JE C.C.
The lead star of the top-rating Kapuso primetime drama understands very well how important the show’s role is in reminding the youth of our history.
The actress stated that it makes her and the whole ‘Maria Clara at Ibarra’ team so happy as well as the whole industry. The reason for this is that Philippine history dominates primetime television. She proudly remarked, “Kasi part kami ng ganoong project.“
The actress admitted she knew from day one, that the project was going to be big and ambitious; Forteza shared, “I am well aware na malaki ang project na ito, and wala akong ibang maramdaman kundi excitement at gratitude talaga kasi they considered me to play the role of Klay.”
Forteza understands the show’s role in drawing the Filipino youth, especially the high school students, to love history, and its importance for every Filipino. She noted the differences and similarities that she observed between the colonial Philippines and today.
She compared the powerful people of the 1880s to those of today; the friars then, the wealthy now. She said, ” Ngayon, money is power. So baligtad naman, parang pag marami kang pera, marami kang pwedeng gawin at maraming nakikinig sa iyo.”
Also, Forteza drew attention to the similarity between the two times; injustice.
The actress believes that paying respect to history gives you a sense of completeness as a Filipino.. She noted, “Sabi nga ni Professor Torres, ‘ano mang karera ang tahakin mo sa buhay in the future, kailangan mo pa rin balikan kung ano ang pinanggalingan mo, o ang kasaysayan mo. Kasi doon mo mabubuo ang pagkatao mo eh, bago ka lumabas ng Pilipinas.”
She emphasized that, while our history has dark parts, there are also good parts that should be told and learned about more frequently.
Julie Anne San Jose plays the original Maria Clara, and Dennis Trillo plays Crisostomo Ibarra in ‘Maria Clara at Ibarra.’ Forteza portrays modern-day Maria Clara, a.k.a. Klay, who is transported to the world of Rizal’s novels to learn the value of history.
