Episode 6

Season 1, Episode 6 – The one where Marimar tells Pancho and Cruz about Sergio’s Proposal

Marimar gladly accepts Sergio’s offer and returns home to tell her grandparents about the good news. Both Pancho and Cruz object to the marriage as the two have only known each other for only about a week!

Marimar cries and talks to Fulgoso how she loves both Pancho and Cruz but her own happiness should also be put into consideration. Pancho overhears Marimar’s sentiments and feels guilty about having had to hide the truth from her about her past. He convinces Cruz that should Marimar insist on this marriage, perhaps they should give in as she had always been an obedient child to them.

Sergio tells Renato about his marriage plans to which Renato, sensing Angelika and Sergio still having the hots for one another, agrees and offers his congratulations to his son. However when Angelika heard about the news, she was opposed to it and wanted to find out who is this person Sergio is going to marry.

Sergio and Marimar together with Arturo and Fulgoso go on a picnic trip. Sergio and Marimar cannot seem to get their hands off one another – always holding hands or embracing or even kissing one another like true lovebirds. Sergio knows he is only going to be using Marimar but Marimar is truly in love with Sergio.

When Marimar accompanied Sergio into the Santibanez mansion, Angelika sends her away again. Marimar runs back to her grandparents where Cruz forbade her from seeing Sergio again. However Sergio followed Marimar and had a long talk with Pancho and Cruz. In the end, he was able to convince the elderly couple that his intentions towards Marimar are pure and that he would never do anything to hurt her.

When her granparents relented, Marimar was so happy and she ran to hug Sergio who seemed to be contemplating on the gravity of the promise he had just made.

My take: Marimar has never tasted watermelons before and seeing her chomp it down in front of cutesy Sergio is hilarious. At least di sha pa-effect like most girls do on their first date...kunwari kimi kumain yung pala lafanggera in the privacy of their own homes! Mga hipocritas! Kaso lang Marianne as Marimar also gives off this - parang - abnormal mannerisms, she has to refine that or else mukha shang pang-mental instead of pang-Marimar! One word girl: workshop!

Episode 5

Season 1, Episode 5 – The one where Marimar almost meets her father

From out of the car came out a very concerned Gustavo who apologises profusely to the young woman his driver had hit. Good thing it was not serious and Marimar is able to get up. Gustavo offers to take her to the hospital but in her rush to find Fulgoso, she assures the old man that she is well and unhurt and shouldn’t bother. She runs off while the worried Gustavo looks on.

Renato is off to town for some business errands and Angelika is on the beach. Sergio covers her eyes and asks if she remembers who does this to her. Sergio professes love for Angelika and asks her if she still loves him. Angelika wards off Sergio telling that she is now married to his father and they should keep it at that. She leaves Sergio who is now more set on exacting his revenge.

Angelika confides to Monica that she is still in love with Sergio but chose to marry Renato instead. Being the son, Sergio does not yet have full authority on the Santibanez fortune but Renato has. She therefore chose the father over the son but would destroy anyone who will ever try to take Sergio away from her. Now that she knows Sergio still loves her, she intends to keep both father and son to herself.

Marimar sneaks into the Santibanez mansion and made it to the foyer where Angelika sees her and tries to send her away. Marimar realises that Angelika was her childhood friend and tries to embrace her but Angelika turns her away. Sergio comes to stand up for Marimar surprising Angelika.

Sergio gives Marimar a pair of shoes and she wears them despite being a bit too small for her feet. Sergio takes her to the top of a hill where a lighthouse stands and tells her this is the place he would often run to when he feels the weight of the world on his shoulders. He sees Marimar wincing in pain and asks her why. She said it’s her new shoes, they’re nice but they really do hurt. Sergio was surprised as he realises Marimar would go through so much pain just to please him. He asks her again if she likes him. Marimar agrees. He asked if he could kiss her. She also acquiesced. They kissed and Sergio asked is Marimar would like to take his hand in marriage.

My take: Kinikilig ako sa mga Marimar-Sergio moments on TV!!! Ay sus! But promise, they do have chemistry and the tender scenes they share...wish ko ako na lang si Marimar! Warning: Husbands and boyfriends, your better halves may be dangerous and prone to amorous eclats after watching Marimar.

Quotables: Angelika with her pincer-like question to Marimar: "Hoy busabos, papaanong nakapasok yan dito?" Reminiscent of Gustavo's mom on Lupita...the hampas-lupa! Tinde naman!

