the go-signal. The first three months, delikado talaga, but now, I can work again basta hindi lang stressful. E, I’d be taping naman one day a week lang and our director, Mark Reyes, never requires me to stay up late. After taping today, I’ll go back to Davao na. In the story, I’m in Devas and Lira will seek my advice on how to solve the various problems faced by Encantadia."

She’s due to deliver her baby boy in late November or early December. "Anton and I are really excited, as we waited for him for seven years. But we don’t have a name for him yet. Naghahanap pa kami."

By next month, she’ll not be allowed to take the plane anymore. "I’ll have to stay put here in Manila until I deliver the baby. We’ll spend Christmas here and go back na lang to Davao kapag malaki-laki na siya. Anton will come over so we can take the training for Lamaze delivery. I want to experience all the pain of giving birth by natural method and I also intend to breastfeed."

What can she say to Agot Isidro, who’s also been wanting to get preggy for sometime now? "I want to tell her susunod na siya. Basta she just keeps on praying to the Lord and He will give her a baby."

Richard Gomez also gets to revive his character in Encantadia as Raquim, the warrior father of Iza Calzado who helps Ybarro (Dingdong Dantes) become a better swordfighter. "I’m like Obi Wan Kenobi who teaches Anakin how to be a better Jedi warrior," he says. "I really missed taping for Encantadia as I enjoy doing the swashbuckling fight scenes here even if it’s difficult to do this kind of action-fantasy as each scene requires a lot of preparation."

Richard is an expert in swordfights as he trains in fencing regularly. "I will compete in fencing in the South East Asian Games in November and I’m really training for this everyday. I train three times a week in the morning, and every night after work. Each training session lasts for two hours. Nakakapagod but it’s worth it."

How’s married life with Lucy Torres? "It’s great. We’ve never had any big problem since we got married seven years ago. Kung meron man, nare-resolve agad."

And how’s their daughter Julianna? "She’s now five years old at marunong nang maglambing lalo’t she’s asking something from you. When Lucy and I joined the GMA Pinoy TV launch in the US, nagbilin sa akin ng capri pants, backless shirt and shoes with heels. And she kept on reminding me about them until we left."

Does he spank her? "No, there’s no need. Kasi sa threats pa lang, she listens na."

When do they intend to have another child? "Naku, lahat ng klaseng tumbling, ginawa na namin ni Lucy para masundan na si Julianna, pero wala pa rin. In due time, I’m sure the Lord will give us another baby."

Richard has put up another business, the Team Goma Sport Shooting Range at Hilltop, Tikling, Taytay, Rizal.

"It’s great for target practice and is open to the public," he adds.

Also back in Encantadia is Ian Veneracion as Haring Armeo, the father of Ybarro, with newcomer Dianne Sison as his wife. "I appeared at the start of the show but I was quickly killed by the enemies of Encantadia," he says. "Pero plano talagang ibalik ang character ko later on. The dead characters are actually in Devas, some sort of limbo. Now that the warring factions in Encantadia are preparing for a big battle, we’re made to return to help fight the evil forces. So now, our characters are involved in many big battle scenes."

Aside from Encantadia, he also appears in the new season of Love to Love as a record producer who falls in love with a budding singer, played by Jopay Paguia. He has likewise taken Peque Gallaga’s filmmaking course in Bacolod and has made short films of his own. He has just directed a music video of the song Maling Akala for the band Brown Man Revival.

Ian started as a child actor when he was five years old in Joey and Son with Joey de Leon. Now, he is 30 years old and has a family of his own. His wife Pam works in the construction business and they have two kids, Draco, seven years old, and Deidre, five. Would he encourage his children to also join showbiz? "No, I’d rather they explore other fields na lang. It’s difficult to work in showbiz now that there’s a slump in the local film industy. Television is where the action is now and I’m just lucky to be part of a hit show like Encantadia."