GMA Network’s Maria Clara at Ibarra has undeniably taken the Internet by storm with its refreshing story. In case you’ve been living under a rock, the show follows nursing student Klay (Barbie Forteza) who gets transported into the world of Jose Rizal’s novels. The witty writing gives it a Gen Z-fied twist making the series entertaining yet educational. One of the viewers’ favorite subplots is, of course, the budding romance between Klay and a certain Fidel de Los Reyes (David Licauco). And with the recent episodes, we finally got the ball rolling on these two.

Fidel ~*finally*~ confesses his feelings

It’s been a while since we swooned over local TV like this — and it looks like everyone online agrees. After months of watching Fidel slowly fall in love with Klay’s eccentric character, we finally witness him blurt out his feelings during the series’ December 20 episode.

“Binibining Klay, tinatangi kita. Iniibig kita, Binibining Klay,” said Fidel. Of course, this confession comes after he listed each of Klay’s unbecoming qualities, the same ones that made him fall for her. They even had a short quarrel for a while (it wouldn’t be a Fidel and Klay interaction if there wasn’t bickering involved anyway).

Viewers loved the scene so much that the official episode hashtag, #MCIIniibigKita landed on Twitter’s top trending list.

#FiLay forever!

And in the world of kdramas, and others. We have our very own FiLay who can make us all feel things. I therefore conclude, FiLay is the most well loved ship in PH drama scene right now!

FILAY LoveStory#MCIIniibigKita pic.twitter.com/Qnl2GkM9ci

— ☁️ (@archive08_) December 20, 2022

FiLay (a.k.a. the portmanteau of Fidel and Klay) is better than K-drama. 

@tgkedits grabe the glow up ✨ #filay #filayyyy #mariaclaraatibarra #fidel #klay #davidlicauco #barbieforteza #xyzbca #fyp #fypシ ♬ 18 – x y .

From that fiery first meeting to the softness of that love confession!

Hindi kinaya ng cam op namin ang FiLay seq na ‘to 💗💗💗

At ndi lang siya, legit yung kilig ng mga tao sa set, ung parang ndi namin nabasa ung script. Hahhahaa.

BTS footage of #MariaClaraAtIbarra
Team #FiLay@cokecrz pic.twitter.com/iNxriK7sR0

— SueMi (@sue_sha) November 27, 2022

Even the staff couldn’t contain their kilig!

Mr. Darcy vs. Señor Fidel

the darcy-fication of fidel reyes y maglipol

FILAY LoveStory#MCIIniibigKita pic.twitter.com/tj7wfcNTmG

— mci supremacy 💙💛 (@filayendgame) December 20, 2022

One netizen even noted the parallels between Jane Austen’s Mr. Darcy and Fidel’s confessions. In the 2005 movie adaptation of Austen’s Pride and Prejudice novel, Mr. Darcy made a heartfelt confession to Elizabeth Bennet on a rainy afternoon — “You have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love–I love–I love you.” It has since gone on to be one of the most iconic on-screen confessions. Fidel gave off the same energy when he confessed to Klay.

How to Confess 101

In an era of secret admirers and online confessions, be the Fidel de los Reyes who can confess straight – with cheese & biscuits – in someone’s love life!

“Binibining Klay, tinatangi kita.
Iniibig kita, Binibining Klay.”

FILAY LoveStory#MCIIniibigKita pic.twitter.com/PnW9mjULQl

— ako si Katya, yowz! 💙🧀🥨 (@It_IsMyKate) December 20, 2022

Fidel’s confession, although he was nervous and almost quarreled with Klay, should be the blueprint for everyone. Boys and girls, take note. A straightforward IRL confession like this will set you apart from all the online courting and flirting going on these days. Be like Fidel!

When he was ready to kneel to earn her forgiveness

@missfuturemd SINAUNANG LUHOD 😭❤️ #mariaclaraatibarra #filay #fidel #davidlicauco #barbieforteza #klay #mcai #foryou #foryoupage ♬ original sound – vibelyrics

The confession scene wasn’t even the first time Fidel made the viewers shake in kilig. In one scene, he told Klay he was willing to do anything just so she wouldn’t be mad at him anymore. Talk about sinaunang suyuan! Licauco as an actor has successfully added small charming mannerisms to his Fidel which made the character more endearing to the audience. Try looking him up on TikTok for compilations of his reactions whenever Klay is near, you’ll swoon!

But what will happen to their love story?

Isang kalamidad ❤️‍🔥 #MCIIniibigKita #film #35mm #kodak #ektarh35 #portra400 pic.twitter.com/VaDY5bq5zO

— Coke (@cokecrz) December 20, 2022

If Klay lives in the future and Fidel in the past, what happens when they fall madly in love with each other but Klay needs to leave? Viewers are already making bets about the ending. Some said Fidel will never love another woman again while others want his character to go through the portal and somehow survive Klay’s modern world. Others also say that there might be a version of Fidel in Klay’s world and it’s only a matter of time before they cross paths. We will never know until we reach the ending but for now, we’re content with these kilig scenes.

It looks like even the actors are close IRL

Oo antayin namin sagot mo mamaya ha @dealwithBARBIE 🫣 https://t.co/INER5mO8n8

— David Licauco (@davidlicauco) December 21, 2022

Probably the best part about having a successful on-screen pairing is the actors being actual friends IRL. This isn’t Forteza and Licauco’s first project anyway. They also starred in another GMA series, Mano Po Legacy. They even have a movie featuring a love triangle with Julie Ann San Jose (Maria Clara), Will You Marry Me.

Where to watch Maria Clara at Ibarra

The series currently has 58 episodes as of writing and you can watch each one from GMA’s website or their YouTube channel. You can also catch it on TV every weekday, 8 PM, at GMA Telebabad.

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