Amaya

In Central Visayas, during the early 16th century, Rajah Mangubat is the King of a great kingdom or a "puod" (a collection of city states called "banwa"). He was known throughout the land as a great undefeated warrior. He had a reputation as a ruthless warrior with extraordinary skills in battle, and with his great strength, no one stood a chance against him.

The Karakoa

One day, during one of Rajah Mangubat's "pangangayaw" or expedition to turn other villages into one of his colonies, he met a Punong "babaylan" or chief priestess who prophecized that one day, he would be killed by a woman warrior who had a snake for a twin. The twin snake is an Umalagad (Ancestor spirit or a household deity) Also, the warrior with the snake for a twin will become the most powerful person of their time. The warrior shall be born on the next lunar eclipse. Enraged by her prophecy, Rajah Mangubat kills the Punong Babaylan.

After seeing the fruition of the lunar eclipse, Rajah Mangubat becomes anxious over his killer, who has a snake for a twin. With this, he orders his warriors to kill all pregnant women in his puod and attack the neighboring islands as well. The only village that survives Rajah Mangubat's terror is Datu Bugna's banwa because of their long-time friendship and alliance (A Datu is a Chief of the banwa). Datu Bugna hid all pregnant women and newborns in his banwa to save his people.

Amaya's birth scene

What Rajah Mangubat doesn't know is that a baby girl in Datu Bugna's banwa has been born on the night of the eclipse. The baby girl is the warrior he has been looking for to be killed. The girl with the snake for a twin is named Amaya and is Datu Bugna's daughter from Dal'lang, an "uripon" or a slave that was Datu Bugna's true love but could not be with because of their different social classes. Amaya's twin snake is an "umalagad" or the spirit of one of their ancestors from the afterlife. In order to protect his daughter, while Amaya is still an infant, Datu Bugna orders his men to separate Amaya from her mother and hide his daughter in a secret chamber in the royal house called a "bukot". Amaya became a "binukot" or a special kind of "ba-i" or princess. A binukot is different from ordinary princesses because they are separated and hidden from everyone else to preserve their beauty and cannot step on the earth to preserve their purity. At the same time, her snake twin is released into the forest and is told that it may only come back if and when Amaya is in dire need of help. Amaya as a binukot was taught reading, writing, counting, the arts, music and sword fighting by her father.

While growing up Datu Bugna tells Amaya that her mother, Dal'lang, is already dead. What Bugna does not know is that his jealous wife, Lamitan sold Dal'ang to another island but she escaped and is living in hiding in a far away land hoping to one day see her daughter again. Inside the "bukot", Amaya is with her half-sisters and fellow binukots. The first was Marikit, who is jealous of all the attention Amaya is getting from their father. She also happens to be Lamitan's favorite daughter. The other one was Binayaan, Marikit's younger sister who finds comfort with Amaya since her mother, Lamitan doesn't want her because Lamitan was expecting a male heir (only men could rule at the time).

When Amaya was still a young girl, she was kidnapped by an uripon paid by Lamitan and she was threatened to be killed. But her twin snake came and killed the uripon. During this time, she meet the young Bagani who was the successor of Rajah Mangubat's throne. Bagani took her back to her own village by carrying her.

Years pass and Amaya has grown to a very beautiful binukot. Because of Lamitan's evil desire to get rid of Amaya and her hate to her husband who truly loves Dal'ang, she betrays her husband and tells Rajah Mangubat her husband's plan of revolt with the other Datus against Mangubat's merciless rule. Lamitan also started sucking up with Mangubat to improve her social status in Mangubat's puod. Rajah Mangubat's men take Amaya from her chamber and use her as blackmail to make Datu Bugna confess. He eventually does confess and Rajah Mangubat kills him in front of Amaya.

Rajah Mangubat takes Amaya to his village and there, Lamitan literally stripped her of her clothes and her right as a Bai or princess and made an uripon. Amaya sees the treacherous Lamitan's true character and becomes enraged with her father's double-crossing wife. She promises that she will do anything to avenge her father from Rajah Mangubat and especially Lamitan. But Rajah Mangubat still has no idea about Amaya's true identity - the warrior with a snake as a twin.

