Anna Marie Lukban

From betrayal to survival: The timeline of Liam and Olsen's rivalry and alliance in “Roja”

Article (news)

Kyla Dennise Magbanua

<p>In the ongoing saga of Liam (Donny Pangilinan) and Olsen (Kyle Echarri) as rivals turned allies in <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/roja"><strong><u>“Roja,”</u></strong></a> what began as a bond tested by family secrets turned into confrontation, betrayal, and survival. Their relationship is a mirror of the chaos surrounding their family, the guests of La Playa Roja, caused by Uno and his team. </p><div><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1766024352286ROJAInfographicV3_Page1.png" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><p>Let us look back and trace Liam and Olsen&#x27;s journey through secrets, bloodshed, and Uno’s relentless siege on the Roja family---a timeline marked by anger, alliances, and risky plans, all rooted in secrets about to unfold. </p><div> </div><div><strong>Liam vs. Olsen: The spark of conflict</strong></div><p>It all started when Liam caught sight of Olsen with his father, Magnus (Raymond Bagatsing), secretly meeting Ayen (Yassi Pressman), his mistress. Having already caught his father cheating on his mother, this discovery deepened Liam’s anger---not only toward Magnus but now toward Olsen as well, whom he had always considered one of his best friends. </p><p>The heated argument later escalated as Liam and Olsen clashed with arnis sticks and began to spar. Olsen tried to explain that Magnus had forced him to confess how Liam found out about the ongoing infidelity, adding that he had seen Liam during the secret meeting with Ayen and later talking to his mother, Greta (Lorna Tolentino), convincing her to leave Magnus. But Liam’s fury only grew darker. “Oo, nakita mo… Pero nakita mong nagsumbong ako, ha?! Narinig mo?!” he snapped, accusing Olsen of enabling Magnus’ infidelity.</p><p>This was followed by another confrontation, where Liam overheard Olsen expressing admiration for Magnus as the head of La Playa Roja, even offering to work and train under his supervision. This pushed Liam to accuse Olsen of envy, realizing that Olsen had always been fond of Magnus since they were kids---bringing their bond to the brink.</p><p>Another underlying issue that threatened to ruin their friendship even further was the fact that Wendy (Janice de Belen), Olsen’s mother, had been used as Greta’s fall guy for her financial crimes. Desperate to keep Olsen alive after an accident, Wendy sought help from Greta, whom she considered her best friend. Greta, who had no money at the time and was facing financial problems Magnus didn’t even know about, thought of another way to help Wendy: to take the blame for her crimes and go to jail in exchange for supporting Olsen’s medical and financial needs.</p><p>Wendy went to jail, and Olsen was able to finish his studies thanks to Greta’s help. When Wendy returned from prison, she learned about the rift between Liam and Olsen and urged her son to make amends---but Olsen refused.</p><div> </div><div><strong>Survival ties between Liam and Olsen</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1766024370364ROJAInfographicV3_Page2.png" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><p>Despite the bitterness, circumstances force Liam and Olsen to work together when La Playa Roja is infiltrated by armed men led by Uno (Joel Torre), who is seeking revenge against the Roja family. This shakes up the entire resort, leaving everyone with no choice but to protect themselves amid the danger surrounding them.</p><p>Liam was supposed to leave for New York for his scholarship grant, but the sudden siege forced him to stay at the resort. He hides carefully and witnesses Greta and Magnus face Uno’s wrath. When they take his parents as hostages, he bravely grabs a rifle and searches for a way to save everyone from danger.</p><p>Meanwhile, Olsen focuses on his family. His grandfather, Chief Ben (Levi Ignacio)---who also serves as the resort’s head of security---returns to the resort to check on things after learning that the cellular signals were no longer working. When Olsen and Wendy learn about the siege, Olsen keeps his mother, Wendy, safe before heading out to look for his grandfather.</p><p>Along the way, he bumps into Liam. At first, the two try to go against each other, but they eventually call a ceasefire after realizing how dangerous the resort premises have become. With small arguments here and there, Liam and Olsen cling to survival together, their last chance to make amends hanging by a thread.</p><div> </div><div><strong>Survival and first blood</strong></div><p>The chaos escalated as they observed the goons’ motives while crawling through the air-conditioning vent and making their way into the banquet hall from above to keep an eye on everyone---and possibly think of a plan to escape. They soon realized that money was the target.</p><p>Liam and Olsen then discovered that even the security cameras had been hacked by the goons, limiting their ability to hide anywhere in the resort. When Olsen found Wendy missing from where he had originally left her, panic set in. They managed to return to the security room---where a few security personnel lay dead on the ground---and checked the cameras to locate Wendy, eventually spotting her walking by the shore.</p><p>This sent Liam and Olsen into further panic, knowing the goons might also be watching Wendy through the cameras. They rushed to the shore but had to be careful, aware they could soon be seen on camera as well. They tried to come up with a strategy to save Wendy but were eventually caught in a battle with the goons.