Mars Ravelo's Dyesebel is a fantasy Philippine drama that aired 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. This series ended on October 17, 2008.
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. Ara Mina played a cameo role in this character in the television series Darna.
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, roughly 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.[15]
On the same week, Sofitel: Philippines' pool area was closed for the night of the series' press-conference having the Philippine Synchronized Swimming Team.[16] 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%. But in the nationwide survey conducted also by NUTAM, Dyesebel was behind Lobo and The Singing Bee, both being #1 in the survey conducted during July and August, but it later regained their lead..
The finale episode of this series received 41.1% and topped first in the ratings with ABS CBN's Iisa Pa Lamang with 22.7% and I Love Betty La Fea with 23.5% following.
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.
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 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.
Watch Dyesebel Teaser Here:
Soundtrack
The series' theme song is sung by Sugarpop Julie Anne 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.
