The first scrobble for this title is still propagating, but a community review is already indexed below.
Reviews
Longform community posts about this title
Final Thoughts on the Best Filipino Historical Fantasy Series Ever@artgirl1217d
The popular Maria Clara at Ibarra (MCI) TV series ended last Friday. As a fan I am sad but still happy it had a satisfying ending. Too bad trolls are trying to pull people to watch a new typical series from a defunct channel. The desperation is so obvious and sad to see. 💔
Our cultural crab mentality is really terrible and disappointing. Instead of being proud of a high caliber show they choose to ridicule it like it's nothing. Anyway, yes all popular shows have haters so I shall not bother with them anymore. They can badmouth all they want, it will just reflect what kind of people they are.
If you've read my full review on this show (part 1, part 2 & part 3) then you'll also know how amazing it is. This is the conclusion to what I think about MCI. For context, you can read those first before proceeding so you can fully understand what I'm saying here.
Also, be warned, this post has SPOILERS!!!
GMA Drama's poster image thanking all the supporters of the trending series. source
In my first three posts, I wasn't able to comment much about the last two weeks of the show. Now that it has ended I can finally add my end thoughts on it.
As we know, El Filibusterismo is the darker one of the two books. Actually it's been many years since I read the novels. Haha. I was in high school the last time I saw it. We did have a Jose Rizal subject in college as well but I don't think we tackled the books anymore. 🤔
Since then up to now I have a fuzzy memory of the exact details of the stories. But watching this series, I really rooted for Simoun's revenge. Imagine all the pain and injustices that happened to him, of course he will do what he did. But then Klay always wants to stop him. To the point that she even made him look less of a man in front of the wedding guests of a young couple. Ugh.
I really hated that scene. It made Simoun weak and seem ander da saya(under the saya {skirt}, meaning henpecked) for all the world to see. And then she had the audacity to cry for him in the end? Ugh. What a terrible ending to his character, that's all I can say about it.
To be fair, in the original story he did commit suicide but was not surrounded by friends or loved ones in death. Yes his reimagined end is better in that respect however the way he was treated by Klay like he was worse than the friars and Spaniards is just something I don't like. She has the worst attitude imho (read part 2 of my review). 😜
Klay and Mr. Torres during her book report. source
But of course, even if she is an anti-hero for me, in the end she finally learned her lessons. I am happy that the ending shows us a more patriotic person than before. Finally she understood why Dr. Jose Rizal wrote those two books and why learning about history is important.
In fact, for sure her professor was so proud of her that he gave Klay a free doctor's scholarship to study in the US! What the heck?! 😱 Goodness gracious, if only we all have a teacher like him! ♥️ Awwww.
The finale really tied up all loose ends but still left us hanging. 😂 Again the last episode made me cry. 😢 I was so happy the (FiLay) pair got back together again.
It looks like there might be a Season 2. Maybe it will have a different title altogether or perhaps it will be a spin off. One thing's for sure, it's different or unrelated to Pulang Araw which is another future historical series by GMA Network.
On another note, the way this series is being talked about is like how Marvel Universe fans talk about the movies and its TV shows. Seriously I have never seen a lot of theories from fans on what might happen after each episode. 😆 Also some fantastical/magical terms come up from time to time where you will scratch your head at how they can even think that far. Haha. (Yes I joined a Facebook fan group of MCI that's why I know. But such theories and even fan made stories are available to view on Twitter too.)
Also if you haven't watched all of it yet, don't worry there's always a story spoiler posted online. Most are even by the TV drama page of the channel itself. 😂 For every episode there's a caption for each scene photos. Omg. Haha. Yes I know it's to be the first one to post about it instead of the rabid fans but still it's over the top. 😆 Oh well...
For those who weren't able to watch the livestreams or the episodes on TV, you can enjoy them on the GMA Network website. So far MCI doesn't have any English subtitle yet. I dunno if it will be picked up by Netflix so other nationalities can enjoy it too. Perhaps if there is clamor for it then it will happen. Hehe.
One thing's for sure, Maria Clara at Ibarra will still be talked about in the years to come. It is already an iconic part of Philippine entertainment so if you haven't seen it yet then it's not too late to watch it. 😉 If you've already seen it, what can you say about it?
