Original iWantTFC series Bola Bola series is filled with a lot of ‘kilig’ and cute moments as Thea (Francine Diaz) is chased by three charming suitors played by KD Estrada, Akira Morishita, and Ashton Salvador.
Viewers can relate to the feel-good series, which is currently streaming for free in the Philippines on iWantTFC, as it also sheds light on important lessons when it comes to body positivity and rejection.
Here is a list of lessons on love and body positivity that viewers can pick up from the series:
1. Accept everyone no matter their body weight
Thea, a 220-pound high school student, got her heart crushed when Lucas (Akira), her ultimate childhood crush, blatantly rejected her because he “doesn’t date big girls.” It took Lucas a while to realize that his harsh statement really hurt Thea’s feelings and worse, he failed to appreciate her sincere kindness just because she was fat. Despite Lucas’ treatment, Thea knew in her heart that her body weight does not define who she is as a person because she truly believes that beauty comes from within.
2. Be confident to confess your feelings to your crush
We’ve all been scared to confess our true feelings to a crush at one point in our lives. Julian (KD), Thea’s best friend, can definitely relate! Julian has had suppressed feelings for Thea ever since they were young. However, thanks to their friend Issa’s (Analain Salvador) ‘real talk’ and encouragement, Julian realized that he’ll never know how Thea feels about him if he never admits his love. Julian was willing to take a risk for love and eventually, he felt a sense of relief knowing that he was brave enough.
3. Self-love should always be a priority
The series highlights different types of love—puppy love, love for family and friends, and most importantly—self-love. After Lucas’ rejection, Thea vowed to love herself more by losing weight and by prioritizing her happiness. With the help of Julian, Thea gained a deeper understanding when it comes to self-love after her confession about loving herself first.
4. Don’t let negative opinions hinder your personal growth
Any form of rejection is never easy to handle but we should never let it hinder us from growing as a person – this is one of the lessons that Thea’s mom (Arlene Muhlach) instilled in her. Thea slowly became insecure about her body because she was constantly bashed and made fun of.
However, she came to a realization that the opinions of others do not matter, and what’s important is her self-worth. Thea made a promise to protect her happiness and brushed off naysayers with her “haters gonna hate” attitude.
5. Don’t sacrifice your health to please others
Eating good food was Thea’s way of coping after her father (Lito Pimentel) abandoned their family when she was a kid. Thea was only affected by her big size when she suddenly felt uncomfortable in her own skin and at the same time, she also felt peer-pressure whenever her figure was criticized.
Josh (Ashton), Thea’s friend and gym instructor, was quick to remind her that she should not lose weight just because others are telling her to do so, but only because she wants to do it for herself. Thea slowly learned that she should start making healthier choices and that shedding a few pounds is a process.
6. Love has its ups and downs
Love could be extremely sweet and bitter at the same time, and the series underscores a lot of lessons when it comes to this. First, Thea learned to love herself more after Lucas’ rejection. Second, Julian learned how to handle his relationship with Thea after she put him in the “best friend zone.” Lastly, Josh gained a better appreciation of Thea’s company when he realized that she loved someone else.
All of these instances in the series teach viewers that although love isn’t all about ‘kilig,’ we have to learn how to embrace it so that we could feel the true essence of being in love.