Pilgrimage in Time

BY: STEFANIE FRANCISCO

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it ” –

George Santayana

History is a part of one ' s identity It shows the way of living of our ancestors The Philippines’ history is truly what makes the country more resplendent However, with the trends and technologies taking over the lives of many, it is easy to forget about our own identity which is reflected in our history Nonetheless, there are still people such as filmmakers who deeply care, which is why they create historical films and series One of those is Maria Clara at Ibarra which no doubt captures the most important part of our history and how we Filipinos stood our ground

Maria Clara at Ibarra (also known as MCI) is a fantasy series based on the novel ‘Noli Me Tangere ’ A Filipino writer and activist, José Rizal published Noli Me Tangere using Latin and Spanish languages during the Spanish colonial period The book from which MCI was inspired is a book that was created for a peaceful uprising and to convey what Filipinos were going through during the Spanish occupation It shows how oblivious Filipinos were for not knowing who the true enemies are and instead they fought against their countrymen The series aids people to remember where they came from by reenacting what happened during that time, helping millions connect with their nationalism in the process

A work of art, perfected by time, Maria Clara at Ibarra was made! It took two years to prepare the show which probably explains why it is loved by many The show is well thought out and magnificently written It was released on the 3rd of October, 2022 The writer, headed by Suzette Doctolero, hired historians, language coaches, and consultants so they could deliver an accurate show MCI is proof of how dedicated the writers are to providing their audience with a spectacular yet educational show, which paves the way for viewers to be familiar with Jose Rizal's well-known book, ‘Noli Me Tangere ’ Maria Clara at Ibarra portrays the individuality of Filipinos by showing what their ancestors had to go through for freedom It provides learning most entertainingly

1) Talk with someone, talk to yourself, meditate, or if you can, seek help from friends and family - It is said that having someone to talk with during a hard time in life helps alleviate painful emotions from the mind

2) Listen to music - Jamming to your favorite music clears your mind, swatting away dark thoughts It can reduce anxiety, blood pressure, and pain as well as improve sleep quality, mood, mental alertness, and memory

3) Grab a hobby - Doing this will make you understand yourself more, and distract you from reality in the process

4) Reconnect with nature - Just watching beautiful sceneries will give you a serene feeling, perfect for down times

5) Manage your time - Managing your time will help increase your focus, and improve productivity thus capturing bigger opportunities that might motivate you in life

It is up to you which one you would feel most comfortable in, however always remind yourself every day that life is a challenge and you are here to overcome those obstacles Seeing a dark fog covering that road you want to take for that dream of yours, is only temporary, there is a tremendous amount of light in you that will shine through that dark fog

Every character, the way they move, speak, and think was based on historical facts For instance, Maria Clara is described as a kindhearted, pure, and a God-fearing woman These traits are said to be what Filipinas should be

Each character represents the culture and beliefs of Filipinos during the Spanish era Klay, the main character, is a woman of today's generation She is the persona who traveled back in time, showing the difference between today and the past She sets an example not just to the youth but to everyone, that men and women are equal, providing a mindset that disregards one ' s gender

As the story of Noli Me Tangere slowly comes to an end, the story of El Filibusterismo begins The story in which pain and hardships changed each character Instead of focusing on the tragedy, writers of the MCI inserted romance which ultimately saves the story

They showed the audience a multiverse reality wherein the characters had their happily ever after

Because the show was adored by many, Netflix adapted the series and is set to premiere on April 14, 2023 MCI won as the Most Outstanding Teleserye at the 5th Gawad Lasallianeta, and was also recognized internationally and shortlisted for New York Festivals TV & Film Awards MCI is just one of the shows that nurtures one ' s knowledge about history, and serves as a time machine that takes Filipinos to a journey in the time when our nationalism was at its peak