XOXO,
@artgirl
FOR SALE:
High Ceiling, 3 Bedroom Modern Glass House with Loft in Tagaytay!
Almost RFO, P22M Negotiable
FOR SALE: 3 Bedroom Spacious Townhouses near Anonas, Quezon City RFO
›What Else Makes Maria Clara at Ibarra Truly Awesome? (3/3)@artgirl1229d
Okay so I've shared the series introduction and told you about the characters and story in the last 2 posts. Now we go on to the last part of my review. Hehe. Are you ready?
But before we start, to understand the details below, you must read the first two parts of my review. This is so you will not ask who and what I am talking about in this post. Hehe. You can find part 1 here and part 2 here.
By the way here's a short video introduction of characters for you, no English sub for now though. Posting it here because we the fans can't get enough of Maria Clara at Ibarra! Haha.
If you already read both of my posts linked above the video then let's start! Oh and again, SPOILERS AHEAD!
◙ Acting
Now we come to one of the best parts of the series. The casting in this series is really commendable! They chose all the right actors to bring justice to the roles.
The acting is really on point for most of the cast! The actors/actresses have already received several awards during its run. Maybe they will receive more once it's done, who knows?
The cast members have been praised online because of their performance. For me the most notable dramatic scenes are:
The descent to madness of Sisa
(The adult) Basilio and Padre Salvi's confrontation
Before and after the death of Maria Clara
You know, when I was in high school, Noli Me Tangere (Noli) and El Filibusterismo (El Fili) are some of the required books to read. Of course in our young minds, reading something doesn't always make us relate to what the characters are going through. This time, while watching it as a series, I was moved by the characters' stories.
Finally Sisa's misfortunes and experiences have truly been felt by everyone. Huhu. I never cried for her in the books but I felt the pain when I watched as she slowly lost her mind.
As mentioned, Sisa became the resident crazy lady of San Diego (Noli's location/setting). The events leading up to that and the way Andrea Torres interpreted the character is really praise-worthy. Of course that high caliber performance is not always consistent in the entire series but still she is commendable.
It is not easy to act and show real emotions you know. One who has never taken acting lessons will never be able to know how hard it can be for certain people.
I have been in some acting workshops so I know it really takes a lot to be able to act naturally. So believe me when I say, the acting is top notch in this series. Yes there are lapses and so-so acting sometimes but it is minimal if you look at it as a whole.
Next thing worth mentioning is Padre Salvi (Father Salvi). Ah truly he has become the late 19th century priest we all love to hate. I don't even remember much of him as a book character. Padre Damaso has always been more iconic than him and yet in this series he became the "star" of the show! Why? Well Juancho is so good at being hateful!
Did you know, because I have not been watching any local shows, I am only familiar with a few of the really famous current celebrities. Now after watching Maria Clara at Ibarra (MCI) I can say I am now partly up to date! 😂
Which brings me to another guy who apparently is an amazing actor. Awww. Like most of the cast members, I've never even seen him in other shows or movies but he shines in MCI.
Makes me wanna hug Basilio because this man truly embodies the tortured kid. Yes the kid actor also did a good job as Basilio but not all the time, as expected. As an adult though, Khalil Ramos was able to do justice to him.
Basilio in a scene during his confrontation with Padre Salvi in the El Fili part of the story. source
Literally, Basilio was regularly beaten and treated badly by Padre Salvi. Imagine his PTSD coming to the surface when he again comes face to face with the evil priest as an adult. Omg. 😱😭 Their confrontation is really something!
Lastly, of course we can already consider Dennis Trillo as one of our veteran actors. He did not disappoint as Crisostomo and also as Simoun. He always does a great job at projecting the book's lead character. It's like he and the character are one. 👏 Wow!
Same with Julie Anne San Jose, she is the perfect embodiment of Maria Clara. Apparently she still auditioned for the role. Wow, here I thought she was handpicked like what usually happens in local shows. Good to know that she was able to impress the writers in her audition.
