Bagani (TV series)
A fantasy series set in a fictional world inspired by Philippine mythology.
Bagani (meaning "warrior") is a fantasy drama series from the Philippines that aired on ABS-CBN in 2018. The show was directed by Richard I. Arellano, Lester S. Pimentel, and Raz de la Torre, with a cast that included Enrique Gil, Liza Soberano, Matteo Guidicelli, Makisig Morales, and Zaijian Jaranilla. It ran on the network's Primetime Bida block and globally on TFC from March 5 to August 17, 2018, taking over the timeslot of *The Blood Sisters* (which moved to a later timeslot) and was later succeeded by *Ngayon at Kailanman*.
The story takes place in a fictional realm called Sansinukob, where five groups—the Taga-Patag (farmers), Taga-Kalakal (traders), Taga-Laot (fishermen), Taga-Gubat (hunters), and Taga-Disyerto (warriors)—are locked in struggle and conflict.
Production details include that Bailey May and Ylona Garcia were originally part of the main cast but withdrew due to scheduling conflicts; their roles went to Sofia Andres and Makisig Morales. Diether Ocampo returned to ABS-CBN for this series after a stint with The 5 Network and GMA Network. Gil and Soberano had previously worked together on *Forevermore* (2014) and *Dolce Amore* (2016). Kristine Hermosa also returned to ABS-CBN after seven years, her last appearance having been on *Noah*; she and Ocampo had previously collaborated on *Sana'y Wala Nang Wakas*, *'Til Death Do Us Part*, and *Palimos ng Pag-ibig*. Hermosa and Rio Locsin both portrayed characters named Luisa Santos-Medel and Idad Santos, respectively, in *Gulong ng Palad*.
Enrique Gil described the series as telling a story about how the Philippines was "born" and focusing on Filipino culture. Headwriter Mark Angos later clarified that the show is set in the fictional world of Sansinukob, which was built using elements from Philippine mythology. Desert scenes were filmed at Paoay Sand Dunes in Ilocos Norte, while village sets were designed by Leeroy New and constructed in Ilocos and Bulacan.
The series was announced by Liza Soberano in May 2017. In November 2017, cast members appeared in costume at an ABS-CBN trade launch, which drew comparisons to GMA's *Encantadia*. A teaser poster came out in January 2018, followed by a full trailer online on February 8 featuring Enrique Gil's character Lakas. The show premiered on March 5, 2018.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Action drama / Fantasy
- Creator
- Henry King Quitain / Olivia Lamasan
- Developer
- ABS-CBN Studios
- Writer
- Enrique Villasis / Akeem Del Rosario / Mae Rose Balanay
- Director
- Richard I. Arellano / Lester Pimentel / Raz de la Torre
- Starring
- Enrique Gil / Liza Soberano / Matteo Guidicelli / Makisig Morales / Zaijian Jaranilla
- Composer
- Cesar Francis Concio
- Country
- Philippines
- Language
- Filipino
- Num Seasons
- 2
- Num Episodes
- 118
- Executive Producer
- Carlo Katigbak / Cory Vidanes / Laurenti Dyogi / Malou Santos / Des De Guzman
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Bagani was announced to the public by Liza Soberano in May 2017. A teaser poster was released in January 2018, and a full trailer on February 8, 2018. The series began its run on March 5, 2018. The desert scenes were filmed in Paoay Sand Dunes in Paoay, Ilocos Norte. Village sets were designed by Leeroy New and built in Ilocos, with additional sets in Bulacan. Bailey May and Ylona Garcia were initially part of the main cast but withdrew due to conflicting schedules; their roles were given to Sofia Andres and Makisig Morales. Diether Ocampo returned to ABS-CBN with Bagani after leaving the network in 2014. Gil and Soberano had previously worked together on Forevermore (2014) and Dolce Amore (2016).
Reader's Guide
Bagani sparked significant controversy before and during its airing. In February 2018, it was criticized online for casting actors of Caucasian descent—Enrique Gil (Spanish and German descent), Liza Soberano (American mother), and Matteo Guidicelli (half Italian)—in a show supposedly inspired by pre-colonial Philippine mythology. Netizens criticized the entertainment industry for setting fair skin as the standard of beauty and the use of brown makeup. Headwriter Mark Angos clarified that Bagani is set in a fictional alternate world, not pre-colonial or historical. The series was also criticized by historical societies and indigenous groups for misusing the term 'Bagani' and misrepresenting Philippine tribes. The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) stated that Bagani are real peacekeeping forces of the Manobo and other indigenous groups of Mindanao, not a fictional or mythological group. ABS-CBN released a statement that it did not intend to malign any indigenous group. A disclaimer was added to the program, later revised to acknowledge that Bagani are real warriors from indigenous cultures while stating the story is fiction. The series also faced criticism from GMA-7 headwriter Suzette Doctolero regarding the portrayal of Babaylans.