Amaya is surprised to see her long lost love, Bagani, but is devastated to find out that he is Rajah Mangubat's son and heir. Bagani is shocked as well when he finds out that the girl he once fell in love with is now a slave. In spite of this, he still remains in love with her. However, Amaya tries to get rid of her feelings for him all for her plan's sake.

Amaya and her twin snake

Bagani tries to protect Amaya with all of his power from all the cruelties of Marikit and Lamitan. He was forced to marry Marikit to be able to save Amaya. With the help of her snake twin, Amaya became an "alabay" or an apprentice to become a Babaylan. She studied folk medicine, religious rituals and traditions earnestly because she wants to become a Babaylan, hearing that she will have a higher status if she becomes a Babaylan (since babaylans were given high regard in society). When the plan to assassinate Bagani failed, Amaya was the only one who was able to cure Bagani, thus gaining her rank as the "Punong Alabay" or Head Apprentice. Amaya learned that the "Punong Babaylan" or High Priestess' grandson, Angaway, was behind the assassination of Bagani, she warns Bagani that they were planning a revolt against Mangubat and his heir.

But Angaway was faster, he revealed that Bagani's very first "batuk" or tattoo symbolizing a person's accomplishments was a fraud. He revealed that the task to kill a man for Bagani to earn his first batuk was not done. Instead, Bagani let the man free out of conscience. Bagani was stripped of his title as the successor and he became an outcast. Fortunately, he reached the banwa of the man he saved. The man turned to be a Datu himself named Bulang. Bagani was welcomed with open arms by the grateful Datu. There in the banwa, Bagani's metamorphosis happened. From being a weakling and a push-over, he trained to become a fierce warrior and a wise leader.

Lamitan on the other hand forced Marikit to become the "sandil" (secondary wives of a Datu or Raja) or a concubine of the Rajah against Marikit's wishes so that they will gain power again in the puod. They lost influence when Bagani was cast out and affected Lamitan, Mantal and Marikit's social standing. This made Marikit have severe depression but the greedy Lamitan forced her daughter to take "chandu" or opium to make her follow her. This ruined Marikit's mind. Amaya took pity with Marikit and healed her back to health and this made Marikit see her mother's true colors and her greed for power. Marikit was taken away by her aunt, Mantal to another banwa. Mantal was a cohort of Lamitan but because of this incident also saw her sister's true colors.

Lamitan is losing power in the puod but lucky for her, she discovered and revealed to everyone that Amaya is the warrior in the prophecy, when she revealed the snake. They were shocked that the warrior in the prophecy was a woman. Amaya was forced to go in hiding. The Rajah is starting to lose faith in Lamitan and sees her as a double crosser. Lamitan started losing faith in the Rajah and feels her hold on his power was slipping so she sided with the secret rebellion led by Angaway.

On the day of the rebellion, Amaya returned to the puod to talk to the Rajah that she has clear intentions and meant no harm but the paranoid Rajah who thinks that the rebellion was Amaya's plan attacked Amaya. Amaya accidentally kills Rajah Mangubat and the prophecy was done. Angaway became Rajah and Lamitan became his chief adviser. This sent confusion and political and economic turmoil in all of Rajah Mangubat's former colonies.

Bagani, finds out that the girl he loved killed his father. Enraged, he sets out to find Amaya to avenge his father but his love still overcame his thirst for revenge. Bagani became a datu of the banwa after Bulang died. He learned that Binayaan (now called Yang Tersayang) was living in that banwa as well. Binayaan during the faithful day of their village's destruction in the hands of Mangubat, escaped and met the mother of Amaya, Dal'ang. She knew that she is Amaya's mother but because she yearns for affection pretended to be Amaya.

Amaya on the other hand became an outcast and was blamed for all the turmoil. Lamitan created an image of Amaya as an evil person in the minds of the public. Amaya thinks that her love, Bagani will never forgive her for what she has done with the Rajah. She ended up in a village of the Lumads. The Lumads were closed minded and closed their doors from outsiders. She opened their eyes to education and progress and taught them what she knew. She also learned advanced combat from the Lumads. She gained their favor and the love of the Lumad chief's son, Dayaw. She tried to move on by trying to love Dayaw but still she loves Bagani.

