''Carlo J. Caparas' Gagambino'' is a

Philippine television drama Philippine television drama, also known as ''teleserye'', Filipino telenovelas or P-drama, is a form of melodramatic, serialized, televised fiction in the Philippines. ''Teleserye'' is derived from two Filipino words: "tele", short for "''telebi ...

fantasy series broadcast by

GMA Network GMA Network (Global Media Arts or simply GMA) is a Philippine free-to-air television and radio network. It is the flagship property of publicly traded GMA Network, Inc. Its first broadcast on television was on October 29, 1961. GMA Network (f ...

. The series is based from Carlo J. Caparas' graphic novel of the same title. Directed by

Topel Lee Topel Lee is a Filipino film director, TV director and music video director known for the cinematography in his movies and his strong female characters. Filmography as director Television * 2019 Bukas May Kahapon * 2018 Spirits: Reawaken * 20 ...

and

Don Michael Perez Don Michael Perez is a Filipino television writer, film writer, television director, and film director. He is a resident writer and director for GMA Network. His most famous works were ''Mulawin'', ''Destiny Rose'' and ''Kambal, Karibal''. Fil ...

, it stars

Dennis Trillo Abelardo Dennis Florencio Ho (born 12 May 1981), known professionally as Dennis Trillo (), is a Filipino actor, model and recording artist. He is currently a contract star of GMA Network. He was known for his role as Eric del Mundo in the firs ...

in the title role. It premiered on October 20, 2008 on the network's Telebabad line up replacing ''

Dyesebel ''Dyesebel'' () is a Filipino comic book character, conceived by Mars Ravelo and drawn by Elpidio Torres. Dyesebel is a mermaid, who eventually gains full human form through a deal with a sea-witch. Aside appearing in Pilipino Komiks, Dyesebe ...

''. The series concluded on February 20, 2009 with a total of 90 episodes. It was replaced by ''

Totoy Bato ''Totoy Bato'' is a 2009 Philippine television drama series broadcast by GMA Network. The series is based on the graphic novel created by Carlo J. Caparas. Directed by Mac Alejandre and Don Michael Perez, it stars Robin Padilla in the title role ...

'' in its timeslot.

Production

When

bought the rights to Carlo J. Caparas' graphic novel in February 2007,

Richard Gutierrez Richard Kristian Gutierrez (born January 21, 1984), known professionally as Richard Gutierrez, is a Filipino actor, environmentalist and model. He is one of the sons of actor Eddie Gutierrez. Early life Richard Gutierrez was born on January ...

was attached to star. The series was shelved until 2008, but Gutierrez opted to work on his dream project: '' Codename: Asero''. The network decided that they could not longer delay the series and gave the role to

, over another heavy contender:

JC de Vera John Carlo de Vera (born March 10, 1986), better known by his screen name JC de Vera, is a Filipino actor, host and model. Personal life De Vera was offered a basketball scholarship in Colegio de San Juan de Letran after he graduated from high ...

, who later joined the cast in ''

LaLola ''Lalola'' was an Argentine television comedy show that aired from 28 August 2007 to 29 April 2008. It was broadcast by TV channel América 2. It starred Carla Peterson and Luciano Castro as protagonists. The show won nine Martín Fierro Awards f ...

''. Director

required Trillo to learn three martial arts in preparation for the role:

wing chun Wing Chun (Chinese: 詠春 or 咏春, lit. "singing spring"), sometimes spelled Ving Tsun, is a concept-based fighting art, form of Southern Chinese kung fu and close-quarters system of self-defense. In Mandarin, it is pronounced "Yong Chun. ...

judo is an unarmed modern Japanese martial art, Olympic sport (since 1964), and the most prominent form of jacket wrestling competed internationally.『日本大百科全書』電子版【柔道】(CD-ROM version of Encyclopedia Nipponica, "Judo"). ...

and kendo (a

Japanese martial art Japanese martial arts refers to the variety of martial arts native to the country of Japan. At least three Japanese terms (''budō'', ''bujutsu'', and ''bugei'') are used interchangeably with the English phrase Japanese martial arts. The usage ...

of sword-fighting). He also underwent training for parkour.

Premise

Gambino "Bino" Bayani and his adventures with his giant spider as they fight evil forces in a darker, crime-infested re-imagination of Manila. Bino and his group of friends, all possessing insect-like superpowers like him, are pitted against Abresia, a terrorist mastermind and a very powerful woman who can command giant insects.

