Monday, March 20, 2006
Saladin unfolds Monday night on GMA
By Nelson C. Bagaforo
THE colorful world of Saladin, where the Salamangkas or true magicians dwell, unfolds tonight on GMA-7, as the country's leading network premieres its newest telefantasya, Majika, which reunites the country's most popular talents Angel Locsin and Dennis Trillo.
Majika, which will be aired on GMA's primetime Telebabad block after Extra Challenge, is expected to captivate anew primetime viewers and seen to duplicate, if not surpass, the success of TV remake of the Mars Ravelo classic Darna, which was also top billed by the two young stars.
Darna holds the highest rating in Mega Manila, at 52 percent, when it opened on GMA primetime block last year.
"We're really pressured. Kasi sana man lang mapantayan namin ang success ng Darna," Locsin told Sun.Star Davao in an exclusive interview at Waterfront Insular Hotel on Thursday.
Locsin and Trillo were in Davao City on March 16 to celebrate with Dabawenyos the 69th Araw ng Dabaw. They were onboard the GMA float which was among the crowd-drawers during the Parada Dabawenyo. The two consider their respective roles in Majika as most challenging.
"Kung sa Darna pinalipad ako, dito sa Majika hindi lang ako lilipad, ang daming pinagawa sa akin dito. Sobrang hirap talaga," said Locsin, who plays the role of Sabina.
For Trillo, who plays Argo in the fantaserye, has to justify his role as a powerful magician who would train Sabina into becoming a very powerful Salamangka.
Although Majika tackles the supernatural world of spells, charms, potions and other magical activities, Locsin and Trillo assured it is not a "copycat" of the world-renowned Harry Potter series.
"Although we do magic in Majika, it's much different from Harry Potter. Magkaiba talaga," Locsin.
"It could have been inspired by Harry Potter, but Majika has its own story, a plot that will surely captivate the televiewers," Trillo added.
The new fantaserye presents a riveting story of how two young Salamangkas, in their quest to discover themselves and decipher the scope of their magical abilities, find themselves bound by the overwhelming power of love.
Angel gives life to the character of Sabina, a seemingly ordinary girl who lived in the world of mortals but is unknowingly the one destined to become Saladin's most powerful female Salamangka.
She is the eldest child of Garam (Zoren Legaspi) and Ayesa (Carmina Villaroel), two Salamangkas who fled from Saladin to escape the wrath of Markadan (Eddie Garcia), a powerful dark magician.
Sabina's simple yet happy life is shattered when her parents, along with her siblings Jimboy (Rainier Castillo) and Sara (Ryza Cenon), are abducted and brought back to Saladin, leaving her alone in the world of mortals at a very young age.
Sabina will eventually find her way to Saladin with the help of Eloida (Jean Garcia), a Salamangka who was punished and exiled to the mortal world, and her son Argo (Dennis Trillo) who will train Sabina into becoming a very powerful Salamangka. Argo becomes the hero who himself possesses extraordinary powers and helps Sabina achieve the full potential of her inherent powers.
Together, Sabina and Argo will discover how the power of their love for each other can do wonders to the intricate world of Saladin.
Majika also stars Eddie Gutierrez who plays Balkan, the most powerful Salamangka who heads Saladin's Pater or the council of masterrs which includes Aduro (Jaim Fabregas), Malko (Nanding Josef), Carab (Spanky Manicad) and Dibin (Gabe Mercado).
Representing and fighting for the Pater are the Umbras or nymphs Naryan (Valerie Concepcion), Lyness (Sheena Halili), Lyjah (Nicole Anderson), Vynah (Ehra Madrigal), Salye (Nikki Lirag), and Amyla (Jade Lopez).
Katrina Halili plays Juno, daughter of Adana (Gina Alajar) and the Salamangka who will become Sabina's mortal enemy.
On the other hand, Polo Ravales is Ebrio, a Salamangka who is envious of his brother Argo.
Completing Majika's cast are Jake Cuenca as Terman, Bearwin Meily as Bodyal, Mel Kimura as Besay, and Gene Padilla as Magil.
Majika is directed by Eric Quizon (who also directed Darna) and Mac Alejandre (director of the blockbuster hit Let the Love Begin and the top-rating weekday afternoon series Now and Forever). RJ Nuevas (writer of Sugo), is the headwriter and Don Michael Perez (creator of the characters of Mulawin) is the creative consultant.
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (March 20, 2006 issue)
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