On September 23, Kapuso star Barbie Forteza thanked Maria Clara at Ibarra because she learned about Noli me Tangere and El Filibusterismo through the period-fantasy series.
At the media conference for Maria Clara at Ibarra with the press, including LionhearTV, Forteza revealed that she went through the Alternative Learning System, which resulted in her missing out on learning about Jose Rizal’s celebrated novels.
“Noong High School po kasi ako, nag-take po ako ng Alternative Learning System, so hindi ko dinaanan ‘yung Noli–parang napadali, na-expedite ang aking High School, so hindi ko siya nadaanan. So isa ‘yun sa mga pinagpapasalamat ko kasi ngayon, matutunan ko siya, at mapo-portray ko pa. Mapapasok ko ‘yung mundo ng Noli at El Fili. So talagang may access na talaga ako sa mga nobelang na-miss ko before.”
She then thanked GMA Network for mounting a large-scale project amid the pandemic.
“Una sa lahat talagang noong una hindi pa ako naniwala agad kasi nga parang napakalaking project niya. Nabalitaan ko nga po na ito nga pong programang ito, was conceptualized last October 2020, kasagsagan po ng ating pandemya, so isa ‘yun sa mga mas ikinabilib ko po sa ating GMA Network dahil dumaan man ang pandemya, hindi sila tumigil na tumalakay ng mga importanteng issues ng ating bansa, balikan ang mga kasaysayan natin.”
She also highlighted the meticulous process behind the production of Maria Clara at Ibarra.
“And kita naman po natin na metikulosong binusisi ng creative team, even our director, the whole team of Maria Clara at Ibarra, kung papaano namin magagawa ng maayos at ma-execute ng tama ang programang ito.
“So, we’re very grateful na na-approve ang concept na ito, and I am part of this show, (this) very /important/ show– another milestone sa GMA Primetime.”
Barbie Forteza stars in the Kapuso period-fantasy series, Maria Clara at Ibarra, alongside Dennis Trillo and Julie Anne San Jose.
Joining the main cast are premiere Kapuso stars such as Tirso Cruz III, Manilyn Reynes, Rocco Nacino, David Licauco, Juancho Trivino, Juan Rodrigo, Lou Veloso, Ces Quesada, Dennis Padilla, Gilleth Sandico, Karenina Haniel, and Andrea Torres.
Watch the series premiere of Maria Clara at Ibarra, directed by Zig Dulay and written by Suzette Doctolero, on October 3, via GMA Telebabad.