Her reputation was cleaned when the other islands learned that she was caring and loving not like the picture Lamitan painted in the public's mind. Bagani, Binayaan and Amaya's paths crossed when Amaya tried to find a new village to stay. Bagani is now betrothed to Binayaan but Bagani clearly still loves Amaya. Binayaan's lies were also discovered. Dal'ang was furious but Amaya understood Binayaan and Dal'ang accepted Amaya and Binayaan as her daughters. Even though it hurt her, Binayaan let Amaya and Bagani become together. She knew Bagani will always love Amaya.

They planned a revolt to take back the entire puod from Angaway and put Bagani as the rightful Rajah. They lead an attack that killed Angaway but the village and the colonies are still not fully theirs. Lamitan used this chance live her dream and proclaim herself as leader of the puod, since she was second in power to Angaway. This was never heard of at the time. There was never a woman as Rajah before. Lamitan bribed the soldiers and threatened the council to proclaim her leader but still they did not give her the title Hara or queen. All the villages under her power were under martial law. Lamitan frightened the people with the use of a "Panagang" (Amulet or Charm) from the babaylans so they would be obedient to her by making it seem she is invincible and she has direct connection to Heaven.

Amaya along with Bagani, and Marikit, who married another datu, combined their armies to finally stop Lamitan. They were successful but there were many casualties including Dayaw and Binayaan. They proclaimed Bagani as Rajah. Amaya sentenced Lamitan to death upon request of Marikit. Lamitan was attacked by the mob but used the alabay(Apprentice of babaylan) , Alunsina, as a hostage. She rode a boat to the sea to flee but Amaya was finally able to walk on water with the knowledge she knew from being a babaylan. Amaya then called Bakunawa (A giant sea serpent in Philippine folklore. TheDiawata of Sulad ) from the sea's depths to put an end to Lamitan. Bakunawa then devoured Lamitan. Amaya managed to save the girl. Lamitan woke in the afterlife being tormented by the souls of all the people who died because of her.

Because of her wondrous achievements, Amaya was called Bunggaitanthe most powerful woman of her time. They made many changes in the puod like giving rights to slaves to become "timawa" or free men after they paid their debts and equal opportunities in education and business. Despite this and freeing the Puod from threats, Amaya and Bagani were needed by their people so their love was once again put to a halt. Rajah Bagani became a wise leader and warrior. Amaya stayed away from Bagani for many years to focus on her puod and Bagani did likewise. Amaya was one of the first women to actually lead a puod, a real Hara or queen that rule people and not just a consort of the king. When Bagani's brother Banuk became a grown man, Banuk asked Bagani to make him Rajah knowing his brother Bagani has sacrificed so much and that the time has come for Amaya and him to be together at last. Bagani went to Amaya's puod and stayed by Amaya's side but to his surprise, he met their son named Bugna and finally became a family. It was said that Amaya and Bagani died together at the same time, hand in hand.

It was shown that the whole series was just a flashback told to the younger generation by now an older Alunsina, the girl that Amaya saved. Alunsina, now the Punong Babaylan (Chief Priestess) foresaw the coming of foreigners. Spanish ships were coming to the islands signaling the end of Ancient Philippine History and the coming of the Age of Spanish colonization. Alunsina said that the foreigners will be successful in conquering all the islands and that their power was nothing that they saw before. But she said that one day, new Amayas and Baganis will rise and one day the islands will be actually free and the people of the future will know the story of the people of the past, since a person who do not know his history will have no future.

