Marian Rivera ticket to fame

  
by Julius Roden
Posted on INQUIRER.net Cybervision
October 04, 2009
 
 
When Judy Ann Santos and Gladys Reyes used to be queens of soap operas on Philippines television, Thalia Sodi came and changed everything.

Mesmerizing the entire nation, Thalia was the individual form of Spanish wave second invasion to the Philippines. Although Hispanic she is, the aura she exudes captured the hearts of many Filipinos who had seen the beauty of Latin telenovelas - passionate and sensual.

Televisa could be the biggest TV network in Mexico that broadcast worldwide smash hit telenovelas. Europe and Middle East purchase the rights to run the show in their respective countries. Be it dubbed or subtitled.

Thalia brought Philippine soap operas to the next level. From the phenomenal Marimar on RPN 9, then followed by Maria Mercedes on ABS-CBN 2 and closed the 90’s with Maria la del Barrio. Actually, “Maria Mercedes” was her very first telenovela of the Maria Trilogy but Marimar was first aired in the Philippines. It caused a Latin fever all over the country. RPN 9 got loaded with commercials as advertisers wanted to get seconds to endorse their products in between breath taking scenes in “Marimar.”

Then, a throng of hyperactive Filipinos felt stupid cupid made them fall in love with the multi-awarded Mexican actress/singer, the one and only star of “Marimar.”

But not only that, Filipinos kept begging for more. When Y2K virus was bogus, the next thing we saw on
television was the beautiful face of Thalia coming back to the small screen via “Rosalinda.”

The huge success of Marimar is due to its powerful ala Vilma Santos/Nora Aunor classic movies of vengeance, from rags to riches, Sampaguita Pictures’ smell in all of its scenes and of course, the sex appeal of Thalia and her acting prowess.

Many Filipino TV goers miss her. But she is enjoying life now as the mother of Sabrina Sakae, a fashion designer, a recording artist and a business woman.

In 2007, GMA 7 had bought the rights of Marimar not to rerun the show but rather produce a Filipino remake. A local actress named Marian Rivera got the role. It made her famous because many Filipinos had missed Thalia so much. The Filipino fans know and feel that Rosalinda was, indeed, Thalia’s last telenovela and if ever she comes back to making telenovelas, she may no longer do those inspiring highly-spirited Cinderella roles.

In 2009, GMA 7 tried to create a big star with the use of Rosalinda. Overhyping its lead stars Carla Abellana and Geoff Eigenmann didn’t even help to surpass the remake of Marimar - starring Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes.

This is because Rosalinda is not about its story but all about the return of Thalia and her pretty face we love to watch on television over and over again.

Until now, many countries in Europe, Latin America and Middle East still have reruns of Marimar, Maria la del Barrio and Rosalinda. This only proves that Thalia is yet to be replaced as the Queen of Telenovelas.