Written by: Mary Angela Aquino
Illustrated by: Mauri Francisco
Isang Gen Z, nasa Noli at El Fili?!
A historical portal fantaserye, Maria Clara at Ibarra reimagines Jose Rizal’s historical novels—Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. It circles around the story of Binibining Klay, a gen Z who traveled back during the time of Binibining Maria Clara and Ginoong Crisostomo Ibarra, who are fictional characters in Rizal’s novels. The TV series depicts historical events, which teaches the importance of history, empathy, patriotism, and love.
Started in the modern world, Binibining Klay is a nursing student who was tasked to read Noli Me Tangere for her Rizal Studies subject. One day, she woke up in the world of the novel and was able to meet the characters such as Maria Clara, Crisostomo Ibarra, and Padre Damaso, among others. She cannot go back to the present until she finishes the story and learns her lesson; hence, she is living day-by-day and tries to save the characters by attempting to change their fates.
It is both a modern and informative way of retelling the classic works of our national hero. The series used the isekai concept, a Japanese portal fantasy genre where the main character transports to other worlds. At the same time, viewers get to gain not only knowledge about the novels of Rizal but also a deeper understanding of our history—how our ancestors lived, how the system worked, how their ideologies differed from each other, and how the culture was during Spanish colonialism.
The storyline may not be fresh and new as it is based on novels, but the integration of fantasy and modern life makes it catchy and interesting. It is creatively written and remarkably produced, considering that it openly touches relevant social issues, such as women’s rights, education, abuse of power and influence, social inequality, and labor, among others. The actors and actresses are also effective in their portrayal of the fictional characters as they bring viewers on a roller coaster emotional ride through their acting. It definitely hooks viewers to keep track of the episodes as they reach million views on Youtube.
Maria Clara at Ibarra is a must-needed fantaserye in helping the film and entertainment industry flourish, as the issue of the industry’s decline in the Philippines surfaces. It is a TV series meant to entertain viewers, enlighten learners, and mirror both history and reality. Definitely a show worth watching!
Watch the Maria Clara at Ibarra series here:
