Soap operas, also know as “telenovelas” in Latin America and in the Philippines, are very popular in Latin America. Mexico is the biggest producer of them all. While working in my hotel in Mexico one night, and scanning through the channels hoping to chance some NBA playoffs games, I chanced upon a replay of a familiar telenovela Marimar. This soap opera was dubbed in Tagalog and aired in the Philippines in the mid ‘90’s and it was an instant big hit. In fact, it was such a phenomenal success that Thalia, the lead actress, was an instant celebrity in the Philippines. She was even invited in the Malacanang Palace by the then Philippine President Fidel Ramos and was given an informal title of ambassadress of Goodwill from Mexico.
This telenovela must have been a very big hit in Mexico since this replay is even aired just after the primetime show. The picture above is Marimar with Corazon. It is a little different when you watch it in Spanish.
Hi William, I had seen this telenovela, firstly at about 10 yrs ago or more, dubbed in Indonesian. And it has been replayed too in many TV station here. Also some other telenovelas starred by Thalia. Very interested to know that this telenovela has been watched by people around the world. Cheers, Andra
Selamat pagi, Andra. Telenovelas are one of the biggest export of Mexico now. It was a real deja-vu for me.
I lived there in Jakarta for 8 months in 1999 at Hotel Kristal and Apartments near Punduk Indah. I missed the sounds in Tanamour and the Nasi Goreng.