</p><p>In the struggle to save Wendy, Chief Ben, and Fin (Igi Boy Flores), Liam had no choice but to kill for the first time in order to defeat the thugs. Yet alongside Olsen, he managed to rescue others as well.</p><div> </div><div><strong>Signals and strategy</strong></div><p>Now that Wendy, Chief Ben, and Fin were safe, the duo turned to strategy: Olsen destroyed one of the CCTV cameras, while Liam attempted to regain internet access through satellite Wi-Fi, since the goons had cut off all connections to avoid being caught by the authorities.</p><p>As they made their way back to their hiding place, Luna (Maymay Entrata) and the other VIP guests were caught in a battle with the armed men. Fortunately, Liam and Olsen were able to help, and they eventually managed to save Luna along with the other VIP guests, despite being captured multiple times by the attackers.</p><p>Olsen and Liam still engaged in brief arguments, but with Luna’s intervention, their teamwork grew stronger. With Olsen’s help, Liam called the police via satellite, sparking a bit of hope that they might finally gain their freedom---only for them to later discover that the authorities were in league with Uno and fully aware of the siege, leaving them in despair.</p><p>When Uno and his team discovered that one of the CCTV cameras had been destroyed, they launched their own investigation and soon realized that Olsen had not yet been captured. Determined, they set out to take him---alongside Liam.</p><div> </div><div><strong>Liam and Olsen&#x27;s breaking point</strong></div><p>However, betrayal loomed. When Uno received a tip that Liam had tried to contact the authorities, he flew into a rage and launched a manhunt to capture him. To lure Liam out, Uno threatened to kill Greta and Magnus, making sure Liam knew about his plans.</p><div> </div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1766023457564ROJAInfographicV3_Page3.png" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div> </div><p>Liam had no choice but to reveal himself. He was caught and faced Uno’s fury just to save his parents. Olsen tried to stop Luna from following, but the chaos consumed them all. Forced into a corner, Liam had no choice but to reveal Olsen’s and the other residents’ whereabouts.</p><p>Olsen, along with his family and the other resort guests, was found because of Liam’s betrayal, which tipped Uno off about his hiding place. Liam’s actions enraged Olsen, making him realize that maybe Liam had never truly been a friend to him after all. Their alliance had been broken once more. </p><p>Luckily, Olsen managed to escape. As he searched for Doc Jessie (Robert Seña) to seek help---since his mother, Wendy, had been shot by the goons---Olsen ended up killing one of Uno’s men, Singko (Gello Marquez). Upon learning this, Uno became even more enraged and began thinking of another way to lure Olsen out of hiding.</p><div> </div><div><strong>Liam pleads for Olsen&#x27;s help</strong></div><p>Used as bait to draw Olsen out, Uno&#x27;s team straps a bomb to Liam and gives him 30 minutes to bring Olsen in. Tres (Bernard Palanca), Kwatro (Harvey Bautista), and Sais (Lou Yanong) watch him through the camera they attached to him. But that’s not the only catch---Luna’s life is also at risk. If Liam fails to bring Olsen, the bomb strapped to him will explode, and the goons will kill Luna.</p><div> </div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1766023475886ROJAInfographicV3_Page4.png" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div> </div><p>Still enraged by how Liam tipped them off, Olsen faces another revelation. He finds the one‑million‑peso check that Greta gave Wendy when they reunited after Wendy’s time in jail. When Olsen asks Wendy for clarification, she breaks down and reveals everything she did with Greta, further urging Olsen not to be angry at the Roja family---especially Liam---as they had helped their family through many crises. This sends Olsen into a fever‑pitch rage.</p><p>Struggling to find Olsen, Liam thinks of another strategy and rushes to Magnus’ office. He calls out to Olsen and pleads through the PA system, but Olsen---still reeling from Liam’s betrayal and from learning how Liam’s family used Wendy to cover up their crimes---refuses to give in.</p><p>Olsen forms his own plan and heads to the resort’s private dock, where several speedboats are docked, hoping they might help with an escape. He doesn’t spare a thought for Liam or his pleas. Meanwhile, Liam manages to escape the goons’ bombing and save Luna. Eventually, Liam and Olsen cross paths once more at the resort’s private dock.</p><p>With secrets revealed, betrayals unfolding, and alliances shattered, how will these underlying issues affect Liam and Olsen’s friendship---and even more so, their safety during the siege?</p><p>Don&#x27;t miss an episode of <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/roja"><strong><u>“Roja&quot;</u></strong></a> weeknights on Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, TV5, Kapamilya Online Live (KOL), and i<a href="https://app.iwanttfc.com/dFR6MWHAcVb" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><u>Want.</u></strong></a></p>

<p>In the ongoing saga of Liam (Donny Pangilinan) and Olsen (Kyle Echarri) as rivals turned allies in “Roja,” what began as a bond tested by family secrets turned into confrontation, betrayal, and survival, a timeline marked by anger, alliances, and risky plans, all rooted in secrets about to unfold.</p>

In the ongoing saga of Liam (Donny Pangilinan) and Olsen (Kyle Echarri) as rivals turned allies in “Roja,” what began as a bond tested by family secrets turned into confrontation, betrayal, and survival, a timeline marked by anger, alliances, and risky plans, all rooted in secrets about to unfold.