Not only is this person a good singer, she can also act! It's no surprise then when it comes to Maria Clara, the actress truly embodied the epitome of grace and kindness. A true lady of that era. 👍
My only complaint is the character cries a lot. Haha. I never thought of her as a crybaby but she really cried so much in MCI. 😂
Of course what can we expect from their time when women don't have much rights. Ah well... Kudos to Julie Anne for being such a talented actress! Imagine enduring all those crying bouts in so many scenes? Omg haha.
Watching the show, you can really see everyone's dedication to their characters. Even the way some really sounded fluent in Spanish, oh wow. There are those who couldn't, nobody is perfect, but overall the acting quality in this series is really high.
Unlike other local or foreign shows where the story is great but the rest suffers or vice versa, MCI is the complete package! Only a few TV series and movies are like this so I commend the producers and everyone involved. It is such a beautiful thing to watch!
Speaking of the rest of the series, as mentioned you will also not be disappointed. Why? It has all these and more!
Authentic late 19th Century Philippine Costumes? ☑️
1880s & 1890s setting, props and locations? ☑️
Unobtrusive Computer Generated Imagery (CGI)? ☑️
Iconic theme songs? ☑️
Yes folks, MCI has it all. This is what more than enough budget can really do. Just like Hollywood productions, it is definitely a cut above the rest of our local shows from the past to the present.
I have seen the feature videos of this series where they show how authentic the costumes are. They really sourced the fabrics and other materials used in that time period.
The national costumes Baro't Saya and Barong Tagalog (Filipinana) all look regal and authentic. One would even envy their clothes! Ah to even have one of those in the closet to wear to cosplays and costume parties... 😍
Did you know, the production designers even had a hard time finding some of the fashion items of the time because some are almost extinct! Huhu. Like the upo or tabungaw (gourd) hat Elias wears, it is believed Mr. Teofilo Garcia * is probably the last person making such things! 😢
* The man is one of those privileged to be given the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan or National Living Treasures Award (in 2012) for what he does.
I say, GMA Network should really make a documentary on the people who produced the costumes so such an industry will grow and flourish again. Even just the gourd hat production alone needs to be further supported by the government and private corporations!
Moving on, with regards to the creative direction of the show it really is impressive. Everything was consulted with historians and expert consultants down to the last detail. Because of this you can really imagine and feel like they are all living in the 19th century.
Of course the site locations are important. The cinematography of each indoor and outdoor setting is really something! Some of the scenes are just breathtaking! Seeing them can make you wish you could visit all the places they are in.
Maria Clara and Crisostomo sharing a tender moment by the lake. source
At first I thought they would only be shooting in Vigan City, a well known place where Spanish houses and streets have been preserved. I didn't realize they would also show us a "new" historical place!
I learned that Lumang Gapan, a.k.a. Little Vigan in Gapan, Nueva Ecija is one of the places they shot at! Oh I don't think I have ever seen it on period TV shows or movies before so that makes MCI refreshing!
Of course all the greeneries and sprawling forest we see were shot in various locations. We have a lot of those in our country. Hahaha. Ah our natural resources are really something to appreciate when you see it in this TV show.
In terms of CGI, well it is minimal and yet has a big impact. It improves the overall look of each scene. Check this out!
As for the music... I have shown one of the theme songs in the second part of this review. Let me show you another one, here's Fidel's song for Klay. 😍
We the FiLay fans really appreciate this. Fidel and Klay deserves each other to the point that people don't even notice Jose Rizal's story anymore. 😂 (What's his story? It's all in the 2nd part of this review. 😉)
🔸 Rating 🔸
In terms of eliciting patriotic feelings, I would say MCI won't rate that high for me. If I would compare MCI to a foreign historical series from South Korea, I would not give it as high a rating as Mr. Sunshine.
The latter is one of the best period series I've ever seen. I cannot bring myself to even write a review of it because it is so good it hurts. Huhu. The ending is really hard to get over so I don't want to write about it. 😅
That show gets 100% in promoting patriotism while MCI will only get maybe 50 to 70%, depending on the viewer. As mentioned in the second part of this review, the epic movie Heneral Luna would be the one to have a perfect score in patriotism. Haha.
