Please don’t be fooled by the title. You are not about to read a critical analysis or a tribute to Jane Austen’s novel. Comedy of manners is something so British and we Filipinos do not poke fun at our eccentricities and peculiarities.
Most are definitely aware that pride is one of the seven deadly sins, we are after all the only predominantly Catholic country in Southeast Asia, but we are neither going biblical for today nor are we comparing vanity and vainglory.
June, apart from being my birth month (turning a year older on June 26), is also the season when the cosmopolitans, liberals, and progressive thinkers celebrate the rainbow connection — Pride Month. And, despite the successes of many pink community members, prejudice is something that continues to haunt the majority of them on a daily basis and the unsatisfactory samples of pride come to fore in an embarrassing fashion.
What gives a lot of good vibes to the pink flock is the arrival of the second most important BL drama, Petersen Vargas’ Hello, Stranger. Its male leads, are no strangers to us of course, the glorious hunk du jour Tony Labrusca and matinee idol JC Alcantara.
Adding more spice, sizzle and emotional complications are its female stars Vivoree Esclito and Gillian Vicencio, who will be the apparent mean girl as reports have it that she is Labrusca’s love interest.
This digital Black Sheep production is creating quite a buzz, literally stirring the hornet’s nest and many are expecting how kilig and provocative will be the casual and intimate scenes between Labrusca and Alcantara. Indeed, a new love team is born.
On another pride matter, BB Gandanghari is on the warpath with Vice Ganda after the first reacted to an interview that happened some eleven years ago. Vice, in the showbiz segment of the news broadcast, dismissed Gandanghari’s supermodel aspirations then because of his age (he was 40 at that time) and was adamant of his “Rustom is dead” a matter of fact pronouncement.
Why Gandanghari decided to resurrect a “tale as old as time” amuses. And yes, it is also outright laughable and dismissible. His reasons for this outburst? Boredom perhaps? Plus so many glasses of wine as constant companion equals a mouthful of nonsensical tirades.
Still on Jose Marie Viceral, in the “farewell to my former network who banned me without giving the chance to hear and explain my side” vlog by balladeer Daryl Ong, shrieks of delight from LGBTQ followers were heard after the crooner thanked Ganda and followed it immediately with an “I love you.”
Ong enumerated and mentioned so many names in the vlog why Vice is the only person who merited an I love you from him, he alone has the answer.
Thus I cannot help but wonder is the saying of “I love you” a common practice between a straight guy and a gay individual nowadays? And is there a romantic or erotic connotation to what Ong blurted?
Prejudice, here is a premium example. The peculiar incident that happened with news reporter Joseph Morong. He offered an apology for a revealing photo display on the screen of his laptop. Still, the level of criticism and ridicule that he received from the guardians of morality and do-gooders were relentless. Many of the bible quoting folks were aghast with the reality that in his private boudoir and solitude, male to male adult entertainment is part of his pleasurable repertoire.
It is indeed sickening that there are still so many people who think their morality is better than somebody else’s just because they are believers of the so-called righteous path.
For all our claims of being gay-friendly and embracing, we cannot deny the fact that we still have a long way to go when it comes to not just tolerating, but fully accepting and understanding of the rainbow-colored lives of the LGBTQ sector.
BL dramas such Hello, Stranger, Gameboys, and other future offerings hopefully will sow the seeds of understanding and that though juvenile at the outset, its take on a different kind of love will accustom those who are in the dark about it.
May there be more of men, following the example of Daryl Ong, who is not only proud but does not deny his open admiration and affection for a dear gay friend.
And may the warring clusters within the community not just peacefully co-exist but truly reach out, show care and compassion for all the beautiful people who are within and outside the rainbow connection.