Nasaan Ka Maruja ( Where Are You Maruja?) is a Philippine weekly television series aired from May 2 to August 8, 2009 on ABS-CBN. It was adapted from the 1967 movie Maruja, itself based on a 1950s comic by Mars Ravelo. The series premiered on the Komiks Presents showcase which featured works of Ravelo.
Origins
Earlier versions
Maruja is one of Mars Ravelo's masterpieces. He first published it in comics during the 1950s. In 1967, the first film entitled Maruja was released starring the queen of Philippine movies, Susan Roces. The movie was remade in 1978 as Gumising Ka Maruja and again in 1996 as Maruja starring Carmina Villaroel.
Series adaptation
In 2007, ABS-CBN bought the rights to make Maruja into a TV series. Maruja was supposed to be included in Sineserye Presents: The Susan Roces Cinema Collection, which featured Susan Roces' most classical films. It was supposed to star Sheryl Cruz and Ruffa Gutierrez. But even before production began, the Ravelos stated that Mars Ravelo's name should be included in the title because Maruja is his work and not the movie firm's. ABS-CBN then decided to put the show's production on hold until the problem was fixed. A year later, ABS-CBN then released Nasaan Ka Maruja? as part of Komiks Presents which featured Mars Ravelos masterpieces. New actors and actresses were also involved in the project, because of some problems.
Synopsis
Cristy dreams of a certain couple, Maruja and Gabriel (Piolo Pascual), who had a hard time being together because of their different status in life. They were both killed after getting married. Little did Cristy know that she and Ross, her half-sister's fiancé, would bring back to life the unfinished love story of Maruja and Gabriel.
Reincarnation
The storyline deals with the concept of reincarnation: Maruja (Kristine Hermosa) reincarnated as Cristy & Gabriel (Derek Ramsay) reincarnated as Ross. Cristy Rivera (Kristine Hermosa) is a magazine columnist who possesses psychic & paranormal abilities that help her see ghosts. She has a half-sister named Helen (Karylle) who is engaged to Ross Lozano. Ross used to draw sketches of Maruja even before they met in real life. What is the connection between Cristy & Ross to Maruja & Gabriel? Will Ross leave Helen for Cristy? And what will be Helen's move? Cristy having an open third eye can see ghosts or dead people and communicate and talk to them.
Mediumship
Cristy believes that she can see the spirits or ghosts of dead people. This brings the idea of having a third eye but is also able to dream about the past or even see the future through dreams. Later, a ghost of her mother shows to her what exactly is this ability and that she should use this gift to help other spirits cross the light, at the same time, knowing her true identity.
Cast and characters
Main cast
Kristine Hermosa as Maruja S. Martinez/Cristy Mondes Rivera† – Gabriel's love interest in the past when she was Maruja and as Cristy, a magazine columnist who possesses psychic and paranormal abilities and helps dead people who are not in peace. She falls in love with her sister's fiancé, Ross. She is haunted by the persistent and vague dreams of Maruja and Gabriel. Derek Ramsay as Rodrigo Santiago/Ross Lozano – Maruja's fiancé in the past when he was Romualdo and when he is Ross, he is marrying Cristy's half-sister, Helen. He falls in love with Cristy. He has visions of Cristy as Maruja. Ross also experiences dreams of Maruja & Gabriel. He drew Maruja when he was younger and then started drawing Cristy. Ross confessed he had feelings for Cristy because he had a dream of her as Maruja. Ross reveals the truth to Helen (Karylle) that he is in love with another woman which is Helen's half-sister, Cristy. In the past, he killed Gabriel (Piolo Pascual) and Maruja and after that he killed himself. In the present, he accidentally killed Cristy but Cristy survived.