Marimar (2007 TV series)

This article is Philippine television series, for the original Mexican television series, see Marimar.

Marimar
Title card of MariMar
Created by	Televisa
Directed by	Joyce E. Bernal Mac Alejandre
Starring	Marian Rivera Dingdong Dantes
Opening theme	Regine Velasquez
Ending theme	Maricris Garcia
Country of origin	Philippines
Original languages	Filipino, Tagalog, English
Production
Executive producer	Wilma Galvante
Running time	30-45 minutes
Original release
Network	GMA Network
Release	August 13, 2007 – present

MariMar is a Philippine drama airing on GMA Network starring Marian Rivera, in the title role, and Dingdong Dantes. It is a remake of the hugely popular Mexican telenovela with the same title starring Thalía which was aired in 1994. It premiered on August 13, 2007 as part of GMA Network weeknights primetime presentation, under the direction of movie directors Joyce E. Bernal and Mac Alejandre. On this remake, much liberty had been taken to provide back story to the characters, tweaking and twisting some plot elements to avoid it being too predictable, and adapting it to Philippine setting.

Overview

1994 TV series

Main article: Marimar

Marimar was a Mexican TV telenovela that was first aired in 1994 on Televisa with singer-actress Thalía in the title role.

Popularity in the Philippines

The original Mexican telenovela was a massive hit in the Philippines with ratings peaking at 46.5%, when it first aired on Radio Philippines Network (RPN) in 1996. Because of that show, RPN gotthe highest ratings for the 6:00 PM timeslot. In April 2002, the original Marimar was re-aired on GMA as part of the Telebabad primetime block but was moved to a morning timeslot in June 2002. María la del Barrio also followed and re-aired on the same network.

2007 TV series

Casting Marimar

GMA VP Wilma Galvante reveals it took some time to get the story rights of "Marimar" from Televisa, the owner of story rights of the Mexican Telenovela. There have been some conflicts as to whether actress Angel Locsin was the first choice to play the title role (but she declined, because she didn't want to dance) or the actress was rejected by the casting group(exact reasons are unknown). The contract required that the Pinoy version be made before the end of 2007, which prompted the network to give an audition for the highly profiled role. GMA female artists such as Nadine Samonte, Katrina Halili, Jennylyn Mercado, Marian Rivera, Valerie Concepcion, Bianca King, Rhian Ramos, Glaiza de Castro, Jewel Mische and Karylle all went to the audition.

The role eventually went to Marian Rivera, who had 80% chance of winning the role, beating her closest rival for the role Jennylyn Mercado.

Production Crew

This series is a comeback project for Joyce E. Bernal in TV and for GMA Network.

• Writers: Denoy Punio
• Head Writer: Dode Cruz
• Creative Consultants: Roy C. Iglesias
• Executive Producer: Wilma Galvante
• Production Manager: Redgynn S. Alba
• Executive-in-charge of Creative: Anette Gozon-Abrogar
• Executive-in-charge of Production: Wilma Galvante
• Directed by: Joyce E. Bernal and Mac Alejandre

Plot synopsis

Gustavo marries Lupita despite his mother's disapproval of their relationship. Things became more complicated when Lupita bore Gustavo a daughter - Marimar. Dolores, Gustavo's mother, believes that Lupita married her son only for their wealth, and thus, will do everything to separate the two of them.

Dolores then drugs the Lupita and hires a man, setting them up to make it look like Lupita was having an affair. Gustavo is devastated to find Lupita sleeping with another man unknown to him that it was a plot by his own mother. Dolores then demands Lupita to leave their property and never to come back into her son's life.

It is too late, however, when Gustavo finds out the treachery of Dolores. He can no longer find Lupita or his daughter, who have gone into hiding. Lupita promises to her daughter that one day, she, Marimar, will clear their names and claim what is rightfully hers.Gustavo then leaves his parents and decided to live alone in Manila, not losing hope that one day, he would find his wife and daughter.

Seven years had passed, but Gustavo's efforts to locate the whereabouts of Lupita and Marimar remained fruitless. One day, Esperanza visits him, carrying with her the news of Gustavo's parents' fatal accident. Despite his ill feelings towards his mother, Gustavo went home to finally put closure to his past.

While visiting the grave of his parents, Silva came by to inform Gustavo the whereabouts of Lupita and Marimar. Gustavo did not waste any time and went to rebuild his family again. Lupita manages to forgive Gustavo to the delight of Marimar who was delighted to finally meet her father.

On their way back to Manila, the passenger plane on which the family are crashes into the sea which caused them to be separated from each other.Gustavo once again loses the family he had tried hard to rebuild. Lupita is later found, dead and Marimar was nowhere to be found.

Marimar is washed ashore to the next island. She is found by a childless couple, Cruz and Pancho, and upon discovering that Marimar suffers from amnesia, decide upon themselves to raise Marimar as their own grandaughter. Lola Cruz would eventually name her Marimar after seeing Marimar's pendant necklace.

Marimar then grew into an innocent naive young woman, whose complicated and tormented life began when she agreed to marry Sergio Santibañez for the latter's reason to have revenge against his father, Renato and Sergio's ex-girlfriend, Angelika, who turned to be his new stepmother. Marimar was then subjected to the cruelty of Angelika in the Santibañez mansion. Here starts Marimar’s awakening to the harsh reality of what her love for Sergio has done to her.

Fate then began to favor the once opressed Marimar when she decided to leave San Martin dela Costa after suffering much from the Santibañez household and the death of her adoptive grandparents from a fire under Angelika's order. Marimar changed her identity, as well as her name, into Bella. In the city, she gave birth to a beautiful baby girl that she named Cruzita after the name of her Lola Cruz. Marimar did not allow the child's father, Sergio, to see her, believing that Sergio had left her for good.

After many years of searching, Gustavo had finally seen her daughter, Marimar, but since the latter had changed her name into Bella, Gustavo did not recognize her at first. Natalia, an insane and ambitious provincial lass from San Martin dela Costa who also hated Marimar snatched up Marimar's pendant, which would prove the identity of Gustavo's missing daughter and heiress. Natalia began pretending to be Gustavo's missing daughter yet,her deception did not last long as Marimar's lost memory came back and she was later on proved to be an imposter. When Gustavo had finally acknowledged Marimar as his daughter, he died from a heart attack, leaving the countless wealth of the Aldamas to her. With the help of her Tia Esperanza and Innocencia, Marimar had completely transformed herself from a poor and naive lass into a rich and sophisticated woman:Bella Aldama.

As she returns back, how will she turn the tables on Sergio and all the others who once looked down on her?

Series ratings

The pilot episode of the Marimar remake on August 13 rated highly with more than 36.6% in Mega Manila which GMA Network wants to sustain until the series ends January 2008. On September 13, 2007, Marimar registered a 39.3% rating overcoming the pilot rating (after it equaled its inaugural rating of 38.3%). and lately this October 5, it gained a staggering 40% - overcoming its September 13 episode's rating 39.3%. And once again, last October 16, 2007, it registered 44.6% of overall Mega Manila Viewership Rating, beating its previous record (40%) last October 5 by 6%. .Last October 23, 2007, it once again made history by registering 47.9% of overall Mega Manila Viewership Rating, even surpassing 46.5%, the highest rating registered in the Philippines by the first Marimar of Thalia about eleven years ago. Last November 13, 2007, it beats it's own record registering up to 48.5%

Cast and characters

Main Cast

• Marian Rivera as MariMar Perez/Bella Aldama/Bella Cruz
• Dingdong Dantes as Sergio Santibañez

Extended Cast

• Richard Gomez as Renato Santibañez
• Katrina Halili as Angelika Santibañez
• Manilyn Reynes as Corazon
• Gabby Eigenmann as Nicandro
• Nadine Samonte as Inocencia
• Sheena Halili as Monica
• Bianca King as Natalia Montenegro
• Mike Tan as Choi
• Mel Kimura as Perfecta
• Marky Lopez as Arturo
• Jestoni Alarcon as Gustavo Aldama
• Bing Loyzaga as Esperanza
• Caridad Sanchez as Lola Cruz
• Leo Martinez as Lolo Pancho
• Buboy Garovillo as Padre Porres
• Michael V. as Fulgoso (voice)
• Rufa Mae Quinto as Fifi (voice)
• Nigel (dog) as Fulgoso

