Friday, January the 13th of 2011 marks the day that GMA Network's fictional epic television series Amaya shall finally end. Probably by this time, GMA's epic-serye is already over and this is why I am making this television ending review for the popular primetime soap. So what do I think of Amaya's Ending? Who's asking, well no one, but this is still my two cents or should I say my diyes sentimos (ten cents) on Amaya's epic finale.
Amayaaaaa Jesuuuuus! What the hell am I saying? Well, Amaya finally was able to walk on water (you know like Jesus) after praying to Laon (ancient god) for blessings. Thus having the power to call forth a sleeping legendary monstrosity, the Bakunawa, a Philippine mythological sea serpent. To whatever reason as to why Laon (the god of the Amaya lore) bestowed this divine-like power only seen on diwatas (fairy) to Amaya beats the hell out of me. Well, if the gods provided her powers right from the start, then we won't have this show to talk about. Oh well it is the ending, so it is only fitting for the series to feature over the top sequences. And what better way to end the series most hated villain, Dian Lamitan (Gina Alajar), than with a death by being devoured alive by a sea serpent. I only had this question in mind while the scene where Amaya was walking on water and the Bakunawa on her side... What the hell were the gods thinking to finally favor Amaya on that finale with Lamitan? To whatever that reason is, we will never know as it was never explained. It is just as it is and that is somehow insulting to a thinking audience and as for someone who observed the fictional story's lore. Well, the CGI Bakunawa looks "decent" for a Philippine produced television series and it is of GMA Network's standard; if you call it their standard.
So it is a happy ending for the series loving couple (Bagani and Amaya), right? Well, well not yet as the two are forced to take responsibilities as leaders to the people whom they ruled on. The show then fast forwards to a time when Banuk (Now Rocco Nacino) and Alunsina (Kris Bernal) are all grown up. The feisty Alunsina dared to answer a question asked by Banuk for the his brother, the Raja (tribe's leader). If I were the leader or even as the brother of the leader, then I would scold this meddlesome babaylan not to butt in on conversation of other people. I laughed thinking about this particular situation, thinking of an in your face joke ala Vice Ganda or Bubble Gang's Mr. Assimmo. May I also commend Rocco Nacino for speaking so good deep Tagalog words. You made me realize that there is still hope for the average joe to make it big in Philippine showbizness, Hahahaha. The Narrator (Kris Bernal) continually describes what happened next. The Philippine ancient slave system was somehow improved thanks to the joint effort of all the tribe's leaders headed by of course Bagani and Amaya. That slaves have now the opportunity to buy themselves out of slavery and become ordinary citizens, which ultimately is a happy ending for all of them. This then made the rest of the country strong and made the people one. A short clip of Magellan (Dingdong Dantes) on 1521 docking in Mactan, then fighting Lapu-Lapu was shown. For you know... historical accuracy which made me laughed thinking about it.
Bagani (Sid Lucero) seeing that his tribe is already self-sustaining, finally decides to leave his tribe to pursue a life with the woman he loves. Well, duh! Finally! He arrived at Amaya's tribe to be with her, but was shocked to see a boy called Amaya his mother. Bagani was disheartened to learned that Amaya has somehow moved on during the time that they were apart and potentially had a child with another man. But to everyone's surprise (well not really), that the kid was their (Bagani and Amaya's) child. To whatever kind of stupid reason as to why Amaya didn't tell Bagani was never explained by the Narrator (Alunsina - Kris Bernal). I guess that scene would look more dramatic with that twist, well I think it is funny. Then it fast forward again and the narrator is now an old woman. Alunsina is now an old woman and the Chief Babaylan who is educating her priestess in training about the valiant Amaya and Bagani. Then the volcano whom she said is the dwelling place of the gods suddenly errupted. she then tells that the times are changing and she saw a vision of conquerors seizing the land, but there will still be warriors like Amaya whom will rise up and fight these tyrants. Finally we have a montage of scenes of the best of Amaya and then the film just ends with a Gluthathione like endorsement shot of Amaya. Oh boy, was Marian's skin so white in that flashback. Then the series just ends without even showing off the series credits. The least that the network could do is give the team some acknowledgement or pat in the back for making a primetime soap that made decent rating for the show. Oh well, they ARE running out of time, and Munting Heredera is up next so what the hell, let's just end the series like that.
What I hated in past GMA Kapuso Network teleserye (television series) endings was the feeling that they felt rushed. They did this on series that made poor ratings, what's the use of keeping something that is not selling right? I think GMA or any tv network owes the people who managed to watch and see the such poorly rated and received television series a decent ending. Given that a series sucked in ratings, but what about those who supported it? They need a resolution or a decent conclusion to a series they learned to like, even love. So, was Amaya guilty of the same Kapuso teleserye rushed ending scenario? Luckily, Not... completely. Amaya did good on the ratings anyway so I think they owe it to everyone to give the series enough justice. Although it had some cheesy and stupid parts, I think it is a fitting end for a fictional historical television epic. Amaya was a decent primetime television series that managed to somehow educate the everyday household or the Philippine mass couch potatoes a little about our ancient history and a few deep Tagalog, Cebuano, and Bisayan words, but don't expect to see any realism or a depiction of the life back in ancient Philippines. How can you even believe that women are treated as an equal to man and even became a leader on a politically incorrect ancient Philippines dominated by men. Not only that but they women all looks so pretty and white, I would be more convinced if Amay was more ancient Hispanics rather than Filipino if you base the series based on the skin and features of the characters who portrayed ancient Filipinos. I would be more convinced if they made Rochelle Pangilinan as Amaya out of skintone realism, but the network of course knows better.
Amaya was fun while it lasted. We had a few laughs on some parts of the ending and there were questions unanswered but nothing that ruined the entire series. Amaya was an entertaining show that provided a very fictionalized ancient Philippines.