Main Cast :

 

Cast	Character	Character Information
Marian Rivera	Amaya / Bai Amaya / Dian Amaya	The daughter of Datu Bugna and the uripon(slave) Dal'lang, the girl with the twin snake, who was destined to put an end to Rajah Mangubat's reign of terror. However, in a twist of fate, she and Bagani met and fell in love. She was a Bai (princess), who became an uripon (slave) due to Dian Lamitan's (her father's legitimate wife) treachery. Eventually, she rose among the ranks to become a "Punong Alabay" (Babaylan's head apprentice) until she was forced to flee after she (in self-defense) killed Rajah Mangubat. While in exile among the Manobo, she became their Baybayin teacher and in turn learned their fighting style to become a full-fledged Warrior and finally became their first female chief leader. She was known as the most powerful woman during her time. She existed before Magellan discovered the Philippines.
Sid Lucero	Ginoong Bagani / Datu Bagani / Rajah Bagani	The son and heir of Rajah Mangubat. However, knowledge of Amaya's destiny has given him conflicted feelings towards the girl he's deeply in love with. He was married to Marikit (Amaya's older half sister), but the marriage was annulled and their unborn child aborted. He was later stripped of his title and exiled by his father. In exile, he became the ruthless datu of the mangatangs (raiders/pirates) because he believed that he should be like his father. He is eyed upon by Binayaan (Amaya's younger half sister) until however, he is grieved and accepted her death, along with their unborn child. After Lamitan's death, Bagani is crowned as a Rajah. He offers Amaya to marry her but she turns down as she goes on to rule the Manobo tribe instead, though they truly love each other. Until he and Amaya lived with his son Bugna, named after Amaya's father.
Mikael Daez	Lumad	An uripon of Atubang and Amaya's friend and ally. He was the son of a datu, until their puod was raided by Rajah Mangubat. He had a wife named Bai Libulan who was carrying their unborn son but was killed in the raid. He was killed by Bagani in a fight while aiding Amaya to flee.
Aljur Abrenica	Dayaw	A Manikiad, Manobo warrior, who becomes Amaya's new ally and protector. He is the son of Posaka, the Bagani or Warrior chief of the Manobo tribe. He killed himself to stop Lamitan from using him to catch Amaya and kill her.
Glaiza de Castro	Bai Binayaan / Yang Tersayang	The second daughter of Datu Bugna and Dian Lamitan. Her name, Binayaan comes from the word biya which means left alone/forsaken. Unloved by her parents (they were expecting a male child), she posed as Amaya when Dal'lang found her after Rajah Mangubat invaded their banwa. She changed her name to "Yang Tersayang" (which means beloved one) because she felt guilty using her sister's name and to avoid being identified as Datu Bugna's daughter. She is the wife of Datu Saghid but later she betrayed her own husband. When Angaway became the rajah, Lamitan used Binayaan to seduced Rajah Angaway to be one of her concubine, but she is saved by Bagani by letting the later to marry her, But their wedding is later annulled. She was pregnant with Bagani's child but she was poisoned to death after her child was killed in which she refused to remove from her womb.
Rochelle Pangilinan	Bai Marikit	The first daughter of Datu Bugna and Dian Lamitan. She tried to steal Bagani away from Amaya at all costs and eventually became his wife. Soon after Bagani was disowned by Mangubat, her own mother, Dian Lamitan, had her unborn child aborted and their marriage annulled to retain prestige in the puod. Furthermore, Lamitan, to gain higher status in the puod, forced her to marry Mangubat (who was given a love potion to fall in love with Marikit.) Marikit lost her mind after this as she believed her unborn child was still in her womb, until she became normal and she forgave Amaya. Marikit is married to Abhram as her former husband Bagani accepts them. She only marries Abrahm to gain a higher status so she can take revenge to her "iloy (mother)" Lamitan.
Diana Zubiri	Kapid	The twin snake of Amaya in human form. She would repeatedly intercede in Amaya's behalf to have her succeed in her tasks. She would even sometimes appear in Amaya's dreams to give her guidance. She is an umalagad.
Gardo Versoza	Rajah Mangubat	A great ruler of a Puod (a collection of banwa). Legend tells (revealed in the pilot episode) that Rajah Mangubat aged to adolescence on the very same day he was born. He is married to Hara Lingayan, and recently, to Marikit because of her mother, Dian Lamitan. He is known for being an undefeated rajah.He met a village priestess or babaylan who prophesized that he would be killed by a woman who had a snake for a twin. He realized the deception of Lamitan so he removed her as a Dian status and he was forcefully to trust Amaya. However later, he was killed by Amaya, the woman on the prophecy as he tells her in his final words that she's not his enemy.
Raymond Bagatsing	Datu Bugna	The husband of Dian Lamitan. He had a daughter to Dal'lang named Amaya, the woman with a twin snake. He was killed by Rajah Mangubat because of Dian Lamitan's evil desire.
Lani Mercado	Dal'lang	The uripon mother of Amaya. She is loving and caring. She wishes to be with her daughter. She treated Binayaan as her own daughter until she finally meets her real daughter. She also takes care of Alunsina.
Gina Alajar	Dian Lamitan / Hara Lamitan	The wife of Datu Bugna. She is violent to Amaya due to her being Bugna and Dal'ang's daughter. The Rajah later found out that she was the reason why Bugna died, why Marikit succumbed to mental illness, and why Amaya got flayed of her status as a binukot - and so he stripped Lamitan of her status as a Dian. She was sentenced to be an uripon for the rest of her lifetime but regained her status when her ally Angaway became the new Rajah of the Puod. She declares herself the hara of the puod when Angaway died. She deeply believes that the Diwata Malandok is guiding her. It is revealed that when she was just a binukot, she dreams of being a full pledged warrior. She promised that she will not be defeated by anyone especially Amaya, not until her left hand was being cut by Amaya to weaken her. She escaped the puod when Hilway prophesied about her Horrible Death. Only Mantal knows about her illness. She is captured by her own daughter Marikit and Abrahm and they bring her to Bagani and Amaya so that they prepare the execution for Lamitan to the public. She is being punched, whipped and hurt by the people of puod, however she grabs Alunsina as her hostage and escapes. However, she witness Amaya's power by walking herself into the bay as she is being devoured by a giant sea creature Bakunawa which is summoned by Amaya to death to put an end of Lamitan's evil scheme. In her afterlife in the sulad, she is punished by the spirits of Bugna, Binayaan, Awi, and Lingayan.
Ayen Munji-Laurel	Hara Lingayan	The wife of Rajah Mangubat and the mother of Bagani and Banuk. The people love and respect her because of her righteousness and intelligence. She is the enemy of Dian Lamitan and once became Amaya's ally. She hated Amaya after Amaya killed her husband. She was forced to accept the marriage proposal of the new Rajah, Angaway, to protect her children. She was secretly murdered on Lamitan's orders.