Cast and characters

;Lead cast *

as Gambino "Bino" Bayani ;Supporting cast *

Raymart Santiago Raymond Martin Legaspi Santiago (born July 20, 1973) is a Filipino, TV host, actor, and comedian. Career After making his movie debut in Viva Films' youth comedy ''Estudyante Blues'' (''Student Woes''), Santiago became a Viva contract artist a ...

as Dindo Gutierrez *

Polo Ravales Paul Patrick Rodil Gruenberg (born June 27, 1982), simply known as Polo Ravales, is a Filipino actor and model. Engaged to Paulyn Quiza, a fitness coach and Managing Director of their International Manpower family business. Career Ravales' fi ...

as Harold Santiago *

Katrina Halili Maria Katrina Iren Pe Halili (born January 4, 1986) is a Filipino actress and commercial model of Chinese descent. She made her screen debut through the reality talent search '' StarStruck'' in 2003, and became more popular playing several rol ...

as Lucy Gutierrez / Lady Mantisa *

Nadine Samonte Nadine Burgos Eidloth-Chua (born March 2, 1988), known by her stage name Nadine Samonte, is a Filipino-German actress and model. She participated as an Avenger of the first season of '' StarStruck''. Career Samonte first ventured into show bu ...

as Celine Lopez *

Isabel Oli Maria Olivia Daytia-Prats (born October 20, 1981), better known by the screen name Isabel Oli, is a Filipina model and actress. Background Oli is the youngest of seven children to a Filipino father of Chinese descent and a Filipina mother of S ...

as Bernadette Albuento / Alakdanessa *

Glaiza de Castro Glaiza Castro Galura-Rainey (born January 21, 1988), known by her stage name Glaiza de Castro, is a Filipino actress, recording artist and advocate. She is recognized as the industry's "''Drama Royalty''" for her acting prowess and versatility ...

as Leah Albuento / Super Bee *

Jennica Garcia Jennica Alexis Maitim Garcia-Uytingco (born December 26, 1989) is a Filipina Filipinos ( tl, Mga Pilipino) are the people who are citizens of or native to the Philippines. The majority of Filipinos today come from various Austronesian ethno ...

as Gelay L. Bayani *

Jean Garcia Jessica Anne Rodriguez Maitim (born August 22, 1969), better known as Jean Garcia (), is a Filipino television and film actress, who hails from Angeles City. She is best known for her role as Madam Claudia Buenavista in the original version o ...

as Abresia / Divina M. Lopez-Gutierrez *

Mart Escudero Mart Enrico Escudero (born April 11, 1990) is a Filipino actor, model, and television personality. He rose to fame during his stint at the fourth season of '' StarStruck''. He also starred in the indie film '' Zombadings: Patayin sa Shokot si Re ...

as Noel Albuento *

Glydel Mercado Flordeliza Sanchez-Gutierrez (born March 10, 1975), better known by her screen name Glydel Mercado, is a Filipina singer actress and politician in the Philippines. She won a number of Best Supporting Actress awards her role in 1999 film '' Sidhi ...

as Rebecca Bayani-Santiago * Jan Manual as Eldon *

Benjie Paras Venancio Johnson Paras Jr. (born October 2, 1968), better known as Benjie Paras, is a Filipino actor, comedian, and a retired professional basketball player who played for Shell Turbo Chargers and San Miguel Beermen of the Philippine Basketb ...

as Stalin *

Krista Kleiner Krista Eileen Arrieta Kleiner (born June 12 1989), is a Filipino-American entertainer, creator and beauty queen. She joined Binibining Pilipinas 2010 (Miss Philippines) and won Binibining Pilipinas-International 2010 (Miss Philippines Internat ...

as Krissa ;Guest cast *

Zoren Legaspi Zoren Lim Legaspi (; born January 30, 1972) is a Filipino actor and television director. He is best known for appearing in several television shows such as ''Ika-6 na Utos'', '' Mulawin'', '' Now and Forever: Ganti'', ''Majika'', ''Enchanted Ga ...

as Armand Santiago * Bernadette Allyson as Elena Bayani *

John Arcilla Romeo Gonzales Arcilla (born June 24 1966), professionally known as John Arcilla, is a Filipino actor and environmentalist. He won Best Actor at the 78th Venice International Film Festival for his performance in '' On the Job: The Missing 8 ...

as Alejandro Bayani

Ratings

According to

AGB Nielsen Philippines AGB Nielsen Media Research Philippines, commonly called AGB Nielsen, is a market research firm in the Philippines specializing in broadcast media. AGB Nielsen conducts audience measurement of television ratings for certain areas in the Philipp ...

' Mega Manila household television ratings, the pilot episode of ''Gagambino'' earned a 34.5% rating. While the final episode scored a 34.7% rating.

References

External links

* {{IMDb title, 1250885 2008 Philippine television series debuts 2009 Philippine television series endings Fantaserye and telefantasya Filipino-language television shows GMA Network drama series Superhero television shows Television shows based on comics Television shows set in the Philippines