List of Indio characters

The following is a list of major, recurring, notable and minor characters appeared in Indio, a Filipino historical drama-epic fantasy series created and developed by Suzette Doctolero and produced by GMA Network. It executive produced by Meann P. Regala and directed by Dondon Santos. The series premiered on January 14, 2013 on GMA Telebabad block, and January 15, 2013 worldwide via GMA Pinoy TV. It concluded its twenty weeks run on May 31, 2013 with the total of ninety-seven episodes.^[1]

Plot[]

In order to save her newborn son from certain doom, Ynaguiginid—the goddess of war—is forced to sacrifice her own immortality. Safe and alone in the forest under the watchful eyes of Magayon, the deity of flying creatures, Ynaguiginid's child is rescued by a native couple who name him Malaya. As Malaya grows up he manifests god-like powers which were inherited from his mother. His powers are witnessed by the villagers and Malaya is eventually looked upon as their savior.

However, as Spanish conquistadors descend upon the land, Malaya is captured and enslaved. Years passed and Malaya [now called Simeon] will have witnessed how terribly the Spaniards mistreat his countrymen. No longer able to bear the suffering and pain of his people, he is roused by Magayon of his true purpose. Simeon must fulfill his destiny to fight off the Spanish invaders and liberate his country.

Major characters[]

The series featured eleven regular characters throughout its run.

Malaya / Simeon / Indio[]

Portrayed by Ramon "Bong" Revilla, Jr., the series' main protagonist. He is a demigod—son of Ynaguiguinid, a deity of war to Hangaway, a native warrior. He possesses great powers and incredible strength and he is the destined to be the savior and protector of both his fellow Indios and diwatas against the Spanish occupiers. The character also portrayed by Vincent Magbanua and Alden Richards in the first part of the show.^[2][3] GMA Network's Vice President for Entertainment TV, Lilybeth Rasonable said that "Indio was really made for him [Revilla]."^[4] Revilla finds his very first television series "exciting but very challenging" and went through rigorous acting trainings under director Laurice Guillen and Pen Medina for his preparation for the role.^[5] He also did some readings and research regarding Philippine history because "even though it is a fictional show, it has some historical undertones that should at least have some sense of accuracy."^[6][7]

Esperanza Sanreal[]

Portrayed by Jennylyn Mercado, Malaya/Simeon's love interest; an insulares; daughter of Juancho Sanreal with Maria, an Indio he molested. She has never experienced love or even a bit of affection from her father, and to obtain it, Esperanza is out to prove herself. She eventually falls in love with Simeon/Malaya, her father’s slave and later, formidable nemesis.^[3][8]

Señor Juancho Sanreal[]

Portrayed by Michael de Mesa, the main antagonist. Juancho is the son and successor of Antonio Sanreal. He is the domineering husband of Victoria and the estranged father of Esperanza. Juancho was trained by his father to be a despotic encomendero like him. Juancho rules the encomienda with an iron hand, holding on to power and determined to take down anyone who dares to get in his way. Juancho adopted and raised Simeon/Malaya for one reason – to use Simeon and his incredible powers and abilities for his own personal gain. The character was also played by Lucho Ayala in the first part of the series.^[9]

Dian Magayon[]

Portrayed by Rhian Ramos, the goddess of all flying creatures. She has the power to command birds and other flying species. She also has the power of flight by turning herself into an eagle. Magayon also serves as the protector and guide of Malaya/Simeon throughout his journey in fulfilling his purpose and destiny. The character also serves as the narrator (in voice-over) of the show^[10][11][12]

Señora Victoria Hidalgo de Sanreal[]

Portrayed by Jackie Lou Blanco, antagonist; a peninsulares; the sterile wife of Juancho Sanreal. Her bitter nature turns her into an intolerable shrew. She loathes Esperanza for being her husband's daughter by another woman. The character was initially played by Nathalie Hart as the young version of the character.^[13][14]

Hernando Pelaez[]

Portrayed by Chinggoy Alonzo, a peninsular; serves as the right-hand man of Juancho Sanreal. Hernando is a tough-looking man with noble virtues, but he is constantly torn between his conscience and his unfathomable loyalty to Juancho. Bobby Andrews portrayed the younger version of the character in the first part of the series.

