GMA Network and Ayala Foundation team up to honor the works of Dr. Jose Rizal

by Manila Bulletin Entertainment

The production and creative team of GMA Network’s top-rating and phenomenal series ‘Maria Clara at Ibarra’ take part in the latest #MagingMagiting advocacy program of Ayala Foundation, Inc. which highlights the heroism of Dr. Jose Rizal.

This Dec. 29, Ayala Foundation will premiere on its Facebook page the seventh edition of the Digital Magiting Conference with the theme “Rizal Revealed: Muling Kilalanin ang Magiting na Bayani.” 

Present during the recorded digicon were GMA Senior Vice President for Entertainment Group Lilybeth G. Rasonable; Vice President for Drama Cheryl Ching-Sy; Creative Consultant of Maria Clara at Ibarra, Suzette Doctolero; the show’s director, Zig Dulay; and Kapuso Drama King Dennis Trillo who plays the role of Ibarra. 

Rasonable recounts the moment they pitched the exceptional concept of Maria Clara at Ibarra for the first time, “One of the most nerve-wracking processes para sa aming mga producer ay ang mag-present sa top management lalo na kapag ang konsepto ay kakaiba. But I am proud to say that those concepts were the ones greenlighted by our bosses. And we thank our top management because that is the reason why the Entertainment Group has been able to present a really wide range of topics.”

Ching-Sy also shares how they came up with the story of a Gen Z who enters the world of Noli Me Tangere, “At that time we were looking for material that will challenge the drama department in all aspects of production. It was Atty. Annette Gozon-Valdes who came up with the idea. Sabi niya, ‘why don’t we do a retelling of Noli and El Fili?’ And then Suzette Doctolero took the challenge and she added the element of Gen Z to resonate with the younger audience.”

Meanwhile, Doctolero highlights the nationalism of Rizal as seen in his works and now in the hit series, Maria Clara at Ibarra, “Ang mga akda ni Rizal ay napaka-relevant pa rin hanggang ngayon. Kung ano ang usapin tungkol sa exploitation ng mga Pilipino noon ay nagaganap pa rin ngayon. Ang Noli Me Tangere ay napakayaman na content para i-adapt sa soap opera. Bilang manunulat, ang ambag namin para sa nation building ay ituro ang ganda ng kultura at kasaysayan natin kasi ang sarap maging Pilipino.”

Dulay also narrates the main factor on why he accepted this groundbreaking project, “Noong sinabihan ako na ire-reimagine ang obrang ito, sobrang saya ko kasi sino lang ba ‘yung nabibigyan ng pagkakataon para makaambag sa bansa gamit ang sining. Super favorite ko ang Noli at El Fili dahil bukod sa great love story nina Maria Clara at Ibarra, itinataas niya rin ang konsepto ng pag-ibig maging sa bayan at sa sarili bilang isang Pilipino. Sa isang henerasyon kung saan usong-uso ang fake news, ang saya sa pakiramdam na magtanghal ng ganitong klase ng teleserye.” 

Trillo, on the other hand, reiterates that their series is a significant way to commemorate the bravery of Rizal,“Magandang pagkakataon ito na ituro sa kanila ang mga likha ni Rizal at malaman ng bawat Pilipino na siya ay isang halimbawa na dapat tularan, lalo sa kanyang adhikain para sa bayan at kabataan. Hindi siya natakot kahit ganito ka-dark ang kwentong isinulat niya kaya’t na-expose ang sitwasyon ng mga Pilipino noong panahon ng pananakop ng mga Kastila.”

Viewers of the digicon are primarily public school teachers. Hence, GMA Network and Ayala Foundation aim to inspire them to see Rizal in a new light and therefore share with their students a newfound enthusiasm for his novels.

“Each and every one of us sa broadcast industry has that responsibility to promote love of country. Tulad sakin na dekada na ang binilang sa pagpo-produce ng programa, nandun ‘yung gusto mong magpatawa, magpaiyak, at magbigay ng impormasyon pero dahil sa ganitong programa na naghihikayat sa kabataan na mahalin ang bansa nila, mare-realize mo na you have so much power to help shape a country,” Rasonable said.

Ching-Sy added that Rizal is an epitome of the greatness and brilliance of Filipinos, “Bilang media practitioner, mae-embody ko ang kagitingan ni Rizal by sharing these stories. I hope kaya nating i-showcase sa buong mundo ang artistic excellence ng mga Pilipino. Kung paano ang directing, acting, design, and cinematography, we have to share to the world how beautiful our stories are.”

Doctolero also points out their biggest goal for Maria Clara at Ibarra, “Gusto naming ma-remind ang audience na kahit naaaliw tayo sa ating pinapanood, importante na kapag nahihiga na sila sa gabi, maiisip nilang ang ganda pa rin talaga ng Pilipinas kahit ano pa ang mga problemang nangyayari kaya dapat lagi nating ipaglaban.”

“Natutuwa ako na nakakatulong ang Maria Clara at Ibarra sa pagbibigay-halaga sa kasaysayan at kultura ng Pilipinas. Sinisikap ko talaga na maging socially-relevant ang mga proyekto ko. Ito ‘yung responsibilidad ko bilang storyteller na dapat bukod sa nakakalibang ay nakakapagtanghal din siya ng kahalagahan,” Dulay mentioned. 

Moreover, Dennis believes that through his craft, he can manifest the patriotism of Rizal, “Pinatunayan ni Rizal ang kagitingan niya sa pamamagitan ng paglaban kung ano ang tama at makatarungan. Malaki ang role namin para ipakita sa kabataan ang ganda ng bansa at mga katangian natin para mas lalo nilang mahalin ang pinagmulan nila.”

Catch Maria Clara at Ibarra,weeknights at 8 p.m. on GMA and at 9:40 p.m. on GTV. 

Viewers abroad can also catch the program via GMA Pinoy TV. For more stories about the Kapuso Network, visit www.GMANetwork.com.