Story of Love and Innocence (A Review)

Remember Maria Mercedes? This Thalianovela had won the hearts of the Filipinos and is the second telenovela from Mexico aired in the Philippines in 1996 after Marimar. Although Marimar is a very popular telenovela, La Traidora (a Venezuelan production) is the first ever Spanish/Latin American soap opera in the Philippines.

Speaking of Maria Mercedes, I'm talking about Inocente de Ti (The Innocence of You). It has a similar plot of Maria Mercedes! Originally created by Ines Rodena, the telenovela stars Camila Sodi (Thalia's niece) and Valentino Lanus. Lupita Ferrer (the internationally renowned actress, star of Rosalinda and special guest star of the US adaptation of Betty La Fea called Ugly Betty), Helena Rojo (El Privelegio del Amar/Cristina, Gente Bien), and Abraham Ramos (Camila, Siempre Te Amare, Peregrina/Doble Cara) are among the actors starred in this highly anticipated telenovela, which became a hit in Mexico, US, Latin America and Europe. It has been a popular afternoon hit in the Philippines.

Do you know that these telenovelas has similar roles?
* Thalia (Mercedes) and Camila Sodi (Florecita) are both vendors.
* The age gap limit of two stars each are similar- Arturo Peniche (b.1962, as Luis) is quite older than Thalia, who was 21 at the time of the production of Maria Mercedes in 1992; Camila, however, was sweet 18 at the time of the production of Inocente de Ti in 2004 and 11 years younger than Valentino Lanus (b.1975, as Julio Alberto).
*Malvina (the villain of Maria Mercedes) is actually Laura Zapata, stage, TV and film actress and Thalia's older sister. The role of Malvina is similar to Rebeca's, only that in the end Malvina was in hallucination selling tickets (which was Mercedes' business around the streets); Rebeca of Inocente also does this, selling fruits and flowers. They both are ended in a mental hospital.
*Santiago (Mercedes) and Efrain (Inocente), though they are bedridden. doesn't have any similarity. Santiago shows his desire for Mercedes, while Efrain rapes Isela (Florecita's sister) and was gunned down by the latter.
*Some scenes of Mercedes were shot in New York, while most of Inocente were taped in Miami, Florida.
*The difference in these programs is the villain itself. Malvina of Mercedes had no twin sister. Rebeca, however, has Raquel as twin sister who was killed by the former.

Inocente de Ti ended its run in September 7, 2007 in the Philippines. ABS-CBN aired this hit soap opera on October 29, 2006. The telenovela has been aired in several versions. In the Philippines, the ending credits have Toni Gonzaga's composition Kung Kaya Ko as its theme.

Inocente de Ti... the program that has been a top rater in the afternoon slot since its debut on ABS-CBN... the telenovela Filipinos served as a siesta/afternoon habit. This is also serves as an inspiration since Thalia (Mercedes), Laura (Malvina) and Camila (Florecita) of the Sodi clan are among Mexico's biggest superstars.