Episode 4

Season 1, Episode 4 – The one with Angelika’s Birthday

In a sexy red and black gown, Angelika appears before her guests as a party for her birthday is being held at the Santibanez resort. Renato appears as the doting and appreciative husband, only until Sergio makes a surprise appearance at the party.

Feeling all eyes upon him and Renato not really pleased at his appearance, Sergio requested food to be sent to his room instead and left the party with a tensed Angelika.

Meanwhile, Marimar brought home to Pancho and Cruz a sumptuous meal and the three enjoyed their meal, thanks to Sergio. Marimar cannot stop thinking and talking about him.

Sergio is drinking with his friend and driver, Arturo (Marky Lopez) who is also his confidante. He is brooding about the fact that his very own father snatched his girlfriend away from him and went off to marry Angelika. He swears revenge and brews a plan to realise this.

The next day, Marimar was by the Santibanez gate hoping to catch a glimpse of Sergio. She again asks Fulgoso’s help in distracting the guard so she can enter the premises. She did make it through the gate but Angelika with her side-kick Monica (Sheena Halili) saw her and asked the guard to send her away being filthy and unfit for a high class resort as theirs. Marimar chose to wait for Sergio by the road, hoping he may drive by and indeed he did!

Sergio teases Marimar if she is waiting specifically for him to pass by. Marimar is surprised that Sergio remembered her name. Sergio then asks Marimar if she ever changes her clothing or takes a bath, or even wears shoes. To this Marimar honestly replies that she only has two pairs of clothes and though she does have slippers, she prefers to walk barefoot on the beach. She also admits that she swims a lot and that’s almost the same and taking a bath...but ponders on this on her way home.

The next day, Marimar asks the help of Lola Cruz so she can properly bathe herself. She uses soap and exclaims how wonderful it is to bathe despite feeling cold from the water. Then after a change of clothes, she hurries off to the Santibanez mansion to show off her newly-bathed self to Sergio.

On her way to the mansion, she looks down and laments at how filthy her feet have become despite just having had a bath. Fulgoso runs after the sight of Sergio’s car and Marimar tried to run after him but got hit by another car.

My take: Arturo is a closet gay who is in love with his boss, Sergio. He keeps boasting, "Kami ni Sergio, close kami nun, ganun kami nun no" showing how close they are with his fingers. Sige na nga, but how can he carry his secret love for a long time, without even snatching a bite (or two!) off the yummy looking Sergio...ewan ko na lang. I also wonder how stinky Marimar could be...and does she wear underclothing beneath her limited wardrobe? Hmmmmm....

Episode 3

Season 1, Episode 3 – The one with Marimar meeting Fulgoso and Sergio

Padre Porres was able to take Angelika to the town hospital where upon waking up accused Marimar for leaving her all alone in the ravine. She didn’t even give the crying Marimar a chance to explain, instead continued insulting her and even kicking her, telling her to go away and that they are no longer friends.

In tears, Marimar runs to her boat and finds a young pup beside it. She asks the dog to be her friend instead. She notices the dog has lots of ticks and calls him Fulgoso (having lots of “pulgas”). She goes home to her grandparents who forbade her of ever going to the nearby island again lest she meet friends who will only hurt her in the end. But the true reason is that Cruz doesn’t want Marimar found.

On the shore, Marimar and Fulgoso (voiced by Michael V.) were playing on the shore and seas a yatch full of partying and dancing people. Marimar imitates their dance and asks Fulgoso to join her. She twirls around and while dancing we see the little girl turning into the young woman that is Marimar (Marianne Rivera).
Having aged grandparents also means that Marimar is now the sole in-charge of gathering food for her family. Sick of always eating ‘talangka’ (smaller crabs), Marimar sneaks off in Pancho’s boat to the nearby island where the Santibanez Resort is located.

Meanwhile a sports cars comes speeding to through the quite little town where the Santibanez Resort is. Out comes a young, muscular, handsome man – Sergio Santibanez (Dingdong Dantes) – who’s asking for directions to the nearest gas station. Many women gushed and giggled as he asked them. This seems to amuse the young man.

Reaching home, we find that he is not so welcome upon his arrival. His father Renato Santibanez (Richard Gomez) seems upset that he had to leave his career in the US, that of being a professional race car driver. We learn that Renato has just gotten married – to Angelika Santibanez (Katrina Halili) – who used to be Sergio’s girlfriend.

