Kumander Bawang (2015 TV series)

Kumander Bawang: Kalaban ng mga Aswang (lit. Commander Garlic) is a 2015 Philippine superhero action-fantasy comedy-drama television series (sure it was) based on the character from 1988 film of the same title from Viva Films which originally starred Herbert Bautista in the title role. Produced by IBC and Viva Television, and directed by Jose Javier Reyes and Mervyn B. Brondial, it is topbilled by Josh Padilla assuming the role of Kumander Bawang. The series was aired in someone's imagination on IBC's Kapinoy Primetime evening block and worldwide on Global IBC from September 28, 2015 to March 4, 2016, replacing Kung Fu Fighting.

The story follows Tikboy (Josh Padilla), a 22-year-old hapless lad who discovers his father was a fearless aswang-slayer. Inheriting his father's mystical garlic-shaped pendant, he must use its power to become the aswang-busting superhero Kumander Bawang.

Synopsis
For generations, man and aswang had waged bloody war against each other. But prophecy foretold of a child, born of both human and aswang blood, who shall one day unite both daylight and nighttime races in peace. Conde Regalado (Ryan Eigenmann), leader of the ruling aswang clan, sought to destroy the child, but was thwarted by the legendary aswang slayer, Ka Luis (Phillip Salvador). A truce was declared, and Ka Luis hid the child away until such time it would come of age to claim its birthright.

13 years later, the remaining members of the Regalado clan descend upon the town of Matang Bato. Breaking the truce, they unleash death and terror upon the populace as they search for the prophesized half-breed. The terrified masses cry out for a hero.

Instead, they get Tikboy.

A clumsy, cowardly geek, Tikboy (Josh Padilla) is hardly anybody’s idea of a hero. He can barely even stand up to bullies, much less battle bloodthirsty creatures of the night. But he just happens to be the son of the great Ka Luis himself. And when he inherits his father’s mystical garlic amulet, along with it comes the responsibility of protecting humankind, and the destined child, from the legions of darkness. Using the power of the garlic pendant, he becomes the dreaded enemy of the aswang, Kumander Bawang!

Main Cast

 * Josh Padilla as Tikboy Santiago  / Kumander Bawang - Son of the renowned aswang slayer Ka Luis. An ordinary young man reluctantly thrust in the role of a hero.  Aside from living up to his father's legacy, he also has to continue his family's moro-moro theater tradition.
 * Sarah Lahbati as Carmen Dellamorte - Tikboy's love interest. A scion of the wealthy Dellamorte family--who happen to be a clan of aswangs.  She meets Tikboy due to being a fan of moro-moro plays ever since she first watched them over a hundred years ago (aswangs tend to age much slower than humans).  She is taken by his wit and goofy charm, but alas she has been betrothed to the evil Conde Regalado.
 * Herbert Bautista as Tiyo Ambo - Tikboy's uncle. He dreams of reviving the moro-moro tradition in the modern age.  Founder of the Matang Bato Moro-moro Society--whose only 3 memebers are his nephew and his friends Odie and Liwayway.
 * Jolo Revilla as Pepeng Kulog - A disciple of Ka Luis who trains Tikboy in the fine art of aswang-hunting.
 * Donnalyn Bartolome as Liwayway Miranda - Tikboy's childhood friend. Secretly in love with him, she is always scheming to break him up with Carmen.  After learning his secret identity, she tries to become his sidekick in an effort to get closer to him.
 * Gina Pareño as Aling Sebya - Liwayway's grandmother.
 * Abby Bautista as Luningning - The child of the prophecy, conceived from the union of a mortal and an aswang.
 * Arkin del Rosario as Odie Rodriguez - Tikboy's best friend. He has a crush on Liwayway, who has a crush on Tikboy.  He later gets bitten and infected by an aswang.  Slowly turning into one, he tries to keep it secret from his friends.  But as he gets jealous and angry at Liwayway's advances towards Tikboy, how long can he control the monster lurking within him?
 * Bernard Palanca as Armando Dellamorte - Carmen's father, patriarch of the Dellamorte clan. He wishes to establish peace between humans and aswangs, but his hands are tied when the reigning Regalado clan enforces its will.
 * Polo Ravales as Duque Regalado - Conde Regalado's brother, and Luningning's aswang father.
 * King Certeza as Prince Regalado - Conde's cousin, brother of Princess Regalado.  He does not share the family's evil ambitions.

Special Participation

 * Phillip Salvador as Ka Luis - Tikboy's father, the legendary aswang slayer.


 * Dianne dela Fuente as Margarita - Luningning's mother, a mortal woman who fell in love with an aswang.

Villains

 * Ryan Eigenmann as Conde Regalado - Head of the Regalado clan, self-proclaimed king of the aswang nation. Formerly destroyed by Ka Luis, he is brought back to life by a witch's spell and gathers together the exiled members of his family.  He organizes an international network of aswangs, KASPER (Kapisanan ng mga Aswang sa Pilipinas and Everywhere).


