Mara Clara

Mara Clara is a Philippine television drama series broadcast by ABS-CBN. Starring Judy Ann Santos and Gladys Reyes. It aired on the network's afternoon line up from August 17, 1992 to February 14, 1997, replacing Sebya, Mahal Kita and was replaced by Esperanza.

The title is derived from María Clara, the mestiza heroine of José Rizal's Noli Me Tángere.

This series is streaming online on YouTube.

Premise
Mara and Clara were switched at birth, and the details of this event were recorded by Kardo (Dan Fernandez), a hospital staff, in his diary. Mara (Judy Ann Santos) lived as the poor daughter of the couple Susan (Susan Africa) and Gary Davis (Eruel Tongco/William Martinez) while Clara (Gladys Reyes), their real daughter, was brought up the rich Amanthe (Juan Rodrigo) and Almira Del Valle (Beverly Vergel).

The good-natured Del Valle couple (Juan Rodrigo and Beverly Vergel) takes in Mara (Judy Ann Santos) as a servant and decides to spend for her education, not knowing that she is their real daughter. Gary (Eruel Tongco/William Martinez), who is actually a gang and syndicate leader, approves of the idea that Mara lives with the Del Valles to extort money. Clara makes life for Mara difficult. But, as time progresses they find out their true identity in the spotlights, damages are paid, and they all know where to stand.

Protagonist

 * Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo as Mara Davis / Mara del Valle

Antagonist

 * Gladys Reyes-Sommereux as Clara del Valle / Clara Davis

Main cast

 * Juan Rodrigo as Don Amante del Valle
 * Beverly Vergel as Doña Almira Castillo-del Valle
 * Eruel Tongco (1992–1996) and William Martinez (movie, 1996) as Gerardo "Gary" Davis
 * Susan Africa as Susan Davis
 * Noel Colet/Jeffrey Santos as Enrico Castillo/Enrico David/Henry Villafuerte
 * Dan Fernandez as Ricardo "Kardo" Enriquez
 * Wowie de Guzman as Christian "Chris" Cruz
 * Christopher Roxas as Erris Reyes
 * Paolo Contis as Jepoy
 * Maila Gumila as Gary's sister

Supporting cast

 * Leni Santos as Lenita/Sylvia
 * Naty Mallares as Lola Binay
 * Ading Noche as Dado
 * Whitney Tyson (TV series, 1992–1995) and Jinky Oda (movie) as Kerubin
 * Minnie Aguilar as Lagring
 * Michael "Eagle" Riggs as CG
 * Vincent Cebu as Negro
 * Willy Delgado as Waldo
 * Jochelle Olalia as Karen
 * Agatha Tapan as Denise
 * Carol Magallanes as Carol
 * Anita Linda as Pacita
 * Ian Galliguez as Bekya
 * Jenette Fernando as Risa
 * John Salve as Lester
 * Carol Dauden as Marina
 * Debbie Espileta as Debbie
 * Robert Perez as Berting
 * Rolly Padilla as Simeon
 * Edward Salvador as Joe Llamera
 * Bangkay as Praning
 * Glydel Mercado
 * Tom Olivar as Sgt. Esguerra
 * Mariche Marquez as Che-Che
 * Raquel Monteza
 * Dinky Doo
 * Tom Santos
 * Anna Lumibao
 * Rose Zen Lopez
 * Jane Zaleta
 * JR Herrera
 * Jeffrey Hidalgo

Recurring

 * Piolo Pascual
 * Rico Yan as Derick Gonzales
 * Angelika Dela Cruz as Joyce

Production
After the cancellation of Ula, Ang Batang Gubat, director Emil Cruz Jr. conceptualized a soap opera entitled "Mara Clara" and was presented to ABS-CBN for approval. Judy Ann Santos and Gladys Reyes were handpicked by the director for the titular roles. During the early years of the soap, majority of scenes, particularly the Del Valle mansion are shot inside the studio. It was near the end of Book 1 towards Book 2 that the series started shooting on an actual location.

On May 19, 1996, cast members Eruel Tongco, Ireneo Sevilla, Joy Clarise Cojuangco and Bienvenido dela Rosa died when their vehicle fell into a ravine in Palayan while driving home from a Nueva Ecija stage presentation.

Timeslot
The series originally aired at 2:30 p.m. as a blocktimer produced by its original director Emil Cruz Jr. from August 17, 1992, until September 30, 1994, after Anna Luna. It moved to a 2:00 p.m. timeslot on October 3, 1994, when its predecessor Anna Luna moved from the said network to RPN. The show's rights was later on purchased by ABS-CBN Entertainment and was moved to a primetime slot on July 8, 1996, after TV Patrol to challenge RPN's Tagalog-language dub of Mexican telenovela, Marimar and Villa Quintana of GMA. It ended on February 14, 1997, to make way for Esperanza as the replacement on February 17.

Reruns
The series re-aired in 2007 by affiliates Studio 23 (now S+A) and Kapamilya Channel (internationally subsidiary of The Filipino Channel) through 2008. It aired internationally in 1994 til its series finale on The Filipino Channel when it first aired as same day airings. It then re-aired in 2007-2008 for the first time on the Kapamilya Channel.

Film adaptation
On September 18, 1996, a movie was produced based on the television series. This was the first television series created by ABS-CBN to be adapted by Star Cinema.

In the film, Gary Davis' character was changed. It was portrayed by Eruel Tongco in the series, while William Martinez played the role in the film due to Tongco's death from a car accident in 1996.

Additionally, Qureubin was originally portrayed by Whitney Tyson in the series but Jinky Oda portrayed the character in the film following a series of bullying cases to Tyson during shoots leading eventually to her withdrawal from the series.

Remake
During the ABS-CBN trade event held on August 24, 2010, at the World Trade Center Manila, it was announced that a remake of the series will start its production in 2010. Kathryn Bernardo is slated for the role of Mara, with Julia Montes as Clara. It aired on ABS-CBN from October 25, 2010, to June 3, 2011.

Reception
The series had its highest rating of 45% in one of its episode in 1994, it is considered as one of the highest rating Filipino TV series of all time.

The TV series made waves through most of the Filipino audience and being called by ABS-CBN as, "Ina ng Pinoy Soap Opera" owing to the series' huge success.

The highly-overt antagonism of Gladys Reyes' main antagonist character, Clara, by way of her violent actions done throughout the series against Judy's character, Mara, had provoked a huge reaction on those who viewed the show's protagonist Mara, more favorably, such to the point that Gladys Reyes had earned the title "Bella Flores of the 90's".