‘FiLay’ fans get Valentine’s Day treat: ‘Maria Clara at Ibarra’ to be extended

The GMA historical-fantasy teleserye “Maria Clara at Ibarra” has been confirmed for extension, although producers are mum as to when the series will air its final episode.

The extension of the soap opera, which was supposed to be ending this week, was confirmed by its lead stars Barbie Forteza and David Licauco in a report at GMA-7’s flagship news program “24 Oras” on Monday night, Feb. 13.

“Hindi talaga namin ine-expect itong level ng pagmamahal sa amin ng mga viewers, ng mga Kapuso so sino ba naman kami para hindi dinggin ang kanilang mga hinaing, diba? Sino ba kami para balewalain na lang ang kanilang mga requests nila? Kaya siyempre, pagbibigyan namin sila. Mae-extend po ang Maria Clara at Ibarra kaya sana tutukan niyo ‘yan,” Forteza said.

(We didn’t expect this much love by the viewers, so who are we to not grant their wishes? Who are we to not take notice of their requests? So of course, we’ll grant their wishes. “Maria Clara at Ibarra” will be extended so I hope that viewers would await what happens in the upcoming episodes.)

Licauco said the extension of “Maria Clara at Ibarra” is a “Valentine’s gift” to the show’s fans.

“For the fans, ito ‘yung Valentine’s gift ng lahat ng buong cast at buong bumubuo ng ‘Maria Clara at Ibarra’ so I’m just super happy na mae-extend,” he added.

(This is a Valentine’s gift of the “Maria Clara at Ibarra” cast and crew to fans, so I’m just super happy that it was extended.)

The onscreen partners, who are known for their roles as Klay and Fidel, revealed that fans should look forward to their characters’ fates towards the end of the series.

“Kasi 13 years na hindi nakita ni Fidel si Klay. Parang sandaling panahon lang nilang magkakasama, parang ang unfair naman nun para kay Fidel. So let’s give him more chances to spend time with Klay,” Forteza said.

(Fidel has not seen Klay for 13 years. They’ve only been together for a short time, so it’s unfair for Fidel. So, let’s give him more chances to spend time with Klay.)

The actor, on the other hand, said the series’ following set of episodes will be a “rollercoaster of emotions” for viewers, especially the fans of “FiLay,” a portmanteau of his and Forteza’s names in the series.

David Licauco (left) as Fidel and Barbie Forteza as Klay

“Mai-inlove ‘yung mga fans, [lalo na] ‘yung mga supporters of FiLay kasi siyempre ‘yung mga scenes na ginawa namin was really sweet… Maraming rollercoaster of emotions, bigla kang sasaya, tas biglang mai-inlove, tas biglang malulungkot, iiyak so kailangan nilang maabangan ‘yun,” Licauco added.

(The fans will fall in love, especially the supporters of FiLay because of course, the scenes we’ve done were really sweet. It will be a rollercoaster of emotions, you’ll feel happy, you’ll fall in love, then you’ll feel sad and cry. Of course, fans need to watch out for those moments.)

“Maria Clara at Ibarra,” which is based on the novels by Dr. Jose Rizal, is currently revolving around its “El Filibusterismo” arc where Simoun Ibarra (Dennis Trillo) vows revenge against the government. Aside from Forteza and Licauco, it also stars Dennis Trillo, Julie Anne San Jose, Khalil Ramos, and Juancho Triviño.

Among the series’ most notable episodes in its current arc include the reunion of Klay (Barbie Forteza) and Fidel (David Licauco) after 13 years where the former was thrown in prison, as well as the death of Maria Clara (Julie Anne San Jose) in its Feb. 10 episode. EDV

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