'Maria Clara at Ibarra' wins bronze medal at the 2023 New York Festivals

"Maria Clara at Ibarra" has won a bronze medal at the 2023 New York Festivals (NYF) for Entertainment Program: Drama.

The show centers on Klay Infantes (played by Barbie Forteza), a nursing student who is transported to the world of Dr. Jose Rizal's novels, "Noli Me Tangere" and "El Filibusterismo." Her love interest, Fidel, is played by David Licauco.

The success of the series also made its stars, Barbie and David, one of the nation's the hottest love teams. Dennis Trillo and Julie San Jose also starred on the show as Crisostomo Ibarra and Maria Clara, respectively.

On top of winning the New York award, the series recently shot up to no. 1 spot on Netflix Philippines.

Aside from "Maria Clara at Ibarra," the New York award-giving body honored three more projects from GMA programs: "Wounds of Woes" by "Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho," "Eye in the Dark" by "The Atom Araullo Specials," and Stand for Truth's "Runaway Child Bride."

"Wounds of Woes" clinched a gold award under the Documentary: Health/Medical Information category. The documentary follows a 14-year-old boy who suffered from wounds all over his body that was discovered to be lamellar ichthyosis.

"Eye in the Dark" tackled the online sexual exploitation of children and won gold in the Documentary: Social Issues category.

Stand for Truth's "Runaway Child Bride" reported on child marriage and won a bronze award under the Documentary: Cultural Issues category.

The New York Festivals TV & Film Awards also recognized five more GMA Public Affairs programs with finalist certificates, namely "Reporter's Notebook," "I-Witness," "Born to be Wild," and another project each by "Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho" and "The Atom Araullo Specials."

Each winner was chosen by a jury of more than 200 producers, directors, writers, and other creative media professionals from around the world.

The New York Festivals TV & Film Awards has honored exceptional and innovative content from more than 50 countries for the past 65 years.

—MGP, GMA Integrated News