Dyesebel
Encyclopedia
Dyesebel is a popular mermaid
Mermaid
A mermaid is a mythological aquatic creature with a female human head, arms, and torso and the tail of a fish. A male version of a mermaid is known as a "merman" and in general both males and females are known as "merfolk"...

 character in the Philippines. The comic book
Komiks
Comics in the Philippines were partially inspired by American mainstream comic strips and comic books during the early 20th century, particularly after World War II, the medium became widespread and popular throughout the country, though its popularity has subsided somewhat with the advent of...

 character was originally conceived by the Filipino comic book illustrator, Mars Ravelo
Mars Ravelo
Mars Ravelo was a Filipino graphic novelist who created the characters Darna, Dyesebel, Captain Barbell, Lastikman, Bondying, Varga, Wanted: Perfect Mother, Hiwaga, Maruja, Mariposa, Roberta, Rita, Buhay Pilipino, Jack and Jill, Flash Bomba, Tiny Tony, and Dragonna among others.-Biography:Mars...

. Dyesebel is a prominent character in Philippine cinema
Cinema of the Philippines
Cinema of the Philippines started with the introduction of the first moving pictures to the country on January 1, 1897 at the Salón de Pertierra in Manila. The following year, local scenes were shot on film for the first time by a Spaniard, Antonio Ramos, using the Lumiere Cinematograph...

 and television.

1953: Dyesebel

In the Philippines, the lore of Dyesebel began with the story of a girl born to a mermaid-obsessed Filipino mother. Whilst pregnant, Dyesebel 's mother obsessively looked at a collection of mermaid pictures from a calendar which eventually affected the infant's form when it was born with a fishtail instead of normal human lower extremities. Dyesebels father, angered by his child's deformity, wanted to abandon the child, only to be hindered by a bolt of lightning during a typhoon. To avoid the stigma of having a mermaid child, the couple decided to leave their village and relocate where they can raise Dyesebel in secret, hidden from prying eyes. The mermaid Dyesebel eventually met other mermaids while spending time by the seashore, and through her sea adventures, she comes into contact with Diangga, a sea-witch who had the power to transform sea-creatures like Dyesebel into normal humans. Dyesebel fell in love with a normal human man. But after her secret of being a mermaid was exposed, it prompted the jealous former girlfriend of the man with whom Dyesebel was in love, to kidnap Dyesebel and place her in a carnival. Dyesebel was later saved by her human lover. Diangga, the sea-witch, eventually transformed Dyesebel into a permanent female human with normal lower extremities.

1964: Anak ni Dyesebel

After a decade, Gerardo de Leon reunited the cast of the blockbuster 1953 movie Dyesebel in a sequel based on Mars Ravelo's Anak ni Dyesebel. The movie introduced Alona (played by Eva Montes), the daughter of Dyesebel (Edna Luna) and Fredo (Jaime dela Rosa).

1973: Dyesebel

The 1973 Dyesebel movie directed by Emmanuel H. Borlaza was closer to Mars Ravelo's heroine mermaid. The character inhabits an undersea kingdom of mermaids, outcasted from the land of humans due to the belief that mermaids are the cause of misfortune. Dyesebel became attracted to a male human being and swore to find any means to be transformed into normal human woman, in order to be with the man that her heart desired. In this movie, Vilma Santos played the role of Dyesebel making her the only actress to play both Darna
Darna
Darna is a fictional character and Filipino comics superheroine created by writer Mars Ravelo and artist Nestor Redondo. In her more popular incarnations, she is a deceased warrior from another planet manifesting herself through a girl from Earth, named Narda...

 and Dyesebel, both classic Mars Ravelo creations. Romeo Miranda played Fredo.