Tarong and Linang[]

Portrayed by Dante Rivero and Daria Ramirez, respectively, the childless native couple who adopted and raised young Malaya/Simeon as their own child. They eventually blessed with their own child – Mayang. The characters were first portrayed by Jomari Yllana and Agot Isidro, respectively, in the early part of the series.^[15]

Cosme de los Santos[]

Portrayed by Robert Arevalo, the loving and protective father of Rosa. He works as a fisherman and at the same time, a sacristan of Fray Jacobe. He is also a member of a rebel organization which aims to free their land from the occupiers. Cosme strongly opposes Rosa's relationship with Simeon, because of the latter's connection with Juancho Sanreal and sees him as the biggest hindrance for the group’s objective of freeing their land from the Spanish Crown.^[15]

Unlike other girls of her age, Mayang is extremely fond of hunting and wants to learn how to fight. Her adventurous nature leads her to fall into the hands of mangangayaws. Unknown to her, that incident will bring her closer to her estranged brother, Simeon/Malaya.

Elena Decena[]

Portrayed by Vaness del Moral, the daughter of Alicia; Rosa's cousin. In order to pay her parent's debt, she works as a servant to Sanreal's household wherein she becomes close friend and confidant to her señorita, Esperanza Sanreal. She eventually became a hapless victim of Juancho's lustful desire.^[15][16]

Tuhay / Cesario[]

Portrayed by Dominic Roco, a native warrior who hates Simeon but will fall in love with Mayang. He eventually became a recruit soldado (soldier) and later embraced being the first male Babaylan.^[9] Actor Rocco Nacino was originally cast as Tuhay but later replaced by Roco for the said role.

Recurring characters[]

As the show progressed, numerous minor and recurring characters appeared in the series.

• Lisuga (Diana Zubiri), She is the Goddess of the stars and Constellations. She serves as Simeon's guide to a safe path for day and night. She disguises as a meteor whenever she befriends Simeon and granting him wishes.
• Maria (Wynwyn Marquez), She is the biological mother of Esperanza who was impregnated and killed by Juancho Sanreal.
• Frayle Jacobe, Frayle Lazaro, Frayle Gustavo (Jon Achaval), the kind-hearted Augustinians friar and the parish curates (kura paroko) in the encomienda. ^[17]
• Lalahon (Solenn Heussaff), the goddess of fire and volcanoes. Lalahon possesses the power to control fire using her hands, create balls of fire and explosives. She can also manipulate and command volcanoes to erupt if needed.^[12]
• Lihangin (Ehra Madrigal), the goddess of air. Lihangin has the ability to create, generate and manipulate winds, control the weather and create tornadoes and typhoons.^[12]
• Lidagat (Sam Pinto), the goddess of water and the seas. Lidagat has the ability to create, shape and manipulate water at will: can manipulate tide, create tsunamis, create downpours and command sea creatures according to her will.^[12]
• Waray Lupig (Ronnie Lazaro), the brave chieftain of the tribe in which Tarong, Linang and Mayang belong.
• Libulan (Rachelle Ann Go), the goddess of the moon. Libulan has the ability to manipulate the power of the moon (immense darkness and coldness).^[12]
• Juaning and Pedro (Mike Nacua and John Feir, respectively), the comic friends, confidants and sidekicks of Simeon/Malaya.
• Pancho and Alicia Decena (Dan Alvaro and Melissa Mendez, respectively), the loving parents of Elena. They witnessed the harsh fate of Maria in the hands of Juancho Sanreal, without any idea that it is the same fate that their daughter would have. Pancho was killed by Juancho.
• Diego de Dios (Ping Medina), Elena Decena's childhood friend and confidante who has carried a torch for her all these years. But under the circumstances, his love will remain denied and unrequitted.
• Liadlaw (Paolo Paraiso), the god of the sun. Adlaw can manipulate all aspects of a sun's power (immense heat and luminosity).^[12]
• Ribung Linti (Steven Silva), the god of lightning and thunder. He is able to generate and manipulate thunderstorms, generate bolts of electricity and harness lightning.^[12]
• Barangaw (Will Devaughn), the god of the rainbows. He can manipulate colours of the rainbow to various effects.^[12]
• Santonilyo (Kyle Jimenez), the god of blessings and good fortune.^[12]
• Dalikmata (Ellen Adarna), the goddess of eye ailments and visions, she has the power to cure and put an eye disease to anyone. She can also tell the past, the present and the future.^[12]
• Mariano Alfonso (Carlos Morales). Mariano is a noble man—a Maynilad-based commandant—who falls in love with Esperanza Sanreal. The two eventually trapped in an arranged marriage designed by Juancho Sanreal to save his daughter's reputation.
• Isabel Alfonso (Ryza Cenon), an insulares; she is the supportive younger sister of Mariano Alfonso, who is quite against Esperanza Sanreal for her brother. Isabel meets and eventually falls in love with Fernando (Mayang disguises as a man), completely unaware of "his" real identity.
• António (Marc Justin Alvarez), named after his maternal great grandfather, António is the son of Simeon/Malaya and Esperanza. Like his father, António is also a demigod who possesses incredible strength and abilities. The character first appeared on the second book/chapter of the series. On the finale episode, the character was played by Rafael Rosell.

