BARBIE FORTEZA’S stock was certainly boosted to the maxx because of her much acclaimed portrayal as the woman empowered Klay in the most watched drama series on primetime TV today, “Maria Clara at Ibarra”.
Everyone is praising her performance as the courageous Gen Z nursing student from the present who, by some stroke of fate, is catapulted to the past to be part of Rizal’s “Noli Me Tangere”.
“I’m really so thankful for all the praises that writers and netizens are giving me,” she says in our exclusive interview with her as the endorser of ISHIN products with David.
“Actually, lahat kami, we didn’t expect na magiging ganoon kainit ang pagtanggap ng viewers sa aming show.
"Tuwang-tuwa kami na kumapit talaga sila from episode 1 pa lang when it premiered on October 3 last year.
"And we’re so happy dahil na-maintain namin ang aming high ratings every night. We should also give credit sa lahat ng kasama namin na puro magagaling at napupuri rin, sina Dennis Trillo, Julie Anne San Jose, Andrea Torres as Sisa, Juancho Trivino as Padre Salvi, and also our genius director, si Zig Dulay.”
The surprising thing is that audiences also fell in love with her love team with David Licauco.
They were also paired before in their previous soap, “Mano Po Legacy: The Family Fortune”, but it didn’t make any waves.
But in “Maria Clara and Ibarra”, the Filay love team was born and viewers embraced it warmly even if it’s common knowledge that Barbie is really on with Jak Roberto in real life.
What does she think is the reason why her tandem with David click this time?
“Siguro. kasi before, sa ‘Mano Po’, he’s really engaged to another girl. Unlike here in ‘Maria Clara at Ibarra’ na maganda ang naging story arc ng characters namin.
"Noong una, para kaming aso’t pusa hanggang naging close kami sa isa’t isa. And siguro, this is really the right time.”
Followers of their show and their love team are now wondering what will happen to them in case Klay returns to the present world.
Will the show be extended since it’s rating very high?
“No, there will be no extension. We will definitely end on February 17. But we will start taping for ‘El Filibusterismo’ by the end of January.
"So tuloy pa rin ang kuwento ni Klay kaya hindi pa natin alam kung paano naman siya mapupunta sa mundo ng ‘El Fili’.
"Maski ako, excited na rin, so abangan nyo na lang po ang karugtong ng story nina Klay at Fidel sa sequel ng aming show, still directed by Zig Dulay.”
Barbie is happy to endorse Ishin, an oral food supplement that can whiten and brighten your skin’s complexion to make it glow, but also helps to promote overall health.
It is available in its variants: Ishin premium glutathione ten times advanced whitening and immunity booster, Ishin curves breast enhancer, Ishin Whitening Soap, Scrub and Lotion, all at reasonable prices. You can order them all now online via Shopee or Lazada.