‘Maria Clara at Ibarra’ is the top show on Netflix PH as of June 2023

Screencap from Netflix Philippines/YouTube

It’s not surprising that many Filipino Netflix subscribers have devoutly tuned in to watch the historical fantasy series “Maria Clara at Ibarra,” as it is very close to home and narrates a fragment of the past.

Equally unsurprising is the fact that this Filipino series led by Barbie Forteza, Dennis Trillo, and Julie Anne San Jose, has consistently claimed the top spot in viewership since its release earlier this year.

On Dec. 13, Netflix revealed that the show, in terms of viewership for a Filipino program, secured one of the top spots in the streaming giant’s engagement report for January to June 2023.

The report covers more than 18,000 titles, representing 99 percent of all viewing on Netflix, and nearly 100 billion hours viewed.

Even more astonishing is that the Filipino series, which seamlessly blends history, romance, and fantasy, has raked in 22,100,000 total viewing hours worldwide, despite not being released globally.

For the uninitiated, “Maria Clara at Ibarra” introduces viewers to a unique blend of educational entertainment, transporting them to the late 19th century Philippines through the eyes of Binibining Klay (played by Forteza), a Gen Z nursing student who finds herself immersed in the world of Jose Rizal’s literary masterpiece, “Noli Me Tangere.”

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In March, the program was among the nine television projects from the network shortlisted for the prestigious New York Festivals TV & Film Awards in its 2023 edition.

The series, first aired on GMA Telebabad last year, has gained popularity and later made its way to Netflix, where it continues to captivate audiences until now.