In comparison to another Filipino historical series, Bisperas ng Kasaysayan would also get a higher rating imho. (At least based on my memories of it back in the 90s. I don't remember the show that much anymore. 😅)
But OVERALL I would still give Maria Clara at Ibarra a perfect score of 10 over 10 stars! Why? Because it's excellent the way it is. The show managed to make two tragic period stories fun to watch, relatable and true to life! All the effort they did has not gone to waste at all!
Everything is just superb. It made interest in our history truly come alive again! People are even doing prenuptial shoots with the same theme as this series! 😆
MCI is not perfect but it's one of the best Philippine period series ever made! It's so popular that even other subpar shows are being equated to it as an equal. 😂 Whatever the case, I can say it is definitely world-class and something every Filipino can be proud of.
How about you, what can you say about it? 😁
XOXO,
@artgirl
›Maria Clara at Ibarra: The Characters and Story That Makes it Trending (2/3)@artgirl1232d
Here's the second part of this TV Series review! It's a long one okay. Can't really make it shorter because I have a lot to say about it. 😅
If you haven't read the introduction and the first part then please visit this post. It's for you to have an idea of what I am talking about below. Haha. Otherwise let me tell you the rest of the 2nd part of my review.
‼️ 👉 But of course remember, this post has SPOILERS!!! 😉 Better read the novels or watch the show if you can before reading this.
Are you ready? On with the review!
GMA Drama posted this on Feb 8, 2023 showcasing all the characters. It also says, "The last two weeks" before the show ends. source
◙ Characters and Story (Part 2 of 2)
Going back to Klay as a character, I don't really like her at all. One of the writers, Ms. Suzette Doctolero, seems to have thought of her character because she encountered several Filipinos who are not proud to be one. True enough Klay is introduced with such a prejudice against her own country. It's very sad to see but it's the reality reflected on TV.
Her character also seems like a spoiled and privileged college student. Always looking for the easy way out instead of being an upstanding citizen. Ugh. You can really see she has no sense of nationalism at all despite not being in abject poverty. (Found out it was deliberately done, according to the director.)
I can say she is more of an anti-hero. Why? She is not a good person to emulate at all. Klay is not classy, nor is she respectful to elders. It clearly shows the attitude of what an unbecoming city girl is like. (If that is what many Filipinos are now then it's such a shame.)
Once she got inside the book, she is always sticking her nose in the flow of the story. (Sometimes offering comic relief.) Omg. 🤦♀️ She did learn to be respectful in the fictional world but in the 'real world', we've yet to see it. 😂 On top of that, Klay doesn't even know about history but complains a lot about how the story goes. How annoying. 😂
While watching episodes sometimes I'd like to tell her, girl, that's the 19th century. Duh. Of course it's going to be tragic. 😂 One time she even mentioned Game of Thrones for all the deaths she's seen. Haha, what? 😂
Come on, the Middle Ages was more brutal and crude. Clearly this person really doesn't know anything about history. 😂 Plus she's always trying to change what must only be observed. Wow. 🙄 It's already in the past, we cannot change it. Only the future can be changed IF WE LEARN FROM OUR HISTORY.
For real, I can't wait to watch the finale to know if she will learn her lessons. If not then the show is just a waste if she doesn't have a redemption arc at least. 😂 (Maybe I will edit this once the show is over... 🤔)
I mean come on, she even stole something from her old professor. Utter disrespect represent! 😂 Stealing is a sin and a bad thing to do but if Klay doesn't get punished then we are really in the "golden era". 🤣 Why not when the current highest government official and others in the government are accomplices to the world famous plunderers. 🤮
BUT WAIT, Klay also has good qualities of course! We see her as a caring daughter and sister during the present time. As the story progresses, this character also starts to care about the fictional characters. In the book's world, viewers see her as an advocate of women's rights in that era. She also influences Maria Clara to be a better woman.
However for me her only saving grace, the story's better and lighthearted parts, is her love story with Fidel. Yeah, Fidel's character is not in the books at all, just like her. But of course we love seeing them together. They are a match made in heaven! 😂
An irritating, rude and disturbing girl + a pompous, egotistical businessman. Hahaha! 👏 👏 👏 Perfect for each other! 😂 Some of the show's fans even called Fidel the 19th century red flag. 😆
Of course in the beginning he's just a jerk. Not that he changed much in the Noli parts but of course a man in love will always be in their best behavior, eh? 😆 (Character development y'all haha.) Because of this, many females have fallen for Fidel's bad boy charms. This is why KlayDel (Klay+Fidel), or the official term, the FiLay love team became such a hit!