The World of Sansinukob
Bagani constructs an elaborate fantasy realm called Sansinukob, populated by five distinct groups whose rivalries drive the narrative. The Taga-Patag are farmers, the Taga-Kalakal are traders, the Taga-Laot are fishermen, the Taga-Gubat are hunters, and the Taga-Disyerto are warriors. This five-faction structure gives the series a layered political and cultural architecture. Headwriter Mark Angos later clarified that Sansinukob is a fictional alternate world conceptualized using elements drawn from Philippine mythology, rather than a direct retelling of pre-colonial history. Enrique Gil, one of the lead stars, described the show as telling a story about how the Philippines was "born" and exploring Filipino culture. The series aired on ABS-CBN's Primetime Bida lineup from March 5 to August 17, 2018, replacing La Luna Sangre and being succeeded by Ngayon at Kailanman, with worldwide distribution handled through TFC.
Casting and Production Journey
The casting process for Bagani underwent notable shifts before the final lineup was locked in. Bailey May and Ylona Garcia were originally attached to the main cast but withdrew due to scheduling conflicts, with their roles subsequently reassigned to Sofia Andres and Makisig Morales. The series also marked several significant returns: Deither Ocampo came back to ABS-CBN after a four-year absence spent at The 5 Network and GMA Network, while Enrique Gil and Liza Soberano reunited on the drama stage following their earlier collaborations in Forevermore (2014) and Dolce Amore (2016). Kristine also returned to the network after seven years. Filming took place across the northern Philippines, with desert sequences shot at the Paoay Sand Dunes in Ilocos Norte, while village sets designed by Leeroy New were constructed in both Ilocos and Bulacan. The production's public unveiling came in November 2017 at an ABS-CBN trade launch, where cast members appeared in full character costumes, drawing immediate comparisons to rival network GMA's Encantadia.
Cultural Controversies and the Bagani Debate
Before and during its broadcast, Bagani faced significant criticism on multiple fronts. In February 2018, online commentators challenged the casting of actors of mixed or Caucasian heritage—Enrique Gil (Spanish and German descent), Liza Soberano (American mother), and Matteo Guidicelli (half Italian)—in a show drawing on Philippine mythology, with some criticizing the industry's beauty standards and the use of brown makeup. Liza Soberano publicly defended her Filipino identity, noting her full-Filipino father and Filipino upbringing. Headwriter Mark Angos pushed back, emphasizing that Sansinukob is fictional and that the brown makeup was a script requirement for the desert people. More seriously, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples issued a statement in March 2018 asserting that "Bagani" is a real term referring to the peacekeeping force of the Manobo and other Mindanao indigenous groups, not a mythological warrior class. The Commission on Higher Education's Ronald Adamat also expressed concern. ABS-CBN responded by stating the series never intended to malign any indigenous group, and a disclaimer was added clarifying the show is fiction inspired by Philippine legends and does not represent any Indigenous People.
Legacy and Continued Airings
Bagani's cultural footprint extended well beyond its initial 2018 run. The series found a second life through multiple rerun broadcasts across ABS-CBN's family of channels. It aired on Kapamilya Channel's Kapamilya Gold afternoon block and A2Z's Zuper Hapon from August 29 to November 25, 2022, slotting in between reruns of Init sa Magdamag and Ang sa Iyo ay Akin. Jeepney TV picked up the series for three separate runs: January 11 to April 1, 2021; February 19 to May 10, 2024; and December 21, 2025 to May 3, 2026. The repeated scheduling across different channels and years suggests sustained audience interest in the fantasy narrative. The show's initial promotional push also left a mark: Liza Soberano publicly revealed the title in May 2017, a teaser poster dropped in January 2018, and a full trailer featuring Enrique Gil's character Lakas and the series' battle sequences went online on February 8. The November 2017 trade launch, with cast in costume, immediately positioned Bagani in conversation with GMA's long-running Encantadia, cementing its place in the Philippine fantasy teleserye landscape.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bagani (TV series)?
Bagani is a 2018 Filipino fantasy drama that aired on ABS-CBN's Primetime Bida block, following a group of warriors in a mythological realm. The title translates to 'warrior' in Filipino.
Who stars in Bagani (TV series)?
Enrique Gil headlines the cast, joined by Liza Soberano, Matteo Guidicelli, Makisig Morales, and Zaijian Jaranilla.
What is the setting of Bagani (TV series)?
The entire series unfolds in Sansinukob, a fictional world whose lore and characters are drawn from Philippine mythological traditions.
When did Bagani (TV series) air and what did it replace?
It premiered on March 5, 2018, and wrapped on August 17, 2018, stepping into the slot previously held by The Blood Sisters before handing off to Ngayon at Kailanman.
Who directed Bagani (TV series)?
The show was helmed by a trio of directors: Richard I. Arellano, Lester S. Pimentel, and Raz de la Torre.
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