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Maria Clara at Ibarra walks the path that has been paved by GMA Drama's historical fiction and cultural series like Amaya, Indio, Sahaya, and Legal Wives.

At its core, the show is an adaptation of two of the most seminal novels in Philippine literature and history--Jose Rizal's Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo.

However, it brings something new to the table with a quirky new twist for viewers of all ages.

Instead of a straight-up dramatization of the novels, Maria Clara at Ibarra features a Gen Z nursing student named Klay who suddenly finds herself within the world of the books.

The upcoming historical portal fantasy series was carefully developed with historical and cultural accuracy in mind but one of its greatest considerations is the current worldview and mindset of viewers.

"Galing tayong lahat sa pandemic, ayaw natin ng masyadong heavy. 'Yung audience natin galing sa mabigat na problema so understandable kung maghahanap sila ng aliw. At the same time, gusto rin naman natin ng makabuluhang palabas so dito isinilang 'yung paano nga kung may Gen Z na nakarating sa mundo ng Noli at Fili," says concept creator and headwriter Suzette Doctolero.

The challenge the series faces is how to continue to engage audiences while staying true to the source materials and imparting valuable knowledge.

"Ang challenge actually nito is not even the values of the novels but 'yung maging entertaining siya for our TV audience. 'Yun talaga 'yung battle cry namin noong umpisa pa lang. Paano ba natin ito ilalapit sa kanila na hindi magmumukhang luma? Hindi namin puwedeng galawin 'yung kuwento ng Noli at Fili--sacred 'yun eh, kailangan buo siya. Pero papano magma-matter itong Gen Z na 'to sa loob ng book? Ano bang magiging adventure niya sa loob ng book? 'Yun 'yung challenge sa amin--paano maging entertaining," shares creative director Aloy Adlawan.

Doctolero and Adlawan are hoping that the show can continue GMA Drama's legacy of worthwhile programs that champion Filipino culture and values while being highly entertaining at the same time.

"This is a continuation of all those efforts to bring in Filipino stories. Ito 'yung continuation ng efforts na 'yun na may pagpapahalaga sa history natin. May value sa kuwento ng Pinoy at saka sa pinanggalingan natin na gusto nating ihain lalo na sa mga kabataan, doon sa mga nakakalimot, especially this day and age, na balikan ulit kung ano 'yung kuwentong 'yun. It's a golden part of our history na ang dami daming kuwento ring nangyari doon. Fiction naman siya pero it also reflects kung ano 'yung Pinoy noon panahon na 'yun. Ano 'yung klase ng oppression ang nararanasan ng mga Pinoy noon, ng mga babae. As much as this is also very entertaining, pero nandoon siya sa value ng book na 'yun sa history," says Adlawan.

"Hopefully, maging successful din ito katulad ng iba. 'Pag successful ito, mas may daan pa for other writers to also try to write and explore other themes and other stories na may kinalaman sa Pilipinas, sa pagiging Pilipino. Isa lang ang culture natin so it's good na GMA ang may task na gumawa ng mga ganitong klaseng palabas na pagpapahalaga sa ating culture," Doctolero adds.

Maria Clara at Ibarra joins the roster of the network's unique stories that push for certain issues or shed light on certain conditions.

Some of these past shows include iconic series My Husband's Lover which inadvertently championed the LGBTQ+ community and remains to this day one of the most defining soaps of GMA Network or Destiny Rose--a story of a displaced urban poor transgender woman who triumphed amidst adversity, and Onanay--a series about a little person who simply wanted to be a good mother to her two daughters both pushed for inclusivity.

Meanwhile, shows like My Special Tatay, Someone to Watch Over Me, and Hindi Ko Kaya Iwan Ka raised awareness and understanding of certain conditions like intellectual disabilities, Alzheimer's Disease, and HIV/AIDS.

Vice President for Drama Ms. Cheryl Ching-Sy is proud that GMA Drama continues to take big risks when it comes to storytelling.

"Matapang ang GMA pagdating diyan, simula dati pa hanggang ngayon. We can claim that we're the first. Kung may sumunod man, maganda rin naman. Kung makaka-contribute sila sa nation-bulding, why not? Parepareho naman tayo ng objective," says Ching-Sy.

"Pioneer tayo. Tayo 'yung matapang na nag-risk. Nag-pay off naman. It think we can proudly claim na lahat naman nung ginawa natin, not just the historical series, pero may mga issues tayong pinu-push, lahat 'yun natanggap naman ng mga tao," she further explains.

GMA Drama's additional goal is to foster creativity in its writers so they continue to innovate

"Malawak talaga 'yung creative culture ng network. Playground talaga siya for writers na iba't iba 'yung sensibility. Dito kasi sa GMA, you play your own strength, your own sensibility. When the creative is allowed to play his or her own strength and sensibility, doon lumalabas 'yung variety saka 'yung strength noong mga concepts. 'Yung mga social advocacy, hindi ko mahiwalay. Naghahanap ka lagi ano ba 'yung next na exciting kong ikuwento," Adlawan says.

"Ang dami nang nagawa ng GMA at karamihan doon, game changers in terms of innovation," he ends.