Agua Bendita (lit.'holy water') is a 2010 Philippine television drama series broadcast by ABS-CBN. Directed by Malu L. Sevilla, Claudio "Tots" Sanchez-Mariscal IV, Don M. Cuaresma and Jojo A. Saguin, it stars Andi Eigenmann,[1][2][3][4] Matteo Guidicelli, Jason Abalos, Vina Morales, John Estrada, Pilar Pilapil, Alessandra De Rossi, Dimples Romana, Carlos Agassi, Pen Medina, Malou Crisologo, Jason Gainza, Malou de Guzman, Bing Loyzaga, Zaijian Jaranilla, and Zoren Legaspi. It aired on the network's Primetime Bida line up and worldwide on TFC from February 8 to September 3, 2010, replacing May Bukas Pa and was replaced by 1DOL.

Agua Bendita
Title card
GenreFantasy
Christian drama
Created byABS-CBN Studios
Rod Santiago
Developed byABS-CBN Studios
Liwayway Komiks
Directed byMalu L. Sevilla
Claudio "Tots" Sanchez-Mariscal IV
Don M. Cuaresma
Jojo A. Saguin
StarringAndi Eigenmann
Matteo Guidicelli
Jason Abalos
Vina Morales
John Estrada
Pilar Pilapil
Alessandra De Rossi
Dimples Romana
Carlos Agassi
Pen Medina
Malou Crisologo
Jason Gainza
Malou de Guzman
Bing Loyzaga
Zaijian Jaranilla
Zoren Legaspi
Theme music composerRey Valera
Opening theme"Malayo Pa ang Umaga" by Aria Clemente and Vina Morales
Country of originPhilippines
Original languagesFilipino
Cebuano
No. of episodes147 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producerCarlina D. Dela Merced
Production locationsLoyola Grand Villas, Quezon City
San Quintin, Pangasinan
Mandaue, Cebu Province
Cebu City
Cogon Pardo, Cebu City
Shaw Blvd., Mandaluyong
Pasay
Morong, Bataan
Running time30-45 minutes
Production companyDreamscape Entertainment
Original release
NetworkABS-CBN
ReleaseFebruary 8 (2010-02-08) –
July 9, 2010 (2010-07-09)
(first primetime slot)
ReleaseJuly 12 (2010-07-12) –
September 3, 2010 (2010-09-03)
(second primetime slot)

Overview

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Agua Bendita was a comic created by Rod Santiago[5] in the 1980s. It was published by Liwayway Comics and adapted on television through the series, Komiks first aired in 2006 and again during Holy Week 2007, with two-part episodes in Season 1 starring Shaina Magdayao as Agua/Bendita and Rayver Cruz as Ronnie.

Agua Bendita was launched as one of the ABS-CBN's offerings for the 60th Celebration of Filipino Soap Opera ("Ika-60 taon ng Pinoy Soap Opera"), during the ABS-CBN Trade Launch for the first quarter of 2010, titled "Bagong Simula" (New Beginning).[6]

This show has been developed by Mga Anghel na Walang Langit, Princess Sarah, and May Bukas Pa due to genre of family and religious-oriented drama series where Dreamscape Entertainment released these type of series since 2005. It was succeeded by Momay also in 2010. Momay aired from May 24 to September 17, 2010, where it co-existed with Agua Bendita until September 3, 2010 along with the former's successor Noah from July 12 to September 17, 2010. Agua Bendita is the second of the one-year trilogy of ABS-CBN religious series that were released from February 2, 2009 to September 17, 2010 after May Bukas Pa and before Momay.

Agua Bendita was later re-aired on Jeepney TV after its initial broadcast.

In observance of the Lenten season, Agua Bendita had its encore telecast on Maundy Thursday (April 1, 2010), Good Friday (April 2, 2010), and on Black Saturday (April 3, 2010) at 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm as part of ABS-CBN's Holy Week presentation.

The 3-part marathon special had ratings of "35% on Maundy Thursday, 26.1% on Good Friday, and 25.7% on Black Saturday".[7]

Year Chapter
numbers
No. of
chapters
Chapter numbers
(with episode
numbers)
No. of
episodes
(each chapter
numbers)
No. of
episodes
(overall)
First aired
(by
chapter)
Last aired
(by
chapter)
First aired
(overall)
Last aired
(overall)
2010 Prologue 1 Prologue
(1–2)
2 147 February 8, 2010 February 9, 2010 February 8, 2010 September 3, 2010
1 1 1 (3–15) 13 February 10, 2010 February 26, 2010
1–3 3 1 (16–37) 22 March 1, 2010 March 30, 2010
2 (38–89) 52 March 31, 2010 June 15, 2010
3 (90–122) 33 June 16, 2010 July 30, 2010
3–4 2 3 (123) 1 August 2, 2010
4 (124–147) 24 August 3, 2010 September 3, 2010
Epilogue 1 Epilogue (147) 1 September 3, 2010

Plot

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Desperate to save his wife from having a miscarriage, Marcial steals Father Guido's agua bendita, which is intended to cure an epileptic Criselda. He manages to save his wife and their babies, but one of their daughters is born with an unexplainable physical defect.[8]

Cast and characters

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Main cast

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Cast

Character

Summary

Agua Cristi and Bendita Cristi

Agua was born with an unexplainable physical defect: she can heal people with tears in grief. The Bida Kontrabida. Bendita is the physically normal but insecure twin, who feels that her parents concentrate of Agua as a result of her disability, leaving little for Bendita. She struggles with her jealousy but in the end learns to be humble and to love her twin sister.

