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Before the advent of VHS, Beta, VCD’s, DVD’s and now Blu-Ray, Filipinos always had a passion fo
r the movies. BAKLA - a term that used to be associated only with screaming “flamboyant” queens. Their terminologies have become so myriad they even came out with their own version of “pig-latin.” The term “bakla” has even transmuted into various forms.
The King was a Queen (and he reigned supreme)
Rodolfo Vera Quizon - Dolphy (Golay, Pidol) showed them all what it took to be called “The King of Comedy.” His trek to the throne started with his 6th film and his 1st top billing in Jack en Jill (1954) penned by Mars Ravelo. Dolphy’s “Glory” encapsulated the “bakla” or the “binabae” of his era that needed to be ‘talyada” (sexy) to be happy. That singular point set the trend of comical stereotypes still prevalent up to the present. For those who are not familiar with the original, Sharon Cuneta and Herbert Bautista did a remake in 1987. In both versions, the “ate” played by Lolita Rodriguez in the original / Sharon Cuneta in the remake, employed the town bully played by Martin Marfil (original) / Rez Cortez (remake) to knock sense into Glory (original)/Jillian (remake) and make him a “real man.” The effort ended in futility albeit all the physical pounding and even being dunked in a drum filled with water. That’s where being a “sirena” (mermaid) was also associated with being gay. The irony is, in both versions, the town bully for undisclosed reasons was the one who cracked and became a “talyadang binabae” himself. Dramatizing that, it showed associating with anyone gay will turn a real man gay. In 1969, RVQ Productions owned by Dolphy came out with Facifica Falayfay penned yet again by Mars Ravelo. Falayfay had a sequel in 1987 “Mga Anak Ni Facifica Falayfay” which catapulted actor Roderick Paulate then already playing bit gay roles.
Pretty in Pink?
The 80’s saw an influx of many stereotypical gay-themed movies and TV offerings from the likes of Roderick Paulate and Joey de Leon among many others. It became the norm to trivialize the gay lifestyle both reel and real. Some real gay talents succumbed and joined in the travesty for fear of losing work. Being loud and proud took another meaning. Now, we have the likes of Diego and the many characterizations of Michael V and Ogie Alcasid in Bubble Gang. Even sing-along masters make fun of themselves and their audience in sing-along bars. What people saw in the big and small screen are what they thought they ought to be, just that, good for a laugh. We laugh “at” them yes? But are you willing to laugh “with” them?
Movies and TV influenced a lot of stereotypes that are most often than not, barely scratch reality. Gay themed movies done by Lino Brocka essayed the other side of gay culture. Brocka even came out with Orlando Nadres’ Stardoom (1971), a dark, tragic view of movie showbiz itself. Audiences were in awe, most surmising that his themes were too surreal to be true.
Pink is the New Blue (Ramification)
The advent of gay themed indie movies is a welcomed reprieve from traditional cinema. The dominant gay stereotype is shattered but not obliterated. Some show a positive shade of pink that gay men are not only those that are “flamboyant” in nature. Sadly, most of these films focused on one aspect to sell. SEX. But that is not entirely accurate. Case in point: I asked a “parlorista” friend what he thought of the movie “Daybreak” all he could muse about was the naked and intimate scenes between the two male actors. But when I posed the same question to a “gay yuppie” friend, he orates about the technical aspect and content of the movie. He even suggested the intimate scenes should have been shortened and added some are unnecessary. