Brilyante (Encantadia)

The Brilyante are fictional gemstones in the Filipino fantasy television series Encantadia as well as its 2016 requel. They are the four elemental gems that holds the balance in Encantadia. Each gem manifests the classical elements: fire, air, water and earth.The tranquility and future of Encantadia rests on these four gemstones. In both series, each Brilyante are being carefully kept by each kingdom in Encantadia. The kingdom of Lireo, in the east of Encantadia, is the keeper of Brilyante ng Hangin (Gemstone of Air). Adamya in the south is the keeper of Brilyante ng Tubig (Gemstone of Water). Sapiro, the northern kingdom, kept the Brilyante ng Lupa (Gemstone of Earth). Hathoria, the kingdom of the west, is the keeper the Brilyante ng Apoy (Gemstone of Fire). But after the Hathoria attempted to seize the four gemstones, they are turned-over to Queen Mine-a of Lireo for safekeeping. Later, the four daughters of Queen Mine-a became the keeper of these gemstones.^[1][2]

2005-2006 series

History

The four brilyante first appeared in Encantadia, but the history of the gemstones appeared on its prequel, Etheria. The history of the four elemental gems date back to the First Great War in Encantadia with the fall of the Etherian Empire.

Etheria and the First Great War

The four brilyante were initially created as a single gem that the bathalang Emre, the highest god in Encantadia, bequethed to the leaders of each kingdom in Encantadia; it was called as the Ynang Brilyante: King Bartimus of Hathoria, King Meno of Sapiro, Queen Cassiopeia of Lireo and Aegen of Adamya, to aid them in their struggle against the Etheria under the rule of Queen Avria. The gem contains the four elements that will keep the balance in Encantadia. After the fall of Etheria, the jewel was entrusted to the most stable nation at the time, Sapiro. Fearful that the gem's power will corrupt Sapiro, Cassiopeia, the first Queen of Lireo, made the fateful decision and use the Kabilan Sword (the sword once belong to Etheria) to break the gem into four fragments that embodies the four elements it contain: water, fire, wind and earth. Because of this act, the four kingdoms of Encantadia lose their alliance and Cassiopeia was cursed by Bathalang Emre and banished from Lireo. The four gem fragments were vested upon the four kingdoms. Sapiro was given the Brilyante ng Lupa, Hathoria was given the Brilyante ng Apoy, Lireo was given the Brilyante ng Hangin, and Adamya was given the Brilyante ng Tubig.

Encantadia (2005)

King Arvak of Hathoria, resentul of Cassiopeia's decision and deeply concerned by Hathoria's lack of apparent natural resources, launched a campaign of conquest throughout Encantadia, aided by his son and heir Hagorn. They successfully conquered Adamya and acquired the Brilyante ng Tubig, but were stopped cold when the Sapirians came to Adamya's rescue. Though successful in slaying King Armeo and acquiring the Brilyante ng Lupa, King Arvak died at the hands of Prince Raquim, and he takes all the three gem. To ensure its protection, Prince Raquim of Sapiro traveled to Lireo and take the three gems to the queen of the Diwatas, Mine-a's custody and guardianship of all four elemental jewels, assured that the powerful Lirean throne would never let the brilyante fall into Hathorian hands. The brilyantes remained safe in Lireo until Sang'gre Pirena, the first-born of Mine-a, stole the Brilyante ng Apoy to aid her in defeating Mine-a during the challenge for the throne. Failing in her attempt and bitter of Minea's imagined favoritism, Pirena fled to Hathoria, carrying with her the Brilyante ng Apoy as bargaining chip with now King Hagorn. To protect the three remaining brillantes, Mine-a entrusted them to her three remaining children, Amihan (Brilyante ng Hangin), Alena (Brilyante ng Tubig) and Danaya (Brilyante ng Lupa).

The four Brilyantes in the original series

The four brilyantes are the Brilyante ng Apoy (Gemstone of Fire), Brilyante ng Hangin (Gemstone of Air), Brilyante ng Tubig (Gemstone of Water), and Brilyante ng Lupa (Gemstone of Earth).

Brilyante ng Apoy(Gemstone of Fire)

The gem grants its owner with the power to control fire, enabling the person to control warmth, light and fire. In this sense, the beholder can intensify sunlight and conjure fire. This fire is sometimes used to create a portal window to see what other people are doing at the time. Fire can also be used as a container of power so that it may be transferred to others. This gem has the ability of shapeshifting into another person. It can also create a volcanic eruption with burning lava that can reach even the farthest place in Encantadia.

Brilyante ng Hangin (Gemstone of Air)

The gem grants its owner with the power to control the air, wind and coldness. In this sense, the beholder can change air currents, conjure oxygen in areas without it and transform into the air itself. This gem is sometimes used to send messages to other people. It also grants the holder the ability to fly. The gem can also be employed in detecting the presence of nearby beings by tracing the sound of their breaths.

Brilyante ng Tubig (Gemstone of Water)

The gem grants its keeper with the power to control water. It enhances its keeper's strength and enables the person to control biosonar, liquids and sea creatures. It also enables its keeper to summon rain and portray an image through water. The keeper can also turn the water into blood if desired.

