‘Maria Clara at Ibarra’ director assures ‘El Fili’ chapters will not be darker, promises to give justice to novel

With “Maria Clara at Ibarra” slowly transitioning to “El Filibusterismo,” director Zig Dulay assured viewers they will use the same elements and continue with their style of portraying “Noli Me Tangere.” 

In an online interview with the press on Monday, Dulay said they made sure it won’t be “monotone.”

“‘Di lang siya dark kundi katulad pa rin siya ng ‘Noli Me Tangere’ na marami pa ring aspeto, rekados, para mas malinamnam at mas masarap yung pagkain kumbaga,” he said.

“Supposed to be — iba yung timpla pero at the same time, ayaw naman natin mawala yung mga feels, mood o yung mga elemento na nagustuhan ng mga manonood mula pa do’n sa simula.”

“Magkakaro’n lang siguro ng mga tweak para mas maging faithful siya do’n sa nobela and at the same time, para mas makatulong yung mood do’n sa pinaglalaban ng nobela mismo at teleserye natin,” Dulay said.

He added that while they aim to make each scene more impactful than the previous ones, their main goal is still to portray how love can be shown in different ways.

“Hindi natin nakakalimutan na ang teleserye natin ay tungkol pa rin do’n sa kwentong pag-ibig — pag-ibig sa kapwa, pag-ibig sa minamahal, at pag-ibig sa bayan.”

“May mga kilig pa rin on the side. Paano pa mas lumalim yung nararamdaman ni Fidel kay Klay o kaya paano mas pinatunayan ni Maria at ni Ibarra yung kanilang pagmamahalan hanggang dulo? Paano natin makikita yung iba’t-ibang mukha ng pag-ibig mula sa iba’t-ibang characters?”

Meanwhile, creative consultant Suzette Doctolero said they did something grand that would reflect in the following episodes.

“May major kaming ginawa. Isang sobrang major na itinawid namin hanggang ‘El Fili’ na hindi sinulat ni Rizal pero kaya naming panindigan na ipagpapasalamat ni Rizal na ginawa namin,” she said.

In the teaser released Monday, “Maria Clara at Ibarra” already gave a sneak peek to what fans can look forward to, including Ibarra’s new look as Simoun and Khalil Ramos as Basilio.

Starring Barbie Forteza, Julie Anne San Jose, and Dennis Trillo, the “Maria Clara at Ibarra” El Filibustersimo chapters will begin January 23. — LA, GMA Integrated News