TV5 presents 8 Kingdom

MANILA, Philippines - TV5 shakes up its opening salvo for 2011 as the first-ever telegrande 8 Kingdom marked a grand TV premiere last Jan. 24, 5 to 5:30 p.m. before the Aksyon newscast. 8 Kingdom features a “cast of thousands,” with breathtaking action, immortal romance and heart-stopping drama.

Based on the well-loved Asian Wuxia novel Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils, the series travels back to the time of the Northern Song Dynasty to tell tales of love, struggle and faith. The epic follows the lives of three great warriors — Qiao Feng, the chief of the Beggars’ Sect; Dali’s prince Duan Yu; and Xuzhu, a Shaolin monk.

Although a descent of the lowly class, Qiao Feng is highly-esteemed as a great warrior of their time following his victory against forces to end the Khitan’s regime.

Meanwhile, even if it be against his will, fate leads Duan Yu to becoming a reputable leader and fighter. But apart from mastering the art of war, the handsome warrior is also notorious for his reputation as a womanizer — until he meets Wang Yuyan, a fairy-like lady who resembles a statue that once mesmerized him.

The highly-budgeted series also tells the story of Xuzhu, a humble monk who gets caught in the middle of an internal struggle of the Care Free Sect. The monk then absorbs an overpowering energy that leads him to becoming the accidental leader of the sect.

Their adventures become an opportunity to form a long-lasting brotherhood that defies blood and race.

 Jimmy Lin plays Duan Yu and Liu Yifei is Wang Yuyan in the action-drama-and-romance series.