Ronnie Aguirre

Ronnie met Agua when they were children, but when they met as young adults he was blind; without knowing Agua's real identity, Ronnie learned to love her for her personality. His mother was a maid from a rich Italian family who got impregnated by the owner's son. To cover the shame, Ronnie's father left them penniless with only a house. He is Agua's love interest, favoring her more than Bendita, due to the former's kind and naive nature.

Jason Abalos / Maliksi Morales (young)
Paculdo "Paco" Barrameda

Paco the poor son of Criselda and Baldo, often called "Tod" when he was young. He met the twins when he saved their lives on separate occasions. Tasked by his mother to bring her Agua in order to be freed from her disorder, he often works different jobs which would lead him to the Cristi's during which he begins to pity Agua. He later becomes Bendita's love interest after being completely rejected by Ronnie.

Supporting cast

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Cast

Character

Summary

Mercedes Montenegro-Cristi

Agua and Bendita's mother, who caused Agua's disability by drinking holy water when she was pregnant.

Dr. Marcial Cristi

Mercedes' husband. A doctor.

Doña Amalia "Wowa" Montenegro

Mercedes' mother. She is very close to Bendita, but not to Agua whom she regards as a 'freak', but do loved her and care for her, as she was protecting her from the danger. She is pretend to root of Agua's problems and Bendita's ill temper.

Divina Caguiat Montenegro

Doña Amalia's niece. She had feelings towards Marcial and Doña Amalia conspired to fulfill the Doña's goal of breaking Marcial's family bond.

Criselda Barrameda

Padre Guido's niece who was the intended recipient of the miraculous agua bendita. She is Paco's mother and has epilepsy, which the agua bendita was supposed to cure. Later Doña Amalia and Criselda set a wicked plan in which they will kidnap Agua and kill her.

Baldomero "Baldo" Barrameda

Criselda's husband who is a gambler and a drunk.

Padre Guido

The original owner of agua bendita and Criselda's uncle. He asked Marcial to give the agua bendita to Criselda to cure her illness. Unfortunately, Marcial stole it for Mercedes. Padre Guido appears from time to time in Agua's dreams to help her use her abilities she has gained from the agua bendita for good, though he also appears in Bendita's dreams, where he tells her that she can't use Agua's abilities because she does not deserve such privileges, and instead make her understand the error of her ways.

Malou Crisologo
Tonyang/Muchacha

Agua's nanny. She and Marcial are the only two people who knew about Agua's disability when she was born.

Ben Ramirez

A fisherman who saved Agua from danger and raised her.

Rosie Ramirez

Ben's wife who helped Agua from danger and raised her.

Solita Aguirre

Ronnie's mother. She was once a maid on a rich Italian family. She got impregnated by one of the owner's sons.

Otep (voice)

Agua's fish (clownfish) friend.

Luisito "Lui" Mondigo

Lisa's son who used to court Mercedes. However, due to Mercedes' rebellion, she ended up marrying Marcial. When Mercedes and her family decided to migrate in America, he found a chance to caress Mercedes once again.

Guest cast

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Cast

Character

Summary

Señor Lucas

A fake healer who helped Criselda when they needed some money. Criselda acts as if she is being healed by Lucas to attract customers.

Lollie Mara
Doña Caridad Montenegro

Amalia's sister. She is Divina's cruel stepmother.

Lyka Ugarte
Doña Lisa Mondigo

Amalia's friend who owned the boat intended to bring the Cristi family to their hiding island.

Miguel de Guzman
Buknoy

Tod's co-worker and friend

Angel Sy
Bimpy

Daughter of the water theme park owner, healed by Agua.

Kimberly Faye
Jocelyn
Kristine Bartucio
Maldita Woman (Episode 1)

Theme song

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The show uses "Malayo Pa Ang Umaga" as its theme song, originally composed and sung by Rey Valera. The first version is sung by Aria Clemente and the second version is sung by Vina Morales.

References

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  1. ^ Jaclyn Jose supports daughter Andi Eigenmann’s showbiz career Archived January 26, 2010, at the Wayback Machine retrieved via www.abs-cbn.com Jan 30, 2010
  2. ^ Jason Abalos wants to help his younger co-stars in ‘Agua Bendita’ Archived February 2, 2010, at the Wayback Machine retrieved via www.abs-cbn.com Jan 30, 2010
  3. ^ Vina Morales defends sister Shaina Magdayao against negative issues retrieved via www.pep.ph February 2, 2010
  4. ^ Agua Bendita makes waves in the TV ratings Archived February 12, 2010, at the Wayback Machine retrieved via www.abs-cbn.com September 2, 2010
  5. ^ Rod Santiago’s Agua Bendita: A First Peak and Continuous Viewing Archived August 2, 2010, at the Wayback Machine. Relijournal. Retrieved April 20, 2010
  6. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on March 5, 2014. Retrieved July 9, 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. ^ PEP.ph. "UPDATED TNS National TV Ratings (March 31-April 6): Agua Bendita marathon triumphs during the Holy Week". PEP.ph. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  8. ^ "iWantTFC". iWantTFC. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
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