1978: Dyesebel

Dyesebel (Alma Moreno) was a mermaid born to a rich couple. The husband claimed his wife had an affair with a merman. Still loving and accepting, they moved to their beachhouse where Dyesebel was kept in a wheelchair covered with a blanket to hide her tail. It was only her parents and her nanny who knew her identity as a mermaid. As she grew up into a lady mermaid (still on shore) the family hires Fredo and his dad as their gardener. Fredo and Dyesebel fall in love and after Dyesebel reveals herself to Fredo, they decide to get married (complete with Dyesebel wearing a wedding gown, in a fishtail). Shortly after they got married, Dyesebel's parents died in a plane crash. Then, Dyesebel discovered that Fredo is a womanizer. In full despair, she heard (after a long, long time) the ocean calling her and she joined the mermaid kingdom. Trying to be happy, she admitted that she misses Fredo and asks Banak (Nova Villa) how to be become human. She leads her to Dyangga (Bella Flores), a human octopus, where with the help of a merman friend, kills Dyangga to get the magical pearl on her head. She becomes human for an hour or so, only to break up with Fredo and decide to be a mermaid forever, and live in the ocean she was deprived from since birth.

1990: Alice Dixon's Dyesebel

Perhaps the most memorable Dyesebel movie to date, this version is common that makes Dyesebel of what it is now: it was the first Dyesebel to use the "orange-colored" fishtail, which is commonly used now. She used real underwater scenes, in the aquarium, showcased a combination of her life on the water and on land, thus having mermaid-human transformations, and to show a realistic storyline on love and relationships.

A couple found a wounded and stranded pregnant mermaid on shore, who died after giving birth. Being childless, the couple adopted the mermaid's daughter and named her Dyesebel, From Dyesebel's childhood through her teenage years, she and her family moved from place to place to get away from angry mob. The teen Dyesebel (Carmina Villaroel) starts to ask questions why she's a mermaid and shows signs of wanting to become a human. It was at this time that they decide to let Dyesebel go into the sea with the other mermaids (not shown on screen) where she has the chance to encounter with Edward (Robert Ortega) as a teen. Fast forwarding to the present day where Dyesebel is now a lady (Alice Dixon). She then sees Edward (Richard Gomez) again as an adult, then searches Banak, a sea witch this time, to help her acquire human legs through a magic shell. However, its only temporary, the shell has to be within her reach 24/7 or else she'll have her tail back.

She finds shelter by Marina (Malou De Guzman) and Iday (Judy Ann Santos) who later on discovers her identity but still remain true to her. She also found Edward's wallet washed from the shore. Still having Edward's wallet that was misplaced on the water (similar to Splash) Dyesebel and her friends look for Edward and becomes a famous model by a friend of Edward's. Dyesebel and Edward finally meets and become lovers, however, Malou, Edward's almost-stalker-like-girlfriend-wannabe tries to break their relationship, at the same time, Dyesebel has a hard time keeping her identity a secret to Edward. Until she finally admits it to him, and shows him her true self, where they broke up for sometime. Edward realizes he cannot live without her, they are about to become closer and Malou accidentally finds out, and exposed Dyesebel's mermaid identity in a birthday party for Edward. The media and the government took interest on her, as a display on the country's underwater museum. Edward rescued her, and Malou discovered Dyesebel's magic shells, steals it and breaks it. However, it only turned Dyesebel into a human permanently and Malou into a mermaid, permanently.

1996: Dyesebel

Dyesebel is a 1996 film version Charlene Gonzales played Dyesebel with Matthew Mendoza as Fredo. It was directed by Emmanuel H. Borlaza.

On-screen actresses

In the movies, Dyesebel was portrayed by Filipino actresses, Edna Luna, Vilma Santos
Vilma Santos
Maria Rosa Vilma Tuazon Santos-Recto commonly known as Vilma Santos-Recto or Ate Vi is a multi-awarded actress and politician...

, Alma Moreno
Alma Moreno
Alma "Ness" Moreno is a Filipina actress politician who has made her mark both as a popular movie and television personality. She was born in Cervantes, Ilocos Sur to Frank Lacsamana, from Pampanga, and Jean Moreno.-Career, politics and personal life:She appeared in her first movie as a "Dama" in...

