Joseph E. Hasten

Dyesebel
File:Dyesebel.jpg Dyesebel promotional image
Created by	Mars Ravelo
Developed by	Dode Cruz
Directed by	Joyce E. Bernal Don Michael Perez
Starring	Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes
Opening theme	"Aking Mundo" by Julie San Jose
Ending theme	"Siya Na Nga Kaya" by Julie San Jose
Composer	Danny Tan
Country of origin	Philippines
Original languages	Filipino, Tagalog, English
No. of episodes	125 +1 special
Production
Executive producer	Wilma Galvante
Producer	Cheryl Ching-Sy
Production locations	Coron, Palawan Subic, Zambales Metro Manila Anilao, Batangas Bolinao, Pangasinan
Running time	30-45 minutes
Original release
Network	GMA Network
Release	April 28, 2008 – present
Related
Captain Barbell Darna Lastikman

Mars Ravelo's Dyesebel is a fantasy Philippine drama that is currently airing on GMA Network. It is an adaptation of a famous graphic novel about a mermaid created by Mars Ravelo.

The series premiered on April 28, 2008 and is expected to air for 25 weeks or 125 episodes, with Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes in the lead roles, and Joyce E. Bernal at the helm.

Origin

"Dyesebel" is a popular mermaid character created by renowned graphic novelist Mars Ravelo. The story has been adapted into five separate films, and a spin-off, throughout the timeline of 1953 to 1996.

Edna Luna, Vilma Santos, Alma Moreno, Alice Dixson, and Charlene Gonzales had all played the lead role in the big-screen, and all of them reached greater heights after playing the role.

Overview

Production

Many actresses were considered and rumoured for the highly coveted role of the cursed mermaid "Dyesebel". In the beginning the name of Anne Curtis surfaced as the lead before GMA Network bought the rights. Angel Locsin's name was briefly attached, but her revelation to move networks took a toll.

The likes of Rhian Ramos, Nadine Samonte, Jennylyn Mercado and Katrina Halili were heavily considered for the role. It was later announced that Marian Rivera had bagged the lead role with Dingdong Dantes as her leading man once again after their popular drama MariMar. Mark Anthony Fernandez and Dennis Trillo were among the actors considered for the role of Fredo.

For the training for the roles of the "mermaids" and "mermans", Alfred Vargas, Michelle Madrigal, Paolo Ballesteros and lead Marian Rivera had to learn how to swim similar to dolphins. The tails for the mermaids for the series were made from silicone for it look very real. Each tail costs up to 100,000 Php, rougly around 2,500 USDs..

Crew

Joyce E. Bernal was chosen to direct this adaptation of the Mars Ravelo's graphic novel. This marks her third directed-series for television, and also reunites her with head writer Dode Cruz. The two previously made the audience-favoured MariMar.

Don Michael Perez was also hired to co-direct the series replacing Mac Alejandre - who is currently busy heading Joaquin Bordado.

Renowned designers Rodell Cruz and Bill Gustillo provided the waterworld sets and costumes. Riot, Inc. also provided the visual effects for the series.

Promotion

There were several teaser trailers showing on television four months prior to the release date of the series. Weeks before the release date, billboards were introduced all-over Mega Manila.

On the same week, Sofitel: Philippines' pool area was closed for the night of the series' press-conference having the Philippine Synchronized Swimming Team. A special primer was also telecast on April 25, the Friday before the pilot episode, titled "Ang Mundo ni Dyesebel", "The World of Dyesebel" in English, on the timeslot of The Legend. It was hosted by the series' leads: Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes.

Reception

Even though it was reported that there were power interruptions in some areas in Metro Manila during the airing of Dyesebel on April 28, the series premiered with a very high 44.9% against Lobo's 18.2%. According to Meralco, there was a problem in their power supply. Due to public demands, the pilot week of the series was re-aired on 11:45 to 13:00 of May 4. The replay also rated high with 42.2% rating against ABS-CBN's Oscar de la Hoya and Steve Forbes fight - which received a 15.2%.

The series also topped the National Urban TV Audience Measurement, or NUTAM, for the months of April and May with 40.1%.

