Dennis Gaviola

"Roja" starring Donny Pangilinan, Kyle Echarri

Article (news)

Reyma Deveza

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — ABS-CBN’s newest series &quot;Roja,&quot; starring Donny Pangilinan, Kyle Echarri, and Maymay Entrata, kicked off its free-TV premiere on Monday, November 24, with a gripping story of friendship and betrayal. </p><p>The debut episode, “Welcome to La Playa Roja,” introduces viewers to the scenic La Playa Roja resort and its key players: Liam (Pangilinan), the head chef and son of resort owner Magnus (Raymond Bagatsing); Olsen (Echarri), the resort’s security officer; and Luna (Entrata), Liam’s friend and fellow chef.</p><p>What begins as a friendship quickly unravels due to a complicated past and hidden resentments.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1763969082260Roja.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner">Screen grab: Netflix Philippines</span></span></span></div><p>The episode opens with Liam fishing in the open sea before heading to the resort, where he oversees the kitchen staff, including Luna. Meanwhile, Olsen is shown performing his duties as security officer, capturing a suspicious man and maintaining the safety of the resort’s guests. Tension builds as Liam and Olsen exchange a charged look, hinting at unresolved conflicts.</p><p>Flashbacks reveal the source of their fractured relationship. Six years ago, Liam discovered his father Magnus’ affair with Ayen (Yassi Pressman). Attempting to protect his mother, Greta (Lorna Tolentino), from the truth, Liam is ultimately too late. </p><p>Liam’s resentment toward Olsen intensified after he saw him escorting Magnus to meet Ayen again. The tension at home reached a breaking point when Liam’s mother, Greta, attempted to take her own life. Liam begged her to leave his father, but Greta refused, insisting that she, too, had done wrong.</p><p>Magnus then lashed out at Liam, blaming him for what had happened to Greta and claiming it would not have occurred if Liam hadn’t revealed what he had seen. Liam denied speaking to his mother, but Magnus insisted that it was Olsen who had told him.</p><p>The confrontation escalated as Liam finally confronted Olsen directly. In the heat of the moment, Magnus struck Liam after he accused him of betraying the family for the first time, declaring that Liam didn’t truly understand what was happening.</p><p>Later, still grappling with his emotions, Liam confided in Chief Ben (Levi Ignacia), head of the resort’s security team and his arnis instructor, seeking guidance and release from the turmoil weighing on him.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1763969507671Liam_Olsen.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-dragging" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner">Screen grab: Netflix Philippines</span></span></span></div><p>As Chief Ben exits the scene, Olsen enters and challenges Liam to an arnis duel. The intense fight comes to a halt when Luna arrives, urging them to stop.</p><p>When Olsen asks why she showed up, Liam admits he asked Luna to come so he would have someone to talk to, underscoring the painful truth that he no longer considers Olsen a friend.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1763969535413Luna.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner">Screen grab: Netflix Philippines</span></span></span></div><p>The story then shifts back to the present, introducing more of the resort staff: manager Happy (Rubi Rubi) and hotel team members Love (Inka Magnaye), Grace (Vangie Castillo), Smile (Rikki Mae Davao), and Joy (Sophie Reyes).</p><p>In the scene, Happy briefs the team on the VIP guests expected at La Playa Roja, including the couple Coney (Sandy Andolong) and Dr. Jessie Murillo (Robert Seña), who will be arriving with their nurse, Claire (Rans Rifol).</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1763969580045VIPs.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner">Screen grab: Netflix Philippines</span></span></span></div><p>The episode also introduces the resort’s VIP guests. Social media influencers Jules Santos (AC Bonifacio) and Ice Mercado (Kai Montinola) arrive with Jules’ boyfriend and cameraman Bogs Lim (Emilio Daez) and their manager, Mama Ona Chan (Xilhouete), one of the country’s top diamond importers.</p><p>Other guests include Engr. Mike (Cris Villanueva) and architect Minnie del Rosario (Nikki Valdez), the couple who built the resort, arriving with their daughter, Maddie (Zia Grace). Macky Maristella (Kobie Brown), the son of a senator, also arrives with his bodyguards and entourage, including bank owner Jabbas Cheng (Iñigo Jose), pawnshop collector Boss Topak, and his girlfriend Rita Prudencio (Maika Rivera).</p><p>Greta (Lorna Tolentino) joins the staff briefing, reminding them not to make any mistakes. She then receives a call informing her that Bishop Anthony Narciso (Marc Abaya), the final VIP guest, has already arrived, marking the completion of La Playa Roja’s 200-guest roster.</p><p>The scene then shows the VIPs arriving at the resort, with Olsen on hand to check bags and welcome the guests.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1763969719568Dos.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner">Screen grab: Netflix Philippines</span></span></span></div><p>Ominous music played as Bishop Narciso arrived at the port where he was welcomed by the hotel staff.</p><p>Inside the resort&#x27;s dining area, Liam was busy checking the food and was reminded by Luna to take it easy. It was then revealed that Liam is leaving Roja the next day to study at the Culinary Institute of America after he was granted a full scholarship.  </p><p>Moments later, Liam witnessed Greta harshly reprimanding a staff member for losing focus. He intervened, explaining that the employee wasn’t feeling well, and expressed his hope that everything in the resort — and within their family — would be settled before he left. Greta, however, attempted one last time to stop him, offering him a leadership role in a new recreational area they planned to build. Liam remained firm: he was leaving.</p><p>The episode then took a darker turn. Bishop Narciso was seen retrieving a large black box hidden in a remote area of the resort. Inside were a vest and a gun. He made a coded phone call answered by Uno (Joel Torre), informing him that he was already “in” and would make contact once everything was in place. Uno replied that the team was ready.</p><p>The final sequence panned across the expanse of La Playa Roja, cutting to Uno studying a scale model of the entire resort. On a nearby board, photos of selected VIP guests were pinned and marked “target” — including Liam and his parents — hinting at a looming threat that would upend everything.</p><p>Under the direction of Lawrence Fajardo, Andoy Ranay, Raymund Ocampo, and Rico Navarro, &quot;Roja&quot; airs on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live, A2Z, and TV5. It is also available on Netflix and iWant.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS:</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9H_IA9zVB5A?autoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LwurhbYGAZk?&amp;pp=0gcJCQwKAYcqIYzv&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GIXxDiiQ0es?autoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/69XeUMVh06o?&amp;pp=0gcJCQwKAYcqIYzvautoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>ABS-CBN’s new primetime thriller '<i>Roja'</i> opens with a tense unraveling of a once-solid friendship, as hidden resentments and long-buried wounds come to light. The premiere sets the tone for a story where trust is fragile, and every secret threatens to push the characters further apart.</p>

ABS-CBN’s new primetime thriller ' Roja' opens with a tense unraveling of a once-solid friendship, as hidden resentments and long-buried wounds come to light. The premiere sets the tone for a story where trust is fragile, and every secret threatens to push the characters further apart.

Friendship shattered, secrets revealed as ‘Roja’ debuts on free TV

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Friendship shattered, secrets revealed as ‘Roja’ debuts on free TV

Reyma Deveza,

ABS-CBN News

Published November 24, 2025 09:45 PM PHT

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Donny Pangilinan

Kyle Echarri

Maymay Entrata

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