, Alice Dixon, and Charlene Gonzales
Charlene Gonzales
Charlene Mae Gonzales Bonnin Muhlach is a television and film personality and former beauty queen from the Philippines. Gonzalez won the Binibining Pilipinas-Universe 1994 title and represented her country at the Miss Universe 1994 pageant held in Manila, where she won the Best National Costume...

. In television, she was personified by the actress Ara Mina
Ara Mina
Hazel Pascual Reyes , better known by her screen name, Ara Mina, is a Filipina actress, fashion model and singer. She won the Golden Screen Award in 2004 for Best Actress in a drama in the Philippines....

 in a cameo appearance in Mars Ravelo's Darna (2005 TV Series) and portrayed by Marian Rivera in Mar's Ravelo's Dyesebel, year 2008. Vilma Santos and Marian Rivera are only the two actresses who played two of Mars Ravelo's komiks
Komiks
Comics in the Philippines were partially inspired by American mainstream comic strips and comic books during the early 20th century, particularly after World War II, the medium became widespread and popular throughout the country, though its popularity has subsided somewhat with the advent of...

 characters respectively, namely Darna
Darna
Darna is a fictional character and Filipino comics superheroine created by writer Mars Ravelo and artist Nestor Redondo. In her more popular incarnations, she is a deceased warrior from another planet manifesting herself through a girl from Earth, named Narda...

 and Dyesebel.

Chronological list of actresses who played Dyesebel in the movies and on television

Year Actress Role Title
1953 Edna Luna Dyesebel Dyesebel
1964 Ruby Abucot Dyesebel Anak ni Dyesebel
1973 Vilma Santos
Vilma Santos
Maria Rosa Vilma Tuazon Santos-Recto commonly known as Vilma Santos-Recto or Ate Vi is a multi-awarded actress and politician...

Dyesebel Dyesebel
1978 Alma Moreno
Alma Moreno
Alma "Ness" Moreno is a Filipina actress politician who has made her mark both as a popular movie and television personality. She was born in Cervantes, Ilocos Sur to Frank Lacsamana, from Pampanga, and Jean Moreno.-Career, politics and personal life:She appeared in her first movie as a "Dama" in...

Dyesebel Sisid, Dyesebel, Sisid
1990 Carmina Villaroel
Carmina Villaroel
Maria Carmina Muñiz Villaroel, also known as Carmina Villaroel is a Filipino actress, television host, and model....

Teen Dyesebel Dyesebel
1990 Alice Dixson
Alice Dixson
Jessie Alice Dixson or Alice Dixson, often misspelled Alice Dixon , is a Filipino-American actress, commercial model, and former beauty queen...

Dyesebel Dyesebel
1996 Richanne Suarez Young Dyesebel Dyesebel
1996 Charlene Gonzales
Charlene Gonzales
Charlene Mae Gonzales Bonnin Muhlach is a television and film personality and former beauty queen from the Philippines. Gonzalez won the Binibining Pilipinas-Universe 1994 title and represented her country at the Miss Universe 1994 pageant held in Manila, where she won the Best National Costume...

Dyesebel Dyesebel
2005 TV Series Ara Mina
Ara Mina
Hazel Pascual Reyes , better known by her screen name, Ara Mina, is a Filipina actress, fashion model and singer. She won the Golden Screen Award in 2004 for Best Actress in a drama in the Philippines....

Cameo appearance of Dyesebel Mars Ravelo's Darna (2005 TV Series)
2008 TV Series Kirsten Jane Singrit Young Dyesebel Mars Ravelo's Dyesebel (TV Series)
Dyesebel (TV series)
Mars Ravelo's Dyesebel is a fantasy Philippine drama that aired on GMA Network. It is an adaptation of a famous graphic novel about a mermaid created by Mars Ravelo....

2008 TV Series Marian Rivera
Marian Rivera
Marian Rivera is a Filipina actress and occasional singer-dancer. Her first TV role came in 2005 via TAPE Inc.'s afternoon drama, Kung Mamahalin Mo Lang Ako in the lead that was aired in GMA Network. In 2007 she was cast for the title role in the Philippine remake of MariMar...

