MANILA, Philippines - GMA Network’s Elemento brings mystical creatures from Philippine myths and legends to life — but with a twist. Instead of being portrayed as fearsome entities of the dark, they are shown as feeling beings, deeply affected by human actions.
Shot as mini-feature films by director Topel Lee and written by Zig Dulay, Elemento airs Fridays at 5:45 p.m. Not your typical horror program, the Halloween special series makes for unexpectedly family friendly viewing.
The creatures in Elemento are all shown fighting for a cause — a manananggal (Glaiza de Castro, photo) for the protection of children; a kapre and his best friend (played by Kuya Bodjie Pascua) for the preservation of the forest; a beautiful river fairy (Solenn Heussaff) against water pollution, and a black dwarf (Pekto Nacua) against discrimination because of skin color.
For its pilot episode yesterday, Elemento featured the story of Esperanza, Ang Rebeldeng Manananggal, where Glaiza played a pediatrician and devoted mother of two who kept a dark secret.