Accident

Marian Rivera suffered a minor injury due to an accident in a taping of Dyesebel. She was doing fine in that taping. Then another accident came when Dingong Dantes suffered a hand injury with bleeding during the set. Despite his hand injury, he is still working in the set.

Plot

Alfred Vargas portrayed as Erebus, a merman & love interest: Marian Rivera portrayed as Dyesebel, a mermaid in the underwater kingdom, Sirenea to try to win Dyesebel's love to become successive their love to challenge in the mortal world to Sirenea. Erebus loves Dyesebel who risks his life for her & wanna to be with her comes in the end of Dyesebel.

Synopsis

The story of Dyesebel begins when an amnesiac mermaid-turned-human named Lucia (Jean Garcia) fell in love with a human. They got married and had a beautiful baby, but instead of human baby she delivered a mermaid. The child is called "Dyesebel" (Marian Rivera). Although surprised by their daughter's strange form, Lucia and her husband Tino (Wendell Ramos) promise to love their child no matter what.

But in no time at all, their neighbors discovered the couple's secret. When the community is hit with a series of catastrophes, the town believes that the anomaly is caused by Dyesebel; an accusation that leads to Tino's (Wendell Ramos) death and Lucia to offer her only daughter to the sea, where she would belong.

Unknown to Lucia is that in the heart of the sea, Dyesebel's adventures and misfortunes will begin. It is within the confines of the waters that Dyesebel will lead a new life-a journey that would take her to the depths of the sea, as well as to chaos of the city. Dyesebel discovers that she can also be a human being by visiting Amafura (Rufa Mae Quinto) to get a secret necklace which makes her a human; but a price must be made, for her to sacrifice her true possession, in order to gain something special.