It is said the stars of the show were surprised that we the fans were suddenly shipping the two of them. Haha. Why not when everyone knows Ibarra already belongs to Maria Clara. Klay cannot, I repeat, cannot be the other woman! Omg such a scandal if it happened in that era. 😂
Many fellow fans were complaining about how Klay seemed to be "stealing" Ibarra in several of the earlier episodes. I actually didn't watch the ones where it seemed like the two would fall in love! Ugh! 😛 See how the story makes viewers so invested in it? Goes to show how good it is. 👍
The best thing is, FiLay became one of the reasons the show gained popularity. Scenes would make us scream with delight whenever the FiLay moments are shown. Haha. The writers must be very happy they wrote everything well. We fell right into their "story trap". 😆
Sometimes it is even compared to Korean Dramas too! People mention the Scarlet Heart series often in the social network group I am in. Uh oh, lol. I've never watched that so I have no idea. Oh wait I think I've seen YouTube clips of it but meh.
Anyway, since I watch the livestream of episodes on YouTube, I have also participated in the live chat frenzy about the pair. 😂 The rest of the storyline might be boring to some but the FiLay love story is definitely not. 😆
And who can forget the original love team of Rizal? Maria Clara and Crisostomo, the star-crossed lovers. Ah such a tragic tale... Their story in the series has also made us identify better with them. No longer are they just book characters, they have come alive!
For today's youth, everything in the books are finally relatable and not just old stories to read, thanks to MCI. Students and the general public are more interested in history now because of it. Such is the impact of this very popular and trending Filipino historical fantasy TV show.
Lucia and her brother with Elias in the forest. They are already tulisanes or rebels/outlaws here. source
Okay, now let's be serious and delve deeper in the story. This is about the latter part of Noli and most of the El Fili. The second book is the darker of the two novels based on what I can remember. And that is also where more revolutionary ideas are present.
Because the novels were adapted into this TV show, everyone can finally see how a rebellion is not always bad. I was actually happy they are showing those renegade scenes. And I'm glad many are watching this now because more will see the truth that most people cannot realize on their own.
People will naturally go up in arms when there is much abuse going on. Everyone should realize that the current rebels in our country is not really the problem. In present terms, do you think the government red-tagging civilians is right? In the first place look at what those civilians are doing, are they doing it for selfish reasons or for the good of the oppressed people? Yes there are always bad apples everywhere but we should be wise enough to know the difference. (See episodes 91 and 92 for reference.)
The guardia civil (civil guard or police) and the Alferez (leader of the civil guards) looking for rebels in the forest. source
If you think further, those are the important questions that can arise in our minds from watching this series. But most people are blind to it because if you have never been oppressed you will always laugh at or ridicule people fighting for their rights.
In reality, the so-called rebellion in the country all started with the Katipuneros! To fight for our freedom we had to do something, thus the heroes we know today were called rebels, filibusters by the colonizers (Spaniards). In present times the term seems to have become 'terrorists' because of extremists. That's history right there!
Fighting for freedom is one of the greatest values in Rizal's written work. That is exactly why Rizal wrote the two novels. The books may be fictional but it is showing us and reflecting the origin of revolutions in the country. That's another reason perhaps why one of our historians even cried while watching some episodes!
Maybe this is why intellectuals in the country are finally also watching a local television production again! I have read many posts and comments of people with photos or videos about the series saying they have come back to watching local shows just because of MCI.
The story has captured everyone's hearts including the artists too. Many have been creating fan arts or artworks inspired by the characters and their story. (Oh I have not made any but this review will be my contribution, hahaha.)
In terms of the dialogue and line exchanges, I like how the writers did not make the story fully in Filipino. That would make it harder for viewers to relate to if ever. They use more common terms and everyday words instead along with some deeper words which could easily be understood through context. And it doesn't use the Old Filipino language it used to be written in, which are really deep and harder to understand. Haha.