 * Alessandra de Rossi as Erika / Ek-Ek - Conde Regalado's personal aide, a manananggal who also happens to be a manananggol (lawyer). She hates being called Ek-Ek.  Conde calls her that anyway.
 * Carlyn Ocampo as Wanda - A disturbed emo goth girl. Tired of living, she desires to become one of the undead.  Using witchcraft, she resurrects Conde Regalado and agrees to serve as a sleeper agent for his clan.  When she is turned into an aswang, she gains the ability to shapeshift into any animal or person.
 * Johan Lourens as Marquis Regalado - Conde's brother.
 * Kian Kazemi as Baron Regalado - Conde's brother.
 * Katarina Rodriguez as Princess Regalado - Conde's spoiled rich-bitch Fil-Am-As (Filipina-American-Aswang) cousin. Sister of Prince Regalado.

Supporting Cast

 * Mayton Eugenio as Ashley Garcia
 * Carlo Lazerna as Kevyn Boy
 * Cliff Hogan as Tiknan
 * Imee Schweighart as Rose Ann Francisco
 * Carlo Lacana as Ricky Mendoza (high school)
 * Aubrey Caraan as Jenny Gonzales (high school)
 * Makisig Morales as Miguel Lorenzo (high school)
 * Val Victa as Padre Sebastian

Extended Cast

 * Daniel Fernando as Ka Dario
 * Dick Israel as Perfidia
 * Alexis Navarro as Maxima

Guest Cast

 * Issa Pressman as Abby Morena
 * Chubi del Rosario as Edgar Atayde
 * Boom Labrusca as Rolando Romero
 * Ashley Rivera as Petra Mendoza
 * Janna Roque as Ara Montenegro
 * Jovic Monsod as Dino Abrenica
 * Pio Balbuena as Ernesto Cortez

Production staff

 * Directors: Jose Javier Reyes and Mervyn B. Brondial
 * Executive In-Charge Of Production: Ginny Monteagudo-Ocampo
 * Writers: Jimuel dela Cruz and Dexter Hemedez
 * Executive Producer: Vic del Rosario, Jr.
 * Producers: Ruchel Covacha, Veronique del Rosario-Corpus and Ramon Salvador
 * Supervising Producer: Olive de Jesus
 * Musical Score and Sound Design: Mon del Rosario
 * Editors: Ben Panaligan and Annabelle Macauba
 * Art Director:  Bert Habal
 * Cinematography: Neil Daza and Rody Lacap
 * Production Design: Randy Gamier
 * Costume Design: Steve de Leon
 * Associate Producer: Marilyn Tavora Consorte
 * Lighting Director: Monino Duque and Jay Linao
 * Make-Up Artist: Wheng Legaspi

Production
Kumander Bawang marks the sixth time to helm a primetime fantaserye offering and the second superserye of IBC, based on the 1988 film of the same title, which was originally starring Herbert Bautista. Now on primetime TV, Josh Padilla who plays the title role Kumander Bawang. Padilla was joined by Sarah Lahbati as his love interest. The character has also appeared in the movie adaptation by Viva Films.

He also gets a new Matrix/X-Men inspired black leather outfit, which looks boring, in my opinion. The old green-and-orange costume may have looked tacky.

IBC president and CEO Boots Anson-Roa and Viva Entertainment chairman and CEO Vic del Rosario, Jr. unveiling the fantasy-action drama which particularly aimed to target our younger and male viewers.

Since the third Pinoy superheroes in a primetime series of IBC after the first for being a teen pretty superheroine princess Super Janella of the network's light fantasy series Janella: A Teen Princess and the other one is the crime-fighting superhero Voltron Man.

A 30-minute TV special Kumander Bawang: Ang Simula was aired on September 26, 2015 at 4:00pm before the series kicked-off on Kapinoy Primetime, featuring exclusive behind-the-scenes footage and cast interviews of the highly anticipated fantasy-drama showed how Kumander Bawang was created and conceptualized, hosted by Mario Dumaual.

Soundtrack

 * Kumander Bawang (composer: Mon del Rosario) - Shehyee

Merchandise
IBC and Viva is adventage of the superserye's popularly to the partnerhip with Sari-Sari Kapinoy entitled Kumander Bawang Items, the merchandise that produce a school supplies (notebooks, pencils, erasers, bags, pencil case, watches, ballpen), T-shirts, action figures, tumblers, wall clocks, rain gears, keychains, fan, mugs, stickers, caps, posters, among others are also being sold available in the makret of supermarkets, supermalls, malls and so much more in Mega Manila and other provinces nationwide in very affordable prices and Kumander Bawang Mobile Game App available on Android, iOS and Google Play.

Endorsements
The show gains endorsements and brand promotions from companies. The advertisements airs during and after the commercial breaks of the show.