Brilyante ng Lupa (Gemstone of Earth)

The gem grants its owner with earth-based powers, enabling the person to control the earth, vegetation and nature. In this sense, the beholder can conjure earthquakes, communicate with plants and animals, shapeshift into any flora or fauna and heal herself. It can also command any plants. Without the presence of the gem of earth, plants would wilt, animals would die, and beings in Encantadia would weaken and will soon die.

2016 series

Like in the original series, the four gemstones were used to be a single gem called Inang Brilyante (Mother Gem). The Inang Brilyante is protected by Cassiopeia in her island. Adhara, an evil diwata, attempted to seize the Inang Brilyante but she failed by destroying her airship armada. To protect the Ynang Brilyante, Cassiopeia shattered it into the four elemental gems using the Kabilan. She gave each pieces to Adamya, Hathoria, Sapiro and Lireo's respective rulers to prevent Adhara from acquiring them and to help ensure an era of peace in the kingdom. However, Bathalang Emre did not like what Cassiopeia did so he cursed her to have a long life. After Pirena stole the Brilyante ng Apoy , Mine-a entrusted the three other ‘’brilyantes’’ to her other daughters, Amihan (Brilyante ng Hangin), Alena (Brilyante ng Tubig) and Danaya (Brilyante ng Lupa).

The shapes of the brilyantes in the 2016 series changed from circular shape in 2005 series. The Brilyante ng Apoy is tear-shaped, the Brilyante ng Hangin is shaped like a tornado, the Brilyante ng Tubig retained its circular shape inspired by water ripples, and the Brilyante ng Lupa is shaped like an oval.

It is revealed that there is a fifth Brilyante which is discovered by Paopao, a mortal that was kidnapped into Encantadia.

The Brilyantes in the 2016 version

Brilyante ng Apoy (Gemstone of Fire)

So far, the seen abilities that the gem grants its keeper are:

• Appearance Alteration: Pirena used this ability many times. Her notable transformations are: Ades, Amihan, Aquil, Danaya, Emre and Muros.
• Light and Temperature Manipulation: When the gem was returned to Hathoria, Hagorn used the gem to make light and warmth disappear throughout Encantadia.
• Temperature Detection: Pirena used this ability to locate Lira. The gem can direct its keeper to the location of a certain someone through the warmth within that person's body.
• Thermal Manipulation: Pirena used this ability to sabotage the weaponry of the Lirean army by making them hot if anyone tries to use any of them so that they will be unable to use it.
• Knowledge: When Pirena brought Alena and Hitano to the mortal world Pirena gave them the knowledge to be able to cope up with how mortals speak and live.
• Fire Immunity: It gives its keeper the immunity from being harmed by fire as shown when Pirena in Danaya's appearance, got caught up in flames but didn't get burned.
• Soul Steal: Pirena used this ability to prevent Mira from intervening with her plans. The gem absorbs the person's life force and will return it upon the command of its keeper.

Brilyante ng Hangin (Gemstone of Air)

So far, the seen abilities that the gem grants its keeper are:

• Asphyxiation: Power of suffocating someone.
• Clairvoyance: ability to see anything that is not physically present, such as objects, animals or people.
• Levitation: rising of a human body into the air by mystical means. Amihan used the power to levitate a hathor.
• Agility: ability to control the speed and stamina such as super speed.

Brilyante ng Tubig (Gemstone of Water)

So far, the seen abilities that the gem grants its keeper are:

• Creating a Tsunami:power to create a tsunami and has full control of it and will crash the moment its keeper allows it to. This ability was used by Alena during the war between Lireo and Hathoria.
• Aqua Shield: Alena also used the gem to create a large shield that defies energy blasts.
• Control of Water Creatures: the abilities that the gem grants isn't just for combat purposes, Alena used the gem to create a water display for Ybarro. Many glowing jellyfish floated out of the lake and surrounded Ybarro and Alena and created an illuminating performance for them.
• Amnesia: Pirena, after stealing the Brilyante ng Tubig from Alena, used the gem to wipe the memory of Alena.
• Blessings: Alena used the water gem to bestow blessings to Lira. She bestowed the blessing of Lira being calm and caring just like the water; and strength and courage just like the waves when she needed it.

Brilyante ng Lupa (Gemstone of Earth)

So far, the seen abilities that the gem grants its keeper are:

• Earthquakes: power to create earthquakes. The magnitude varies to how the keeper wants the intensity to be. The keeper can also undo the damage caused by the earthquake.
• Healing: power to recover from any wound whether it is just a light or a heavy wound.
• Therianthropy: ability to metamorphose into other animals by means of shapeshifting.
• Blessings: Danaya bestowing blessings to Lira. She used it to give Lira protection from Pirena and to any weapon, made of earthly resources.
• Plant Manipulation: power to control plant life. When Danaya is in the mortal world, she used the brilyante ng lupa to manipulate a banana tree to bear its fruits and give it to the street children.
• Terrakinesis: the ability to control geologic materials such as minerals, dirt and rocks.

References