New 'Sang'gres' Step Into Their Roles With Help From the Past

The gems have officially been passed on, and a new generation of sang'gres—played by Bianca Umali, Faith Da Silva, Angel Guardian and Kelvin Miranda—has emerged. From the looks of it—or at least, based on the trailer—GMA Network's 20-year-old franchise, "Encantadia," is in good hands.

- By Nathalie M. Tomada

But it's been quite a long journey. After two years of filming, with major production changes in between, "Encantadia Chronicles: Sang'gre" finally debuts tonight at 8 on GMA. And for the lead cast, the moment is both a dream come true and a torch passed on to them from their predecessors in the 2016 edition and the original 2004 series.

Having to take the lead in the spinoff of one of Philippine TV's most beloved fantaseryes comes with weight—and pride. For Bianca, Faith, Angel and Kelvin, stepping into the mythical world of "Encantadia" certainly meant more than donning the iconic warrior costumes, memorizing "ancient" words or mastering fight choreography. It meant honoring a legacy built over decades, with the guidance and blessing of the former cast members.

"Coming in here, malaki talaga yung pressure," admitted Faith, who plays Flamarra, the keeper of the Fire Gem. "There was a time na it felt like parang nalulunod ako sa pressure."

That pressure eased only after speaking to the past "sang'gres," particularly Glaiza de Castro, who is also reprising her role as the 2016 flame keeper Pirena in the new series.

"Siya yung nagbigay sa akin ng magagandang advice for me to be able to portray the character of Flamarra. Ang sinabi lang niya sa akin, 'You were put into that position because kaya mo yan'," said Faith.