Maria Clara

- She is often described as a beautiful and conservative, she was well-loved by everyone and she is a
woman with high social standing. Maria Clara is thought to be the daughter of Capitan Tiago and
goddaughter of Father Damaso but it turns out that she is the biological daughter of Father Dámaso, the
friar raped Capitan Tiago’s wife who is Doña Pia Alba. Though Maria Clara is portrayed as a silent and
passive character, one has to admire her tenacity when it came to finding out the truth about her
mother being raped by the friar.

María Clara wanted to marry Crisostomo Ibarra, but Father Dámaso disapproved with the union of the
two. After Ibarra was excommunicated from the church, her guardians wanted Maria Clara to marry her
off to Linares, a wealthy young man of Spanish descent. She tried to go along with the plan to avoid
hurting her father (the weak-willed Capitan Tiago). When Ibarra is put on trial for sedition, she was
threatened into surrendering the letters Ibarra has sent her to serve as evidence of his guilt. When she
heard of Ibarra's apparent death, she refused to marry Linares and instead joined as a nun on a convent.

She is a “pure soul”, modest, self-effacing, long-suffering and although she was born on wealthy family,
she is known to be sympathetic to all, pays careful attention and she shows kindness towards other
people no matter what their social status is.

Heart Evangelista as the Modern Maria Clara

- Just like Maria Clara, Philippine actress Heart Evangelista was born with high social status and
yet is known to be down to earth or humble. Both are well-dressed, beautiful, modest and has a
pure-soul. She shows kindness to everyone not only to people but also with animals. In fact, she
established foundation “Heart Can” which aims to help children with respiratory diseases and
special needs, she also supports the Balikatan Thalassemia for children with rare diseases,
Corridor of Hope for children with cancer and the Cerebral Palsy Association of Sorsogon. In
addition, she is the spokesperson for Philippine Animal Welfare society or PAWS and she also
launches a lot of campaigns such as the Heart for Aspins campaign. Furthermore, she supports
the LGBTQ+ community as she is a strong supporter of the SOGIE Equality Bill which provides
protections on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression .
- Similar to what Maria Clara experienced, Heart’s parents were in disapproval of her relationship
with Senator Chiz Escudero and appealed to the senator to leave their daughter alone. But soon
 after, they gave their blessings to the senator. And later on, Heart Evangelista and Senator Chiz
Escudero became married.
- Despite the high social status of Heart Evangelista, she was loved by many for her very down to
earth personality. She empowers people and give them positivity