The mini-series ran under ABS-CBN’s children’s fantasy-drama anthology, Wansapanataym, and got based on the Rod Santiago comic strip of the same title.
ABS-CBN took the massive success of its weekend fantasy series, Da Adventures of Pedro Penduko (2006), to produce more similar shows based on a classic and already popular material.
The Network brought [back] to life and into the small screen, several big screens, and comic characters in the succeeding years.
Kapamilya viewers indulged in nostalgia and the modern and more intriguing interpretations of the well-loved tales, including that of Pepeng Agimat, Elias Paniki, Tiagong Akyat, and Tonyong Bayawak; all of which are popularized by the late Ramon Revilla Sr.
In 2011, ABS-CBN embarked on TV adaptations of iconic Filipino movies and comic-book titles, including the modern incarnation of the Rod Santiago comic strip, Buhawi Jack. Santiago is known for his various work in movies, and comics.
Among the most-popular creations: Agua Bendita (also adapted by ABS-CBN into a TV series), the ‘80s movie The Sisters (which later got revived by GMA Network as a daytime drama ), and the Robin Padilla movie series, Bad Boy.
Buhawi Jack was the first fantaserye mini-series offered under Wansapanataym Presents, which aired from January 22 to March 26, 2011. It served as the final title offered under the first season of the weekend fantasy-drama anthology, which returned on air, after a five-year hiatus.
The mini-series served as first Kapamilya series of StarStruck alumna and former Kapuso star Jewel Mische, who moved from her previous home network, GMA Network. Part of the cast was Lorna Tolentino and Rudy Fernandez’s son, Rap Fernandez, who had her first taste of acting via Buhawi Jack.
Buhawi Jack follows the titular character Jack (Anderson), a martial artist who got transported to another world, where he must battle monsters, evil wizards, zombies, and other threats, to save Earth.
A movie adaptation was also made in 1998, and starred former lawmaker, action star, and Taekwondo champion Monsour del Rosario. Also part of the mini-series cast are Philipp Salvador, Joel Torre, Tetchie Agbayani, Ricardo Cepeda, Julio Diaz, and Bugoy Cariño.
