Huwag Kang Mangamba

Huwag Kang Mangamba (International title: Mysterious Destiny / ) is a Philippine drama television series under ABS-CBN Studios that serves as the reboot to 2009–2010's May Bukas Pa. Directed by Emmanuel Palo, Darnel Joy Villaflor, Jerry Lopez Sineneng and Ram Tolentino, it stars an ensemble cast headed by Andrea Brillantes, Francine Diaz, Kyle Echarri and Seth Fedelin. The series premiered on network's Primetime Bida evening block and worldwide via TFC from March 22 to November 12, 2021, with the exclusion on Easter Triduum of Holy Week days: Maundy Thursday and Good Friday), replacing Ang sa Iyo Ay Akin and was replaced by Viral Scandal in Marry Me, Marry You's timeslot.

Plot summary
The fictional resort town of Hermoso, in the province of Laguna in the southern region of Luzon, Philippines, is a tourist hotspot for its pristine beaches, hot springs, spas and resorts. The spas were also once a pilgrimage site, attracting thousands nationwide because of the healing waters and conversions.

In past times, the townsfolk were devoted to their faith. But on one night, a fire burnt down the town church, while the parish priest was killed for a golden, bejewelled votive crown. The church is abandoned, and residents forget their devotion to God as they are preoccupied with the prosperity from their tourist sites. A young priest, Father Sebastián “Seb” Tantiangco, is one of the few remaining faithful.

Fátima Cruz is a member of Dakilang Sinag, an armed rebel group in the jungles outside Hermoso. She is targeted by government troops led by Samuel Cordero, and the two meet then fall in love.

Fátima leaves her insurgent life to wed Samuel, and they have a daughter named Joy. Abel, the rebel leader and Fátima’s childhood friend, tries to convince her to return, but their meeting is misunderstood by Samuel, who believes Fátima used him solely for the cause of Dakilang Sinag. Samuel and Fátima’s marriage breaks down when Samuel has a drunken affair with Agatha, a flight stewardess and his ex-girlfriend. The affair produces another daughter for Samuel, whom they name Sofía. Delighted, Agatha informs Fátima, who feels betrayed and tells Samuel she is leaving him. Convinced that Fátima is returning to the rebels, he takes Joy as Fátima and her friend Esther are kidnapped by Abel. At the rebel camp, Fátima discovers she is pregnant. After being raped and tortured by Abel, Fátima flees to the mountains, there giving birth to Mira.

Meanwhile, Samuel enters a common-law marriage with Agatha, convinced that Fátima had left him. Joy grows up with her stepmother and half-sister Sofía. Since Samuel is often away on military missions, the family moves in with Agatha's sister Deborah who claims to have healing powers. Agatha abuses Joy, who also suffers the cruelty of her troubled half-sister, Sofía.

Fátima, who uses the alias Faith Cruz, raises her second child Mira who was born blind. When she hears of Samuel's whereabouts, she leaves 7-year old Mira at an orphanage to find Samuel and tell him what had truly happened. When she sees Samuel with his new family, she decides to take Joy but is murdered by Agatha and Deborah. With Fátima dead, Mira grows up in the orphanage and ten years later, heads for Hermoso to look for her mother. She arrives at the resort town with nothing except her faith in a being named “Bro”, and that night, she is fatally hit by a car. The only witness is the town beggar, Barang, and Mira miraculously comes back to life.

At the same time in another part of town, after a violent fight with Sofía, Joy veers off the road and crashes into a lamppost. She is declared dead on arrival at the hospital as Deborah prays over her. At that moment, Joy comes back to life as well, and the delusional Deborah takes the opportunity to claim this miracle as her own.

The lives of Mira and Joy intertwine, while unaware they are sisters. Joy initially rejects Mira, but gains a renewed faith after reading Fátima’s old diary and Mira's persistence. At this time, a statue of Jesus Christ, whom they call "Bro", comes alive in an apparition and orders them to rebuild the church and restore the town’s faith in God. Joy and Mira join Father Seb, and with a handful of people plan to restore the ruined church. Against all odds and the godless in the community, Mira and Joy follow "Bro", inspiring the people of Hermoso to return to their faith.

Meanwhile, taking advantage of the town's superstitious residents, and anticipating a lucrative source of income, Deborah claims the miracles are due to her healing powers, including Mira's restored sight. Mira instead steadfastly credits "Bro" as the true healer, even as Deborah has a growing fanatical cult calling her “Santa Deborah”.

The town’s powerful Advíncula political family perpetuates the myth of Deborah's power, with its patriarch Simón using her appeal to gain support for his grandson Miguel's mayoral bid. He helps Deborah discredit Mira and Joy through his troll farms. Miguel builds a “healing dome” as a church for Deborah, enabling her to draw more money from her followers. Deborah and Miguel then use the cult as a front for organised crime, such as drugs and arms smuggling.