Marimar uses Fulgoso as decoy so she can sneak into the Santibanez Resort and into the Kitchen where she sees platters of food being prepared. There seems to be a party. She was about to grab some food when she gets caught by Renato’s thug, Nicandro (Gabby Eigenmann). He said that he will let Marimar sneak off with some food if she will allow Nicandro to kiss her. It seems that Nicandro has been having the hots for Marimar for quite sometime now. When Marimar refuses and fights off his advances, he struggles against her. Just then, Sergio arrives and tells Nicandro to back off.

Caught and afraid to suffer the wrath of his boss’ son, he leaves. Sergio and Marimar meet for the first time. Marimar thanked him for saving her and expressed that what she heard about rumors of Sergio being good-looking are true. Sergio asked Marimar is she often sneaks into the Santibanez residence to steal food and she defends that only when there is too much that many actually get thrown away as waste. Sergio then offers her some packed food for her to take to her grandparents. Marimar leaves with Fulgoso carrying a large bag of goods and a fluttering heart – she has fallen in love with the young man!

My take: I'm sure Fulgoso doesn't mean full of pulgas in Spanish! But what a funny take on an old name. I didn't like the scene when Sergio arrives and all the local girls sort of faint. Sobra naman na yun ha! But he does carry himself well, Dingdong does and so buff he has become! Ganda din yung mapula-pula nyang balat...parang sarap kagatin! And wow, Katrina Halili is oozing sex appeal in her bathing suit scenes. Parang nanggigigil nga si Goma...lagot ka kay Lucy!

Quotables: Marimar on "Sawa na kasi akong kumain ng talangka eh." Although it's her favorite, eating the same thing since age 7 until 17....ew!

Episode 2

Season 1, Episode 2 – The one with the young Marimar and Angelika

Gustavo keeps looking for his family, now in the hospital where all the plane crash victims and survivors are being tended to. He is getting frustrated as he still has not seen any sign of Lupita or Marimar. His cousin, Esperanza learned that Gustavo and his family are involved in the plane crash and rushes to his side. Gustavo insists that his family is alive and checks every lifeless body that came in the hospital. He was taken aback when he views one of the shrouded bodies. His wife, Lupita, is dead. However no sign of Marimar is found anywhere.

Early the next day, Pancho (Leo Martinez) who is up early to fish, finds a floating body of a little girl. He hurriedly carries the unconscious Marimar back home to his wife, Cruz (Caridad Sanchez). The elderly couple suspect she may have drifted off from the plane crash that they saw the night before. They care for her until she wakes up only to find that she does not remember anything. Cruz, wanting to have a child of her own for a long time, introduced herself as the grandmother of the young girl. She also introduced her husband as the grandfather. The young girl with amnesia asked for her name. Cruz, seeing the necklace reads Marimar and declares that as the young girl’s name. They said that both her parents have been dead and that they are her grandparents who are now caring for her. At first, Pancho had ministrations about keeping Marimar. However he was soon convinced by his wife that she is the answer to their prayers – that of having their own child. Pancho sees how happy Cruz is and relents.

Gustavo does not know if the young MariMar is still alive and sends investigators to find her. Esperanza advised Gustavo to expect the worse as Marimar could have died from the explosion or the sea may have washed her remains somewhere else. He holds the paper with Marimar’s drawing and swears to find his daughter at all cost.

Marimar plays by the seashore in their small island. Sometimes, she sneaks off to the nearby island in search of a playmate. One day, stealing her grandfather’s boat for a while, she goes to the nearby island to find a playmate. Some kids find her necklace attractive and wanted to take it from her. As they ganged up on her, another little girl came to her rescue. Marimar thanked Angelika (Nicole Dulalia) for helping her and the two play together. Angelika goes around with a bag full of beauty cosmetics and accessories. Marimar, not used to this asks why she is always with her bag. Angelika shows that even this early, she already has ambitions of becoming rich and leave the dump she grew up in. The two remain best friends and inseparable despite Cruz’s misgivings. She fears that someone may suspect about Marimar and tell the authorities.

Indeed her fears came into fruition when one day, at the local market, a man is asking around about a girl in the picture – it is Marimar’s! Cruz hurriedly went home, pretending not to know anything about the girl.