Major Recurring cast[edit]

Cast	Character	Character Information
Angie Ferro	Uray Hilway	The Punong Babaylan (high priestess) of the "Puod" of Rajah Mangubat. She has the ability to communicate with a diwata or an umalagad by letting them possess her body. With Angaway and Atubang, she planned to overthrow Mangubat by using the girl with the twin snake through the fulfillment of her destiny. She killed her own grandson Rajah Angaway. It is later revealed that in order to protect herself from Lamitan who replaced Angaway as the ruler of the puod, she pretended to go insane using her grandson's death as a medium for her act. She prophesied Lamitan's Horrible death. After Amaya freed the puod from Lamitan, she and Amaya became friends, she even called Amaya as the best student she ever had as the two embraced each other.
Ryan Eigenmann	Rajah Angaway	The grandson of Uray Hilway and a relative of Rajah Mangubat who has lustful intentions towards Amaya. He orchestrated the revolt that usurped Mangubat's power to become the next Rajah. He was killed by Hilway.
Irma Adlawan	Bai Mantal	The umbo or older sister of Dian Lamitan. She was once Lamitan’s closest ally but turned against her to save Marikit from and also became Amaya's ally. She was punished by Lamitan to become an Uripon. She fled with Bayang, Kayang and Marikit to the banwa of Hara Lingayan's parents. After Marikit left with her husband, Mantal went back to persuade Lamitan in stopping her evil deeds before it is too late but Lamitan distrusts her and sent her to prison. She escaped as Amaya's army storm the puod once again. After Lamitan's capture, Lamitan begged her to help her but Mantal refused telling Lamitan that even if she repents everything she has done, it is all too late and that Lamitan should have listened to her earlier.
Sheena Halili	Ahak	In the past, she was the "hayohay" of Amaya. She became the uripon of Atubang. When Atubang was killed she was automatically freed from being an uripon. She was officially freed by Amaya after they fled their puod.
Roy Alvarez	Awi	Amaya’s yoyo or uncle. He treated and protected Amaya like his own daughter when his younger brother Datu Bugna died. He was killed by Paratawag and Songil. He is later seen in the Sulad as one of the souls to eternally torment Lamitan.
Ana Feleo	Bayang	A former Alabay and hayohay of Bagani. She is one of Amaya’s friends. Amaya later asked Uray Hilway to make her an Alabay once again.
Roxanne Barcelo	Kayang	The Hayohay of Lamitan and Marikit. She also served Abram after his marriage with Marikit.
Dion Ignacio	Kuling	He is an uripon and Ahak’s husband.
Buboy Villar, Rocco Nacino (adult in finale)	Ginoong Banuk	The young brother of Bagani. He is the youngest son of Rajah Mangubat and Hara Lingayan. He is sided with Amaya to put down Lamitan's evil schemes. He assumed the throne to allow his older brother Bagani to be freed of his responsibilities as Rajah to finally be with Amaya.
Abby Bautista, Kris Bernal (adult in finale)	Alunsina	The youngest of the alabays. She is the first one to know Amaya's secret. At first, she is eager to tell Amaya's secret to the Rajah, but then she change her mind and not to tell Amaya's secret. After that, she and Amaya became close friends and she is the only one defending Amaya to the other Alabays. Amaya promises that after she finishes her mission to the people, she will help Alunsina to find her father. She is now in the care of Uray Hilway who will train her. While the execution of Lamitan is going on, Alunsina attempts to kill her but Lamitan takes her as hostage, until she is saved by Amaya on the bay to finish Lamitan. Years later, she becomes Punong Alabay. Many years later, Alunsina becomes the Punong Babaylan and in her old age she foresees that there would be new enemies and that there would also be new heroes who would be born to be like Amaya and Bagani in generations to come.