Guest Cast

• Kirby de Jesus
• Carmina Villaroel as Dra. Ria
• Gwen Garci as Olga
• Sharmaine Santiago as Brenda
• Marvin Agustin as Rodolfo San Jinez
• Cristine Reyes as Ms. Kim Chan
• K Brosas as Rowena
• Dino Guevarra as Antonio
• Ailyn Luna as Cecilia
• Bruno Folster as Bruno
• Arthur Solinap as Diego
• Marcus Madrigal as Victorino
• Rita Avila as Lupita Aldama
• Pilar Pilapil as Donya Dolores Aldama
• Jaime Fabregas as Don Augusto Aldama
• Irma Idlawan as Silva
• Maricel Morales as Flor
• Leandro Baldemor as Brando
• Soliman Cruz
• Ella Cruz as Young Marimar
• Nicole Dulalia as Young Angelika
• Gabriel Roxas as Young Sergio

Changes from the Original

• MariMar's grandparents are now adoptive, instead of being her mother's parents as in the original.
• The theme song is changed yet keeps certain elements from the original.
• MariMar's dance will be incorporated into the show as a nod to the opening sequences of the original. In the original she dances in the opening credits but is not in essence a 'dancer' in the show itself.
• Sergio is a professional NASCAR driver, whereas in the original he was a professional soccer player.
• The Santibañez patriarch is a resort tycoon, whereas in the original series, they own a hacienda.
• Lupita Aldama's backstory as MariMar's mother is fleshed out, originally only seen in pictures. This is part of the flashback sequences that introduce MariMar's childhood, loss of her parents and arrival at the Perez's care.
• Angelica is renamed to Angelika and is now MariMar's childhood friend, whereas in the original she is a couple of years older. A new subplot is included wherein Sergio, who was her lover, refused to marry her and she then marries his father. Sergio uses MariMar to embarrass the family in revenge.
• It also appears that Natalia Montenegro won't be MariMar's future rival to Sergio's heart in the big city but instead be a new character, from rich girl to provincial lass. She will also become Marimar's rival to Gustavo Aldama as his long lost daughter and schemes to do everything to ruin Bella's image in the eyes of Gustavo. It was mentioned too that she will harbor feelings for Choi, a trait originally displayed by Angelika's sister, Antonietta. It remains to be seen if the subplot involving Bella Aldama (MariMar's 'rich girl' alias), the Casino, and Fernando Montenegro (Natalia's father and an ardent fan of 'Bella Aldama') will be played out as well.
• Arturo (formerly Sergio's teammate in the soccer team) was rewritten to be his driver. Originally a playboy, he is now 'in the closet' harboring feelings for Sergio.
• In the original series, when Marimar became wealthy, she trained under Gustavo Aldama's supervision and eventually changed her name to Bella Aldama. In this series, she first changed her name to Bella Cruz upon arrival in the City. After four years of education in the United States, she changed her name to Bella Aldama.
• It is also noticeable that in the original, Gustavo Aldama died when Marimar is already Bella Aldama. Whereas in the remake, Gustavo died after his brief reunion with her long lost daughter (MariMar). Marimar then went to the United States in order to prepare for her responsibilities as the rightful heiress of Gustavo.
• Fulgoso the dog's love interest is now Fifi. In the original Mexican version, Fifi is the Villainous dog of Ezperanza and Fulgozo's love interest is Mimi. But now Mimi is not in the story and Fifi is now Angelika's dog.
• Innocencia the nerdy girl who be Marimar's rival to Sergio in the end was turned into her ally. From a rich girl she was turned into his secretary.
• Antonnieta was replaced by a male character named Antonio, and Angelika has no sister, instead, Inocencia became her dorky cousin, whom she used to attract Sergio to make Marimar jealous.
• Innocencia del Castillo became Marimar's friend, and an ally to seek revenge on Sergio and Angelika. It is still unknown whether there will be a twist with her character to follow the original story where she became Sergio's wife after his divorce with Marimar.

Production

MariMar is the second part of the three-part International remake of GMA Network.

The primer of the series was entitled, Marimar, Ang Pagbabalik - behind the scenes and the making of Marimar.

Bing Loyzaga was earlier tapped to play the main villain 'Angelika'. She was given the role of Tia Esperenza.

A search for MariMar’s trusted canine friend, Fulgoso, was launched on GMA’s morning program "Sis".

See also

• List of programs broadcast by GMA Network
• Marimar - the original telenovela

External links

• Official website
• Marimar episodes