Cast and characters

Cast	Character	Summary
Marian Rivera Kirsten Jane Singrit	Dyesebel/Isabel, Cassandra	Dyesebel is the most loved and most beautiful mermaid under the sea, but she is also the one who gets into the most trouble! When Dyesebel saved a young man from his near-death experience, it would seem that she had found what others haven't in their long lives, her one true love. In order for her to become close towards the man she saved, she inquired Amafura to receive a necklace, in exchange for her beauty, with the legs she wished for. But by combining the same necklace that Doña Guada has, she is now having her beautiful face and is ready to seek revenge against Berbola. Dyesebel must choose between Erebus or Fredo. Her one true love is Fredo. She's becoming a queen of Sirenea with Erebus beside her. Dyesebel is ending up with Erebus.
Dingdong Dantes Arkin Luciano Magalona	Fredo Legaspi	Fredo is one of the country’s hottest bachelors, a man who makes it no secret that he doesn’t believe in love. But when his life is saved by a beautiful stranger, Fredo’s life begins to unravel and he just might start believing in the power of true love. He really chooses Dyesebel/Isabel more than any other woman like Betty and Berbola who make Dyesebel's life miserable.
Jean Garcia	Queen Lucia/Doña Ava Legaspi	Lucia is the real mother of Dyesebel, a martyr who decides to forsake her own happiness just to save the lives of those she loves. She is also a former mermaid and she used to rule the sea, but when she became human, another mermaid, Dyangga, stole her throne. She married Tino Montemayor and had a child named Dyesebel. Days after Tino died, she reinvented herself as Doña Ava Legaspi; stepmother to Fredo and adoptive mother to Sheila Mae. She quickly remembers that she's the true Queen of Sirenea. Lucia and Dyesebel are reuniting after she found out that Isabel and Dyesebel are one. She returns to Sirenea and stops Dyangga to save her daughter. As a mermaid, Lucia has the ability to call back the scepter from Dyangga, knowing that the scepter is rightfully Lucia's.
Rufa Mae Quinto	Amafura	Amafura grants the wishes of the merpeople in Serenea for a price. She gave Dyesebel a necklace, to exchange her beauty for the feet she had longed for. As the sea witch, Amafura will continue to ask for the most important things that a mermaid/merman can offer in exchange for granting their dreams. When Berbola wanted legs, Amafura refused. Instead, Berbola stole her mother's scepter to have another magic duel. Amafura lost all her powers, and Berbola stole the magical pearl, which all of the magic contains within it. She retrieved the white pearl but transformed into a tiny turtle. She and Erebus arrived in the land to help Dyesebel.
Ricky Davao	Don Juan Legaspi	He is the father of Fredo and Shiela Mae, a rich man who has made a lot of enemies on his way to the top. He wants his son to marry Betty for his own good and also dislikes Isabel (Dyesebel) and Cassandra (Berbola). Revealed to be Paolo's illegitimate father. Don Juan gets kidnapped by a scheming Gildo after he replaced his illegitimate son Paolo as president over him. After a rescue, he has sent to hospital for recovery. He forgives both of his sons for what he did wrong and he gives thanks to them. He learns that Dyesebel is Lucia/Ava's daughter and he's ready to help her to get Dyesebel and finally believes in mermaids and mermen.
Alfred Vargas	Erebus	A handsome and royal merman who must hide his true feelings for Dyesebel. He is the brother of Usaro. His heart belongs to Dyesebel. Erebus with royal blood descent is secretly in love with Dyesebel. After asking Mother Of Pearl to grant him legs, he received a conditional magical pearl by which Dyesebel should love him instead of Fredo or else he will die. Will Erebus tell Dyesebel how he feels about her? Will he win Dyesebel's heart, or suffer his end? Erebus & Fredo will succeed in taking Dyesebel out of the hospital but Betty gets to shoot Fredo. Erebus wants to be with Dyesebel when Betty shots Fredo to die. He has proposed to marry Dyesebel, which she subsequently accepted making them formally betrothed. Erebus is willing to do the right thing to obtain to become Dyesebel's love, even bargaining for his life. Erebus confides to Dyesebel that he really loves her so much. Erebus manages to convince the love of his life: Dyesebel to return to their underwater kingdom, Sirenea. Erebus risked his life for Dyesebel.
Mylene Dizon	Queen Dyangga	The mean queen of the sea; a beautiful but wretched creature whose jealousy knows no bounds. She wants to make sure that Dyesebel never experiences a happy moment under the sea. She has some disgust towards Amafura, and believes that she may put the merpeople in danger for them to experience above-the-sea, if she continues to grant wishes. She is poisoned, thanks to Bukanding who seeks revenge for his mother's death, but suddenly recovers from it. After Berbola died, she seeks revenge by punishing Dyesebel with full force. When asking the Mother of Pearls for help of acquiring feet, the Mother of Pearls refused. Mother of Pearls warned that using force won't get what she wanted, Dyangga used her scepter to vanquish her, thus absorbing her powers to become more powerful than ever. Unfortunately for her, she's "killed" by a returning Lucia to save Dyesebel's life.
Bianca King	Betty Salcedo	One of the most popular models in the country, and she can have anyone she wants-except Fredo, which is why she and Fredo are engaged. She is be the one who make Dyesebel's life miserable. After a huge fight with Dyesebel, she got in a coma that would last quite a while. However, she's finally awake. She still remembers Dyesebel, the one who fought her, and takes revenge on her again by putting Dyesebel in a freak show. She's ready to defeat Dyesebel and Fredo again. When she wears Dyesebel's necklace, she transforms herself into a mermaid.
Michelle Madrigal Renz Joyce Juan	Princess Berbola/Cassandra	She is one of the mermaids who also feels hatred for Dyesebel. And what she doesn’t know is that Berbola hides her loathing for the outsider because she herself has fallen in love with Fredo. She is also a rival for Fredo's heart. When Berbola arrived in land, she disguised herself as Cassandra to take Fredo from Dyesebel/Isabel. After her mother being poisoned, she is replaced as the queen but she continued to take Fredo away from Dyesebel when she hypnotized him with a magical scepter. She didn't lasted long in the land until when she fought Dyesebel in the sea, Bukanding used a magical scepter to cast off Berbola to make Dyesebel escape. Berbola dies as Dyangga grieves over her daugher's death.
Lotlot de Leon	Banak	The kind and motherly mermaid who finds Dyesebel and later on decides to adopt her as her own daughter. Banak dies after protecting Dyesebel when Dyangga was about to kill her.
Luis Alandy	Gildo Villarama	The current vice president in Fredo's company who isn't content with what he has. He is also Fredo's rival. He also has an obsession for Dyesebel. After Fredo being fired from his own company, Gildo took over the company, found his Sunsilk model, and has an interest on Dyesebel. After Paolo, Don Juan's illegitimate son, has replaced by his father as president, Gildo has a plan which is to kill Don Juan. He's now behind bars.
Marco Alcaraz	Usaro	He is the most trusted soldier, and lover of Dyangga. He would do anything to please her. He's a brother of Erebus. Usaro becomes ally to his brother and even Dyesebel and he's ready to stop Dyangga's plans.
Teri Onor	Akirang	An evil seahorse with delusions of grandeur. He is the one who flames the hatred that Dyangga concerns for Dyesebel.
Paolo Ballesteros	Bukanding	Dyesebel's closest friend and stepbrother. He has been with her since she first became part of the sea. He seeks revenge on Dyangga for his mother's death. He killed Berbola with the help of using magical scepter to make Dyesebel free.
Aljur Abrenica	Paolo Legaspi	A poor fisherman who falls in love with a girl too rich for him: Shiela Mae. He has to pursue his work after the separation of Shiela Mae. It is revealed that he is the illegitimate son of Don Juan. Paolo has replaced Gildo as a president by his father. He is the one who saved his father from Gildo's scheme.
Kris Bernal	Shiela Mae	Fredo's younger half-sister who likes getting what she wants, whenever she wants it. She finds out that she is adopted. She is Vivian's real daughter & then reunites with her mother. Shiela Mae steals money to help save her sick mom, Vivian, but she is arrested by cops.
Hero Angeles	Mark	He is a janitor who works under Fredo's company. He is also Paolo’s half-brother who feels hatred for Fredo's family including Shiela Mae.
Nanette Inventor	Doña Guada	Doña Guada is an eccentric rich woman. She, too, is a former mermaid. But when she became human, she lived her life in wealth. She met Isabel (Dyesebel) at the Juan Fredo Empire's office while having a business meeting and became friends with her. Guada helped Dyesebel retrieve her beauty after combining her necklace with her.
Robert Villar	Buboy	Buboy is the protector and best friend of Dyesebel. He was Dyesebel's first human friend. He has been with her through all her trials. He is shot by Betty then Dyesebel tries to save him but he dies after he said his last words to Dyesebel.
Chanda Romero	Doña Felicia Montemayor	Doña Felicia is Tino's mother who, at first, really dislikes and hates Lucia. Lucia is as known as Ava, gives a suffering brought to Felicia and makes her as a poor housemaid. She cares for Isabel/Dyesebel. Lola Felicia & Lucia forgave each other after they found out that Isabel & Dyesebel are one. She is Dyesebel's Grandmother.