Notable characters[]

Below is the list of notable characters (being those who have been in the series for some considerable time and have had a significant impact on the story) appeared in the series:

• Rosa delos Santos (Maxene Magalona), a native woman; Cosme's charming daughter and Simeon/Malaya's childhood friend and first flame. Even though her father is strongly against for Simeon, Rosa will never give up in hoping that they will still end up together. However, her involvement to Simeon also makes her the object of scorn of Juancho Sanreal. The character was also played by Jillian Ward and Bea Binene in the first part of the series. The said role had previously been offered to Sunshine Cruz but the actress turned down the offer.^[13][18]
• Ynaguiguinid (Sarah Lahbati), Malandok's successor as the goddess of war; Hangaway's wife and Malaya/Simeon's biological mother. She died after she sacrificed her own life to save her son. The character appeared only in the pilot episode.^[13]
• António Sanreal (Ramon Christopher), the first encomendero and the equally despotic father of Juancho Sanreal. The character appeared only in the first week.^[13]
• Miguel López de Legazpi (Mark Gil), a Spanish conquistador who established one of the first Spanish settlements in the East Indies and the Pacific Islands in 1565. He was the first Governor-General of the Philippines. The character appeared only in the pilot.^[13]
• Hangaway (Luis Alandy), a native warrior; Ynaguiguinid's husband and Malaya/Simeon's biological father. He was killed while battling Spanish forces. The character appeared only in the pilot episode.
• María (Wynwyn Marquez), the native woman who was raped and impregnated by Juancho Sanreal. She is the biological mother of Esperanza. She died in deep hatred and thirst for retribution against the person who ruined her life. The character appeared several times in the first part of the series (episodes 6, 7 and 8).
• Uray Tale and Melinda (Aura Mijares and Glenda Garcia, respectively). Uray Tale is a babaylan (indigenous Filipino religious leader, who functions as a healer, a shaman, a seer and a community miracle-worker) who helped Simeon/Malaya unravel the truth behind Rosa's death. Both Uray Tale and her apprentice Melinda were shot to death by Juancho Sanreal in his fervent desire to get Simeon's powers. Both characters appeared several times in the series.
• Magwayen (Isabelle Daza), the goddess who takes the kalag (soul) of a dead person to Sulad (land of the dead). The character appeared in episodes 37 and 38 during Simeon/Malaya's journey to Sulad.
• Makaptan (Roi Vinzon), the god of hunger and poverty. He is the supreme god who dwells in the sky and the one who killed the first man with a thunderbolt and visited disease and death on his descendants. In the story, Malaya/Simeon has to defeat the fierce deity in a violent showdown. The character appeared in episodes 39 and 40.
• Bagandi (Aljur Abrenica), a native warrior who will come up against an empowered Juancho Sanreal. Displaced by the Spaniards, he will find himself joining a group of rebels who will rise against the oppressive forces of the foreigners, fighting alongside Malaya/Simeon. The character first appeared on the penultimate episode of the first book and became one of the notable characters in the second book of the show.^[19]
• Burigadang Pada Sinaklang Bulawan (Katrina Halili), the goddess of greediness and vengeance. She will avenge the death of her only brother who was killed by Simeon and will make his goal of defending the natives from the brutality of the Spanish conquistadores a Herculean task.^[20] This served as Halili’s comeback project after a year of hiatus from showbiz.
• Sidapa (Ryan Eigenmann), the god of death. He is also the trusted ally of Burigadang Pada Sinaklang Bulawan. The character first appeared on the 64th episode of the series. In an interview, Eigenmann said that his character is "a little bit tricky since he is not totally evil. In fact, even if he is the god of death, he wants to be fair to everyone. However, a twist in the story, which will be revealed in the coming weeks, will change all that."