Mon Confiado	Songil	A warrior of Rajah Mangubat. He taught Bagani how to fight. He became Rajah Mangubat’s chief minister when Atubang died. He is sided with Amaya in the battle against Angaway and eventually, Lamitan.
AJ Dee	Paratawag	A Sandig or warrior of Rajah Mangubat. He is the town crier. He tells the announcement and proclamation of the Rajah. He is sided with Amaya in the battle against Angaway and eventually, Lamitan.
Rob Sy	Paragahin	A Sandig or warrior of Rajah Mangubat. He is capable of speaking Malay language. He collects tribute and products for the Rajah. A turncoat who sided with Angaway in his rebellion and consequently became his second-in-command. He was killed by Dayaw.
Ana Capri	Agang	An uripon and best friend of Dal’lang. She is the mother of Pingas. She is the first to believe in Binayaan's lies. Paragahin kills her by mistake when tasked by Angaway to murder Dal'lang for her failed attempt on taking his life.
Mia Pangyarihan	Silay	An alabay of Uray Hilway and an ally of Dian Lamitan who was jealous of Amaya. She secretly discovered that Amaya has a twin snake Kapid. Bitten by Kapid (in her snake form) when the former asked her identity and somehow interfered in Amaya's second assault through the puod, slowly succumbing to Kapid's venom, and died in front of Datu Pulajan, to attest to Kapid's power and might as an umalagad.
Yasmien Kurdi	Apila	A female priestess who secrtely admires Dayaw. She is hostile towards Amaya. But when Amaya saved her, they become close friends.
Ronnie Lazaro	Posaka	Chief warrior and Dayaw's courageous father. He disliked Amaya at first but after Apila got saved by Amaya, he accepts her as one of trusted allies. After Dayaw's death, he proclaimed he can no longer rule the Lumads and was eventually replaced by Amaya which he considers a daughter.
Daniel Fernando	Atubang	Second-in-command to Rajah Mangubat and in charge of the armory. He was the father of Angaway and was killed by Amaya when he attempted to kill her.
Juan Rodrigo	Datu Pulajan	He is the leader of a tribe who became an ally of Dian Lamitan who will help in her revenge against Amaya. They will join forces to rule the tribe. Later he joined forces to Amaya when he found out that Lamitan was trying to kill him. He got poisoned and killed by Lamitan in front of Uray Hilway.
Leopoldo Wendell Salgado	Banu	One of Bagani’s friends.
Edgar Manuel	Waba	One of Bagani’s friends.
Jan Manual	Usbog	One of Bagani’s friends. Killed by Lumad to save Amaya.
Maybelline dela Cruz	Baylan Asinas	A "babaylan". She will act as the teacher of alabays. She became the Punong Babaylan after Uray Hilway. She was killed by Lamitan.
Tanya Garcia	Pandaki	The Diwata who saves the dungan of Amaya
Deborah Sun	Dian	The dian/queen mother of Hara Lingayan
Aubrey Miles	Magwayen	The Diwata who takes the dungan or soul to Sulad.
Julius Danielle Gareza	Pingas	Son of Agang.
Pancho Magno	Agul	An uripon of Atubang and friend of Lumad. He became one of Amaya’s allies.
Chrome Cosio	Apong	The uripon of the babaylans. He became the first male to become a babaylan. He was killed by Songil.
Yutaka Yamakawa, Jr.	Gadang	A friend of Silay and one of Hara Lamitan's trusted warriors. He was killed by Amaya.
Joel Saracho	Datu Girong	The former enemy of the Lumads who Amaya made a peace pact with. He is later revealed to be the father of Alunsina. He became one of Amaya's allies. He was killed by Gadang.
Kate Velarde	Young Marikit	Young Marikit Which Rochelle Pangilinan
Francheska Salcedo	Young Binayaan	Young Binayaan Which Glaiza De Castro
Edelweiss Tuzon	Young Amaya	Young Amaya Which Marian Rivera.