Dyesebel Mars Ravelo's Dyesebel (TV Series)
Dyesebel (TV series)
Mars Ravelo's Dyesebel is a fantasy Philippine drama that aired on GMA Network. It is an adaptation of a famous graphic novel about a mermaid created by Mars Ravelo....


Chronoligical list of actors who played Fredo in the movies and on television

Year Actor Role Title
1964 Jaime dela Rosa Fredo Anak ni Dyesebel
1973 Romeo Miranda Fredo Dyesebel
1978 Matt Ranillo III Fredo Sisid, Dyesebel, Sisid
1990 Richard Gomez
Richard Gomez
Richard Gomez is a Filipino actor, comedian, model, athlete, television presenter, and director. He is one of the famous actors in Philippine Cinema. He graduated from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.-Biography and Career:Gomez was raised by his grandmother...

Fredo but in this version he was named Edward Dyesebel
1996 Matthew Mendoza Fredo Dyesebel
2008 TV Series Arkin Luciano Magalona Young Fredo Mars Ravelo's Dyesebel (TV Series)
Dyesebel (TV series)
Mars Ravelo's Dyesebel is a fantasy Philippine drama that aired on GMA Network. It is an adaptation of a famous graphic novel about a mermaid created by Mars Ravelo....

2008 TV Series Dingdong Dantes
Dingdong Dantes
Jose Sixto Raphael Gonzalez Dantes III, popularly known as Dingdong Dantes, is a director/actor and model, born on August 2, 1980 in Quezon City, Philippines.- Early years :...

Fredo Mars Ravelo's Dyesebel (TV Series)
Dyesebel (TV series)
Mars Ravelo's Dyesebel is a fantasy Philippine drama that aired on GMA Network. It is an adaptation of a famous graphic novel about a mermaid created by Mars Ravelo....


2008 TV series

GMA Network
GMA Network
GMA Network is a major commercial television & radio network in the Philippines. GMA Network is owned by GMA Network, Inc. a publicly listed company...

 had announced that they will be doing a TV series of Dyesebel
Dyesebel (TV series)
Mars Ravelo's Dyesebel is a fantasy Philippine drama that aired on GMA Network. It is an adaptation of a famous graphic novel about a mermaid created by Mars Ravelo....

 for 2008,It begins airing on April 28, 2008. They are eyeing Rhian Ramos
Rhian Ramos
Rhian Denise Ramos Howell, who is better known by her stage name Rhian Ramos , is a Filipina actress, commercial model and singer.-Biography:...

 for the title role but it ended up with Marian Rivera
Marian Rivera
Marian Rivera is a Filipina actress and occasional singer-dancer. Her first TV role came in 2005 via TAPE Inc.'s afternoon drama, Kung Mamahalin Mo Lang Ako in the lead that was aired in GMA Network. In 2007 she was cast for the title role in the Philippine remake of MariMar...

.It was also said that Dennis Trillo
Dennis Trillo
Abelardo Dennis Florencio Trillo Ho , more widely known as Dennis Trillo, is a Filipino award-winning actor, singer and fashion model. His film debut was in Aishite Imasu 1941. He is currently an artist of GMA Network...

 had the part of Fredo but turned out to be Dingdong Dantes
Dingdong Dantes
Jose Sixto Raphael Gonzalez Dantes III, popularly known as Dingdong Dantes, is a director/actor and model, born on August 2, 1980 in Quezon City, Philippines.- Early years :...

, Marian's leading man in MariMar
MariMar (Philippine TV series)
MariMar was a Philippine drama previously being broadcast in GMA Network, starring Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes.Though a remake-adaptation of a Mexican telenovela the setting and some of the storylines were altered. Directed by Joyce E. Bernal and Mac Alejandre, the series premiered on August...

. The same network has earlier made a TV series of Mars Ravelo's works like Darna and Captain Barbell.

External links

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