Other characters[]

In order of appearance, these characters were appeared short, mentioned many times or have no major contribution to the story line:

• Kardo (Neil Ryan Sese), a rebel who fought against Spanish conquistadors, but later killed in a battle. The character appeared only on the second episode of the show.
• Javier Crisanto (Marco Alcaraz), the comandante de soldados (commander of troops) and a trusted ally of Juancho Sanreal.
• Labug (Leandro Baldemor), a Datu; Tuhay's father who was killed by Hernando.
• Upeng (Eunice Lagusad), Mayang's friend and confidante from Ilaya.
• Uray (Anita Linda), the old blind woman whom Malaya/Simeon met and helped during his journey on the way to Makaptan's realm. On the 40th episode, it was revealed that she is actually Makaptan's trusted servant.
• Paiburong (Mike Gayoso), the god of the middle world. He is the brother of Burigadang Pada Sinaklang Bulawan who was accidentally killed by Simeon/Malaya.
• Pandaki (Gwen Zamora), the goddess of life. She is the diwata that recovers the dungan (soul) of those that are eligible and takes them to a pleasant fate; she can also change a fate of a dungan (soul) and is the guardian of Sulad.
• Makabosog (Alfred Marquez), the god of gluttony. He is an ally of Burigadang Pada Sinaklang Bulawan.
• Liway (Donna Claire Galvez), she is the adopted sister of Bagandi and playmate to António.
• Aswagi (King Gutierrez), a tribal bandit leader and his henchmen plot to kidnap Esperanza and kill against Simeon'/Malaya's life. and then killed by Simeon/Malaya
• Humawig (Gerald Ejercito), Aswagi's tribal henchman and one of the bandit members killed by Simeon/Malaya.
• Dalusaw (June Hidalgo), another Aswagi's tribal henchman and one of the bandit members also killed by Simeon/Malaya.
• 'Alunsina' (Joyce Ching), regarded as the goddess of the eastern skies that brings in the light of the sun and cool winds during hot days of the dry season; she is also the guardian against strong typhoons and of beauty. She owns a magical flute that can bring anyone to deep sleep, paralyze, or even death. The flute she owns was the challenge of Magayon to her lover, Bagandi, in which he has to take it from her. The character appeared in episodes 84, 85 and 86.
• Governador-General (Joko Diaz), the prime representative of the King of Spain to rule the Philippines as the country's colony on his behalf. He would lead an expedition of Spanish military forces to regain control of the areas controlled by the Indio rebels led by Malaya/Simeon. His famous line is " Hindi naniniwala ang Espanya sa mga diwata!" (lit. Spain does not believe in Gods/Goddesses)".
• Tamblot (Ervic Vijandre), a babaylan or native priest from Bohol who led the Tamblot Uprising (from 1621 to 1622) during the Spanish era. He opposed the new religion spread by the Spaniards and fought against the subsequent conversion of the Boholanos to the Catholic faith.
• Francisco Dagohoy (Gian Magdangal), a Boholano who holds the distinction of having led the longest revolt in Philippine history, the Dagohoy Rebellion. This rebellion against the Spanish colonial government took place in the island of Bohol for eighty five years (1744 to 1829). The character appeared in the last episode of the series.
• Diego Silang and Gabriela Silang (JC Tiuseco and Kris Bernal, respectively). Diego was a revolutionary leader who conspired with British forces to overthrow Spanish rule in the northern Philippines and establish an independent Ilocano nation. His revolt was fueled by grievances stemming from Spanish taxation and abuses, and by his belief in self-government, that the administration and leadership of the Roman Catholic Church and government in the Ilocos be invested in trained Ilocano officials. Following Diego's assassination in 1763, his wife Gabriela led the group for four months before she was captured and executed.
• Andrés Bonifacio (Jolo Revilla), the father of the Philippine Revolution. He was a founder and later Supremo ("supreme leader") of the Katipunan movement which sought the independence of the Philippines from Spanish colonial rule and started the Philippine Revolution. The character appeared in the finale episode of the show.

References[]

External links[]

• Official Indio website
• Official GMA Network website