A Filipino series that can beat K-drama

Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Robinhood Padilla believe that nobody is watching Philippine productions because of the undue competition with Korean shows.

Perhaps our two senators are not yet aware that “Maria Clara at Ibarra” (MCAI) is slaying it these days. What with a million views for every episode on YouTube to cap a high viewership on free TV in the time of Netflix.

MCAI proves that Filipinos will watch local shows for as long as the producers invest in it, financially and creatively.

“Noli Me Tangere” has been a boring subject in high school and college for many of us, but the producers of MCAI successfully reimagined the Rizal masterpiece into a top-rating homegrown series.

Of course, credits should also be given to the actors who have been providing viewers with tour de force performances. Thanks to excellent casting, the show’s characters are brought to life convincingly. Dennis Trillo, as Crisostomo Ibarra, shines, for instance. For the first time, a gentleman becomes a primetime TV hero.

Juancho Triviño, as the creepy Padre Salvi, is spot on. Tirso Cruz III as Padre Damaso—expectedly for a veteran actor like Pip—can actually incite a revolution.

The heartbreaking plight of brothers Basilio and Crispin and their mother Sisa is brilliant in its sad and tragic reimagination.

The last time I watched a local TV series with extreme interest was when ABS-CBN’s “Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay” was on air. MCAI brought back my faith in local TV.

Here’s hoping it would be released also on Netflix. It could give every Korean production in the streaming app a run for its money.

Jonas Cabiles Soltes,Camarines Sur