Gaya sa Pelikula: a Filipino treat for boys' love (BL) fans

Let's be honest: there's a lack of LGBTQ content in Philippine media.

Sure, members of the LGBTQ community are no stranger to film audiences, but we've spent a long time seeing queer representation in the form of the sassy gay best friend or the transwoman hairdresser as the comic relief. And while there have been stories centered around queer characters, these can be found mostly in indie film festivals, which are not really the most accessible (plus, why are the stories always so heavy and sad?). This can be attributed to most Filipinos still being staunch Catholics in this day and age, and we know for sure Tita Marites isn't ready for the gays on her TV screen.

Thankfully, we're sloooowly gaining more tolerant members in society who are willing to listen to stories from queer Filipinos. Additionally, Thai BL dramas have recently gained traction in the country, opening doors for our local content creators to step up to the plate and come up with their original written material.

The "Pancakes"

Enter Gaya sa Pelikula, written by Juan Miguel Severo (of spoken poetry fame), produced under Globe Studios, and starring newcomers Ian Pangilinan and Paolo Pangilinan (not related). Just the fact that a major telecommunications provider is backing this project is already a step forward in the right direction, IMO. The premise follows:

Karl has his semestral break all planned out: move into his uncle’s apartment; save enough money for rent; and learn to live independently. But everything changes when a mysterious neighbor trespasses inside his unit. -- summary taken from the first episode

To further dig into the crux of the story, I'm going to have to summarize the first episode. Karl is an architecture student spending the semester break in his uncle's condominium to fend for himself and learn the ways of the real world. This comes with having to pay the rent, which he is unable to do due to a writing client mishap. Enter our second protagonist Vlad, who lives in the unit next door. Through a series of misunderstandings, they now have to pretend that they're dating to convince Vlad's sister to pay for Karl's rent. 

While the plot seems like it's cramming a lot of classic BL tropes into one (hot roommate + fake dating + straight guy in denial etc), for me it's a welcome reprieve from a lot of Filipino LGBT media that deals with heavy subjects from the get-go. Sometimes, queer people need shallow kilig moments too, and this series provides that in leaps and bounds.

However, unlike most light-hearted BL shows where the premise of the cinematic universe is to disregard the current prejudices against queer folk, Gaya sa Pelikula takes time to discuss these issues without sounding too preachy. Honestly, some of the dialogues in this show need to be flashed on a billboard in EDSA for the ignorant masses.

Shoutout to Ate Judit, our comic relief

Aside from that, another thing that sets Gaya sa Pelikula apart from others is the warmth of the production. The series, written by a gay man, as well as one of the protagonist's actors being gay as well, gives the production heart. Personally, I can really feel that the series comes from a place of experience, not uncomfortable as in the realm of a self-insert fiction, but many of the experiences portrayed in the show reflects a lot of experiences of real-life gay men. 

At the technical level, Gaya sa Pelikula is also a well-crafted production. To be honest, we know "masterful" isn't really the adjective that immediately comes to mind when we think about Philippine films (you might recall that meme going around of a teleserye villain using a water gun in a shoot-out). But all aspects of the production come together to tell a carefully woven narrative of coming-of-age, romance, and young adult struggles. From the actors, the set, the music to the writing, nothing upstages another aspect of the film -- it all comes together wonderfully. I think it shows how the creators didn't just want to get this story out there; they wanted this show to be created to the best of their abilities, to treat the subject with respect.

One more photo of our couple for the road

Gaya sa Pelikula is not without its faults, but it stands out because it feels real, because it feels like a mouthpiece for the voiceless members of the LGBTQ community still struggling to share their stories to a close-minded society. I proudly recommend it as a representative of the Philippines' in the BL community, and it's definitely a must-watch for BL fans all over the world (good thing they have English subtitles!). 

Watch the first episode below: