Maskarang Agimat

***Maskarang Agimat*** (transl. *Talisman Mask*) is a fictional Philippine superhero action-drama fantasy television series currently airing on Fantasya TV.

## Maskarang Agimat

### Genre

ActionAdventure

Crime

Drama

Fantasy

Romance

Superhero

## Plot

A crippled ex-soldier receives a talismanic mask from a mysterious hermit.  Empowered by the mask, he fights against the corruption gripping his town, as well as the supernatural forces lurking in the dark.

## Synopsis

The town of San Barabbas is beset by evil at all sides. Corrupt officials rule the local government.  The rich and powerful reign society.  A drug cartel runs plantations in the hills, their armed goons terrorizing the countryside. And then there are also whispers of supernatural forces lurking among the shadows.

A former soldier, Abel Cordero, wishes to rid his hometown of the ills that plague it.  But since being crippled in the line of duty, he is just as helpless as the rest of the townsfolk, and now even more so.  And when he does dare to stand up to the injustices, he is brutally attacked and left for dead in the wilderness.

Rescued by an indigenous forest tribe, Abel meets Apo Virtus, the fabled hermit of the mountains, who bestows upon him a black mask bearing talismanic markings.  When he wears the mask and utters the Latin phrase ***Prudentiae iustitia temperantia fortitudine—VIRTUS,*** he finds his disability miraculously healed, and is granted with superhuman abilities.

Using the powers of the mask, Abel becomes an anonymous champion of the people, waging a one-man war against evil and oppression. But he must contend not just with ordinary criminal elements, but also with the cult of the *Anitong Itim* ("Black Idol"), a demonic entity that feeds on the corruption festering within the town.

## Cast of Characters

### Main characters

* **Abel Cordero** - An ex-army ranger whose right leg was permanently injured in battle, causing him to walk with a limp.  His handicap hinders his desire to help his community, until he receives the mystical mask from Apo Virtus.  When he wears the mask and utters the Latin prayer *prudentiae iustitia temperantia fortitudine—VIRTUS*, he is cured of his disability and develops extraordinary powers such as superhuman strength and agility, enhanced senses and invulnerability.  These effects only last for as long as he has the mask on.  But even without powers, he could still stand his own in a fair fight. As he himself says, *“Lumpo ako, hindi lampa”* (“I’m a cripple, not a weakling”). He later takes a job as a *barangay tanod* so he can freely patrol for situations where he would be needed.

* **Don Nemecio Del Rey/Nemesis** - The wealthiest and most powerful man in San Barabbas.  His main businesses include ranching and mining, but is also secretly running criminal enterprises such as drugs, gambling, and extortion. He attained his fortune through a deal with the *Kapatiran ng Dilim* ("Brotherhood of the Dark"), as well as the supernatural ability to control and even kill people he has "tagged" with a handshake.

* **Clarissa Ramirez** - A radio reporter and commentator crusading against the crime and corruption in San Barabbas. Abel's childhood friend and potential love interest (Typical, I know).

* **Veronica Del Rey** - Don Nemecio’s daughter.  A spoiled, entitled rich girl, she usually looks down upon commoners, but is unusually affectionate towards Abel, who happens to be her childhood friend and crush (So, yeah, love triangle. It's a *Pinoy* thing). She appears to be ignorant of her father’s illegal activities.

### Supporting characters

* **Apo Virtus** - The legendary hermit of Mount *Batongbuhay* ("Mount Livingstone"), an aged but powerful sorcerer and sentinel against the evil of the *Anitong Itim.*

* **Maestro Malakai** - Enigmatic master of dark magic, leader of the *Kapatiran ng Dilim*, and keeper of the *Anitong Itim*. Fostering evil in the town of San Barabbas, he uses the fear and misery of the townspeople to feed the demon residing within the idol.

* **Rodante Cordero** - Abel’s father.  A retired soldier, he runs the family farm, and is a well-respected figure in their community.

* **Eden Cordero** - Abel’s mother.

* **Abigail "Abby" Cordero** - Abel’s teenage sister.

* **Tibo** - Farmhand at the Cordero farm and the comic relief.

* **Baste Masangkay** - An orphan boy taken in by the Corderos after his own family is brutally murdered.

* **Jeff Bautista** - A newly-transferred and idealistic police officer.  Formerly a city cop, he was apparently transferred to the province because he was too honest for his own good.

* **Maalab** - Leader of the *Mangungubat* forest tribe that saved Abel’s life.

* **Magilas** - A *Mangungubat* warrior, ally and friend to Abel.

* **Marilag** - A *Mangungubat* tribeswoman, daughter of Maalab.

* **Matabil** - Another *Mangungubat* tribeswoman, Marilag’s friend and comedic foil.  Because you can’t have enough comic relief.  Speaks in contemporary slang despite being from a mountain tribe, because, why not?

* **Cloyd Caruso** - Veronica's personal assistant.

* **Redge Acuña** - A professional photographer.

* **Augustus Romano** - The corrupt mayor of San Barabbas. Dreaming of turning the town into the Las Vegas of the Philippines, his development efforts have left it vulnerable to crime and corruption.

* **Juno Alferez** - The vice mayor of San Barabbas. In staunch opposition to the mayor, she is determined to rid the town of corruption at all costs and by any means necessary.

* **Jason Alferez** - Juno's teenage son, a top student athlete and Abby's crush.

* **Mauricio "Mau" Capulong** - The *barangay* chairman under which Abel serves.

* **Bonzo** - A burly *barangay tanod* assigned to look after Abel, but usually ends up getting bailed out of trouble by his handicapped partner. Yet another comic relief character.

* **Sgt. Ildefonso Canlas** - The cynical, disillusioned chief of police. He turns a blind eye to the corruption in his department.

* **Cpl. Caloy Casillas** - The bumbling police corporal.  Yes, the cops have comic relief, too.

* **Lt. Teofilo Pelaez/*Tinyente Pilat* ("Lieutenant Scar")** - Corrupt scar-faced police lieutenant.

* ***Kumander Barbaro* ("Commander Barbarian")** - Commander of a rogue *Armadong Masa* ("Armed Masses") /ARMAS unit, a "revolutionary militia" sidelining as underworld mercenaries. Also known as *Ang Barbaro ng San Barabbas* ("The Barbarian of San Barabbas").

* ***Rabis* ("Rabies")** - Barbaro's second-in-command. He got his nickname because he keeps a pack of wild dogs as pets.

* **Sally Mallari/Malisya ("Malice")** - A bar dancer with a talent for getting men to reveal their secrets, which she uses to her advantage.

* **Angel Dungo** - A young delinquent and town troublemaker.

* **Father Simon Pureza** - The town's parish priest.