Angelika and Marimar had been roaming the nearby hills when a snake crossed their path. Marimar froze in fear while Angelika found a stick to shoo the snake away. In doing so, she slipped down a steep ravine. Desperately hanging onto a root, she asks for Marimar’s help. Marimar tried to reach for Angelika’s hand but both are too small to reach out to one another. Angelika, now crying tells Marimar not to leave her but Marimar runs away in search of help. Angelika thought Marimar had left her on her own and cries some more. Marimar was able to stop a jeep driven by the local parish priest, Padre Porres (Buboy Garovillo) who immediately went with Marimar to where Angelika had fallen. Reaching the ravine, they see that Angelika had fallen down the incline and is unconscious below.

My take: Bing with red hair...she can carry it though so whatever! Looks like her character is in love with Gustavo...truly devoted cuz eh?! We'll soon see.

Quotables: Gustavo's "Kahit maubos ang kayamanan ko, mahanap ko lang si Marimar." Oh sure. I'll keep watching anyways.

Marimar: The Pilot

Season 1, Episode 1 – The one with the plane crash

The pilot begins with a scene on a boat where Lupita (Rita Avila) gives birth to a baby girl, MariMar, or Maria del Mar – a fitting name, she said, for one who had been born at sea. Lupita is assisted by her close friend, Silva who also took her in while she stowed away from her husband’s home whose wicked mother Dolores (Pilar Pilapil) disapproves of Lupita as her son’s wife.

Silva’s husband however didn’t like the idea of having to care for another person who is as poor as them, especially one who has an infant. Additional mouths to feed are an added burden. So Lupita, feeling unwanted left for her.

Just then, Gustavo (Jestoni Alarcon) finds her and brings her back to his family. By this time, Gustavo had firmly warned his mother that should Lupita run away again because of her distaste for Lupita’s poverty, he will leave his parents’ home and never to return again. At first, all was well with Dolores pretending to love Lupita; asking for forgiveness; even making it seem that she dotes on the newborn Marimar. However she was already hatching up a plan to get rid of her poor daughter-in-law for good.

One night, when Gustavo had to go attend to some errands in their hacienda, she gives Lupita a glass of milk, on the pretense that this will be good for her, caring for her infant daughter. Once the sedative took effect on the unsuspecting Lupita, Dolores set her up with an accomplice and makes it seem that Lupita had left Gustavo for another man. Gustavo and Dolores then find Lupita in a small hut, sleeping with another man. In his rage, Gustavo sends Lupita and his daughter away.

Lupita goes back to her own home, the one she grew up in. Being alone in life, and having had parents who passed away early, she and her daughter make the old hut their new home and make a living selling rice cakes and sweets. Later Gustavo finds out that his own mother set Lupita up. He swore to look for his wronged wife and daughter and left his parents home to come to Manila. Meanwhile, Silva finds Lupita and Marimar selling their wares near a bus stop and the two catch up on the latest news about them. Lupita made Silva swear she will never tell anyone, especially Gustavo where they are.

After seven years, Gustavo's parents (Pilar Pilapil and Jaime Fabregas) who had been living abroad got killed in an accident. His cousin Esperanza (Bing Loyzaga) went home to Manila to deliver him the sad news. Gustavo heads backs to the province to bury his parents. In their grave, Silva appears and tells Gustavo where he can find his wife and daughter. Gustavo finds Lupita and MariMar and asks for their forgiveness. He showers his family with presents and gives Marimar a gold necklace with her name especially made for her. The young Marimar (Ella Cruz) declares that having both parents by her side is the best thing she could ever hope for.

Gustavo then tells his family that he plans to take them to Manila and live there. On their flight to Manila, Marimar gives Gustavo a piece of paper where she drew three figures – that of a father, a mother and a daughter – representing Gustavo, Lupita and Marimar and how happy they are together. Fate though had other plans. The plane they were riding had engine trouble and crashed in the middle of the sea. We see Gustavo desperately calling out for Lupita and Marimar amidst bodies and debris. He ran to a girl calling for her father, thinking it was Marimar but it wasn’t. He continues calling and looking for Lupita and Marimar on the beach.

The pilot ends with the crashed plane exploding before the fear-stricken face of Gustavo.

My take: It’s actually entertaining. I loved the characters of Pilar Pilapil and Jaime Fabregas as Gustavo’s parents. Seasoned actors that can eclipse not so good ones on screen. Also re-teaming up of Jestoni and Rita who is as pretty as ever.

Quotable lines: Pilar’s loaded statement, “Hindi ko naman pinapalayas ang hampas-lupa mong asawa, basta na lang shang umalis!” Hampas-lupa...wow! Will be definitely watching for more.