There are even sprinklings of the Spanish language here and there. Oh la la. We can hear the beauty and depth of our national language with a few foreign sentences from the colonists. Good move! I was happy to hear the actors speaking in a foreign tongue. It might not be perfectly said by some of the performers but still it shows the presence of the language coach.
Of course they also put the Filipino translation (as subtitle) of what was being said in Español. Awww. As mentioned this may have prompted me to self study Spanish eventually. 😂 Muy bien GMA Network producers and writers. 👏
Maria Clara at Ibarra Theme Song
Lastly, in terms of making viewers more patriotic, it doesn't really achieve that imho. For me it is still lacking, unlike the movie Heneral Luna which really inspired people to love our country.
As the director stated in an interview, the show's purpose is more of making viewers think and question our present situation as compared to the past. Most likely it's implied patriotism, unfortunately not everyone will get that.
Even Klay does not get it after experiencing Noli. 🤣 Once she got out of the first book, she kept complaining that she couldn't change the story. Still didn't see the value of learning a part of our history. Such a shame really. Some people need a direct to the point visualization/storytelling in order to understand something.
I guess it's not easy to show someone the value of history or patriotism if they are selfish or simply unaware of the concept. For me it's simple, if you love your family, why can't you love your country that nurtures you and gives you everything so you can exist? Why can't you do your best at work or have concern for your neighbors and fellow Filipinos too? In a broader sense, why do we abuse and destroy this planet which gives us life?
* * *
Oh I still have much to say about the other characters but let me just end this part with that. 👆 This is already too long. Haha.
In the next part of my review, I will tackle the acting, production design, costumes, etc., and of course the rating. For now, like Klay, I will say "Babu!"(Pinoy slang for goodbye)
On another note, what do you think of the series so far? If you haven't watched it yet, would this be a show worth watching?
XOXO,
@artgirl
›Maria Clara at Ibarra: A Gen Z's Experience of the Classic 19th Century Philippine Literature (1/3)@artgirl1234d
Who would have thought this fantastic television show would grip the hearts of Filipinos? I never thought I'd be watching any local show again until this came along.
It's been more than a decade since I watched anything on TV. We don't have any television anymore and frankly our family mostly watch foreign shows anyway. Blame it on our nation's colonial mindset or the lack of quality local shows. Haha. Also I have work so who has time to watch TV when the internet is around during our free time? 😁
This is why I am very happy GMA Network is already livestreaming episodes! ♥ Finally I am able to watch such a spectacular local series! Wow this show was really well thought of. Looks like it was really given the care and value it deserves!
Title Card Screenshot from a YouTube episode of Maria Clara at Ibarra by GMA Network
I really am proud of it so much that I am writing this now instead of after the series ends. 😅 Without further ado, let's start my review!
Disclaimer: For those who have not read the novels this series is based on, SPOILERS ahead. Oh and also, this will be PART 1 only. I have so many things to say about this show so the rest of it will be in Part 2 and 3, hahaha.
🔸 Trailer 🔸
To get you excited, let's start with some videos!
As of this writing Maria Clara at (and) Ibarra (MCI) still doesn't have any English subtitles but here's two trailers for you. At least it should give you an idea of how it looks.
🔸 Main and Supporting Characters 🔸
◙ Barbie Forteza play María Clara "Klay" Infantes
The nursing student who was magically transported into Jose Rizal's novels.
◙ Julie Anne San Jose plays María Clara "Clarita" de los Santos y Alba
The lead female character of Rizal's two books.
◙ Dennis Trillo plays Juan Crisóstomo Ibarra y Magsalin / Simoun
The fiancé of Maria Clara. Also the male lead character from both of Rizal's fictional stories.
◙ David Licauco plays Fidel de los Reyes y Maglipol
Ibarra's businessman and lawyer friend. The love interest of Klay.
The evil parish priest of the town of San Diego. He has a forbidden desire towards Maria Clara.
◙ Rocco Nacino plays Elías
A man who eventually becomes Ibarra's ally. He became part of a rebel group against the Spanish colonizers.