As more genuine miracles occur around Joy and Mira, Deborah steals credit even as the sisters insist the wonders are all from "Bro". This enrages Deborah, as the girls’ campaign to rebuild the town church competes with her cult activities and “healing dome”. Joy and Mira face more trials together as they deal with diverse people with different morals, beliefs and values. They tell the townspeople that "Bro" speaks to them, and exhorts them to return to God.

When the girls realise they are siblings, they decide to uncover the truth behind their mother’s disappearance. With the help of investigative journalist Miss Eva and their allies in town, they learn the beggar Barang is Virginia Ángeles – Fátima’s mother and their grandmother, as well as Fátima’s death. Though devastated, Barang and the girls overcome more challenges as they seek justice for Fátima, and struggle with the evil gripping Hermoso, all while winning hearts for “Bro”.

As many slowly turn to “Bro”, the town’s transformation from godlessness unfolds into a beautiful story of faith, forgiveness, and redemption.

Main cast

 * Andrea Brillantes as Mira Cruz / Mira C. Cordero
 * Francine Diaz as Joy C. Cordero
 * Kyle Echarri as Rafael "Rafa" Advincula
 * Seth Fedelin as Pio Estopacio

Supporting cast

 * Eula Valdez as Deborah Delos Santos
 * Mica Javier as young Deborah
 * Sylvia Sanchez as Virginia "Barang" Angeles
 * Gillian Vicencio as young Barang
 * Nonie Buencamino as Simon Advincula
 * Mylene Dizon as Eva Marquez
 * Diether Ocampo as Samuel Cordero
 * RK Bagatsing as Miguel Advincula
 * Enchong Dee as Father Sebastián "Seb" Tantiangco
 * Angeline Quinto as Darling Sanchez
 * Mercedes Cabral as Agatha Delos Santos
 * Dominic Ochoa as Tomas Estopacio
 * Soliman Cruz as Carlito "Caloy" Sanchez
 * Matet de Leon as Rebecca Estopacio

Recurring cast

 * Alyanna Angeles as Sofia D. Cordero
 * Paolo Gumabao as Maximo Delos Santos
 * Renz Aguilar as Zacharias "Carrie" Baltazar
 * Renshi de Guzman as Hans R. Alvarez
 * Margaux Montana as Babygirl "Ghie" Andrade
 * Raven Rigor as Mateo Panganiban
 * Matty Juniosa as Roberto "Bobby" Magbanua

Guest cast

 * Allan Paule as Fidel Alvarez
 * Anne Feo as Diana Rodriguez-Alvarez
 * Mark Dionisio as Abel Claverio
 * Tess Antonio as Esther Calalang
 * Micah Muñoz as Dante Ruiz
 * Nieves Manaban as Norma Delos Santos
 * Sherry Lara as Luzviminda Cruz
 * Joshua Colet as Julius
 * Rafael Rosell as Diego Romulo
 * Luke Alford as Joaquin Romulo
 * Art Acuña as Oscar Tantiangco
 * Jane Oineza as Rose Aguilar / Emily Abuel
 * Arlene Muhlach as Edna Baltazar
 * Marvin Yap as Aldo Baltazar
 * Jim Bergado as Bruno Baltazar
 * Andrea del Rosario as Thelma Policarpio
 * Richard Quan as Armand Policarpio
 * Nash Aguas as Apollo Salvacion
 * Vivoree Esclito as Freya Salvador
 * Andi Abaya as Micaella "Mikay" Villaluna

Special participation

 * Dimples Romana as Fatima "Faith" Cruz-Cordero / Lucia Angeles
 * Christopher De Leon as Elias Arcilla

Production
Filming for the drama started on December 4, 2020, with a lock-in taping set-up.

Holy Week special
Huwag Kang Mangamba re-aired the first 8 episodes as Huwag Kang Mangamba: The Holy Week Special on Good Friday, April 2, 2021, at 6:00 p.m. on Kapamilya Channel and Kapamilya Online Live and on A2Z on Black Saturday, April 3, 2021, at 2:00 p.m.

Casting
Ian Veneracion was originally cast to play the role of Elias, but he backed out of this show because of scheduling conflicts for the upcoming new season. Christopher De Leon took over the role as Elias.

Development
This show has been developed by Mga Anghel na Walang Langit, Princess Sarah, May Bukas Pa (with Huwag Kang Mangamba serves as its reboot), Agua Bendita, Momay, 100 Days to Heaven, Ikaw ay Pag-Ibig, Dahil sa Pag-ibig, Lorenzo's Time, Juan dela Cruz, My Little Juan, Honesto, Nathaniel, My Dear Heart, and Starla, due to genre of inspirational, family, values, fantasy, religion, and child-oriented drama series where Dreamscape Entertainment released these type of series from 2005 to 2021.