Extended and Guest cast

• Wendell Ramos as Tino Montemayor
• Vaness del Moral as Sosira
• Filiberto Nepomuceno as Butete
• Charlotte Hermoso as Jelay
• Ryan Yllana as Leo
• Philip Lazaro as Charity
• Mariz Ricketts as Melba
• Jackie Rice as Arana
• Fayatollah as Lady Dee
• KC Hollmann as Gildo's secretary
• Mang Enriquez as Mang Mike
• Chinggoy Alonzo as Don Ernesto Montemayor
• Andrea del Rosario as Vivian
• Kevin Santos as Fonsy
• Angel Estrada as Vicky
• Matt Ranillo III as Enrico Salcedo
• Jen Rosendahl
• Elizabeth Ramsey as Mother of Pearls
• Joseph Marco as Joseph

Soundtrack

The series' theme song is sung by Sugarpop Julie San Jose. The song composed by Danny Tan is titled "Aking Mundo", "My World" in English. A separate love theme titled "Siya Na Nga Kaya", "Maybe You're the One" in English, is also composed by Tan and sung by San Jose.

See also

• List of programs broadcast by GMA Network
• Dyesebel - the original graphic novel
• Mermaid

External links

• Dyesebel at Telebisyon.net
• Dyesebel Dyesebel Episodes
• Dyesbel & Erebus Dyesebel/Isabel tests her love for Erebus
• Dyesebel IGMA.TV