◙ Tirso Cruz III plays Padre Dámaso Verdolagas
The godfather of Maria Clara, also not a good priest.
◙ Andrea Torres plays Narcisa "Sisa"
The mother of Basilio and Crispin, child sacristans of the church in San Diego.
◙ Chai Fonacier plays Lucía
A woman who becomes part of the rebellion and would eventually help Klay and friends.
◙ Khalil Ramos plays Basilio (adult)
The child sacristan also abused by Padre Salvi who eventually grows up and becomes a medical student.
🔸 Synopsis 🔸
The novels *Noli Me Tangere* (Touch Me Not or Noli for short) & *El Filibusterismo* (The Filibusterism / Subversion or El Fili for short) by our national hero Jose Rizal has finally become a popular television series. It has been given a modern twist by including a Generation Z (Gen Z) college girl in the story.
Klay is a modern day nursing student who doesn't give a f*** about history. As expected, she doesn't take the Rizal Studies subject seriously. Supposedly she reflects the negative sentiments of today's generation. To cut the long intro short, she receives a "punishment" for plagiarizing a Rizal book report assignment.
Klay was eventually and at first unwittingly brought inside the fictional world of Rizal through the magical books of her professor. Will she be able to change how the stories end? Will Klay finally learn what she should by becoming part of the stories?
🔸 @artgirl 's Review 🔸
◙ Characters and Story (Part 1 of 2)
If you are looking for something action packed and dripping with love and romance then this is not the show for you. Haha. It has some of both but it didn't go overboard at all.
In case you are a lover of historical shows and fantasy stories then you will definitely enjoy Maria Clara at Ibarra. Oh imagine if you are transported to the late 19th century, wearing such elaborate costumes of the times. Wow. Klay has really been living the dream of many people. 😂
The Gen Z perspective makes MCI fun to watch. This is why the story is charming and engaging to many Filipinos. It has some comedic moments, suspense and of course a love story to make our hearts aflutter. Haha.
But as much as we'd like it to be a light-hearted tale, Noli and El Fili are not like that. Both are tragic, reflecting the current situation of the Philippines at the time. This is where the comedic relief of Klay and other characters come in. They make the story easier to watch without taking anything out of context.
This doesn't mean Klay does not experience unfavorable things though. She can actually personally attest to how women are treated in that era, both good and bad.
A scene in an episode of MCI where Padre Salvi is being cruel to Klay. source
The books are full of the struggles of our fellowmen to become independent of Spain, the hardships the people experienced and the life story of a man - Crisostomo Ibarra. Ah, Rizal's novels were supposedly meant to awaken the suffering souls of our countrymen in his lifetime. And surely it did!
According to the show's director, Zig Dulay, they also have consultants, historians and even language coaches (more on this in my next/3rd post)! They did everything to make the show as historically accurate and credible as possible. No wonder then that MCI has become such a hit series!
Because it is also well researched, the characters of the show have finally brought the historical novels to life. For sure Rizal would be proud to see them acted out in the flesh! Each one are well developed and have made today's generation relate to people in Rizal's time.
Yes some parts of the novels were changed but everything still remains true to the spirit of the story. Jose Rizal won't even bother rolling in his grave for the changes done. Haha. For example, in the El Fili part, the writers even brought back Elias! His death was said to be one of Rizal's regrets so the showrunners did what he could not. Nice right? 😉
In terms of the story, we can see how the present still has similarities to our past. I again noticed how fortunate we are now that we live in such an easier time. We have electricity and advanced technology. Nobody else is oppressing us in the 21st century except our own fellowmen. 😂 We have become a country that is still quite divided by our many islands. Most are not that patriotic at all no thanks to our greedy government leaders and colonial and/or tribal mentality.
(Oh wait, I almost forgot the big bully China. 😂 Lol come on it's the modern era and yet some people still want to own another country's islands and waters? Such a shame to see that kind of thinking in this time and age. 🤮)
Anyway this is getting too long. Stay tuned for the second part of the character and story review. Haha. Can't write everything here so I have to divide it all into three. 😂
So far if you're also a fan of MCI, what can you say about it's story and characters? If you haven't watched any episodes yet, would you want to or would you read the books instead?