Recurring Guest star[edit]

Cast	Character	Character Information
Jordan Herrera	Datu Saghid	He became Yang Tersayang/ Binayaan’s husband. Betrayed by her wife Binayaan and killed by Datu Bagani.
Sarah Lahbati	Bai Libulan	The pregnant wife of Lumad. She was killed when Rajah Mangubat raided their banwa.
Dindo Arroyo	Badu	An uripon that kidnapped the young Amaya (with orders from Dian Lamitan). Killed by the twin snake of Amaya.
Spanky Manikan	Datu Bulang	The captive saved and freed by Bagani. He became the datu of the mangatangs and became Bagan's mentor. He was betrayed and killed by the mangatang Mardog whom Bagani killed in turn. He was succeeded by Bagani as the datu of the mangatangs.
Rustica Carpio	Uray Digan	The Punong babaylan (head priestess) who prophesied about the girl with a twin snake. She was killed by Rajah Mangubat.
Janina San Miguel	Hiyas	Mother of Rajah Mangubat
Chris Aguilar	Datu Usog	Datu of Bayang's and Digan's banwa. He was killed by Rajah Mangubat just by using his index finger.
Archie Adamos	Mardog	A Mangatang (Pirate) who killed his leader Datu Bulang. He was in turn killed by Bagani.
Jordan Castillo	Taban	A Mangatang (Pirate) who was killed by Songil.
Antonette Garcia	Ka-ak	Hayohay of Amaya.
Edelweiss Tuzon	Young Amaya
Byron Ortile	Young Bagani
Carlo Lacana	Teen Bagani
Francis Magundayao	Teen Angaway
Kate Velarde	Young Marikit
Cruzita Salcedo	Young Binayaan
Julian Trono	Young Rajah Mangubat	Appears on start of the show for the retelling of the start of Rajah Mangubat legacy
Abner Delina	Agto
Gerard Pizarras	Ginoong Abrahm	A noble from Manila and a son of a Lakan who is an ally of Hara Lingayan. He became Marikit's husband. Later he sides with Amaya and supports his wife's revenge against Lamitan.
Dingdong Dantes	Ferdinand Magellan	Appears on the finale episode of the program; This only tells the time when Spaniard came in the land of the Philippines.

Production and development[edit]

Amaya was conceived in late 2009 and was presented at the GMA Network Trade Launch for the first quarter of 2010 as part of the future programs to be launched by the network for that year. Initially given the working-title "Sultana", the show underwent major title changes before arriving to the final title "Amaya", which was announced on November 2010.

Due to production requirements, GMA Network did not push the program's scheduled 4th quarter of 2010 airing but instead opted to delay the show's premiere to the 2nd quarter of 2011. Extensive research has taken much of the time spent on preproduction, with the creators consulting various experts on Philippine history. The Boxer Codex served as a guide in creating the various costumes for the different cultures portrayed in the series. The producers involved historians during the conception of the show. Dr. Vic Villan and Prof. Neil Santillan of the University of the Philippines Diliman History Department served as history consultants for the show. Theater director and independent filmmaker Dennis Marasigan was hired as movement director.

Filming

The plot of the series, which involved pre-colonial setting, urged the producers to build sets on various locations such as Pagsanjan in Laguna, Bolinao, Pangasinan, and Bagac, Bataan. The scope of the series would require the filming of the integral scenes on-location as opposed to what the producers have done for Encantadia (a television series) a previous high fantasy production which was shot mostly in soundstages. However, to avoid the need for the reconstruction of some of the sets as the on-location shoots are usually ravaged by storms, and also to lessen maintenance cost as well as for the production to avoid acoustic issues by shooting in a controlled environment, they also used the network's temporary soundstages at Marilao, Bulacan for most of the indoor scenes.

The production gave much attention to details with regards to the recreation of historical elements vital to the show's production design. Guided by the academe, they attempted to recreate ancient elements of early Filipino culture from the architecture, to fashion, weaponry and jewelry. Jewels were made in cooperation with the jewellers of Meycauayan. Some textile used in making the costumes were imported from various Southeast Asian countries.

The production also built an ancient warship known as Karakoa. It was made from an existing hull of a modern boat and was redesigned to fit the ancient descriptions of the legendary warship. The production spent more or less Php 2 million for a single unit of Karakoa.

Casting[edit]

The series' cast is known as one of the biggest ever assembled for a Philippine drama series.^{[citation needed]} Actors from different fields were gathered to fill-out the roles crafted for the show. Actors from the television and film industries as well as those from the theater circuits were recruited to be part of the large cast.

Marian Rivera was the first actor to be attached to the show. Auditions were held to fill-out the remaining cast. Newcomer Mikael Daez was cast as Lumad on January 2011. Sid Lucero was invited to audition, even though at that time he was still associated with rival network ABS-CBN. Lucero would eventually bag the role Bagani and was signed up for the project.

Glaiza de Castro, Rochelle Pangilinan, Gardo Versoza, Lani Mercado, Gina Alajar, Daniel Fernando Ayen Munji-Laurel and Raymond Bagatsing were also secured in important roles. Ryan Eigenmann, Sheena Halili, Roxanne Barcelo, Dion Ignacio, Buboy Villar, AJ Dee, Jan Manual and Ana Capri signed in major recurring roles.

Aubrey Miles and Tanya Garcia also joined the cast in special guest recurring roles. Later in September, Diana Zubiri filled out the final cast.

In August 2011, there were speculations about Aljur Abrenica joining the cast and will be featured in a subplot crafted for the series' two-month extension. In September 2011, the management confirmed the news and Aljur Abrenica was introduced as Dayaw on October 4, 2011. Also signed up to play parts in the new subplot were Ronnie Lazaro and Yasmien Kurdi.^[9][10][11]

Music[edit]

The Entertainment TV Group of GMA Network commissioned an all-original musical score for the series, with film composer Von de Guzman creating the themes for the series. The series used music as a tool for character development and story progression, thus giving a show a musical flavor. Some of the narrations are presented in a musical format, with characters singing about their emotions and their current situation. The first sequence of the series involves an epic chanter (Bituin Escalante) who narrates the epic backstory of Rajah Mangubat.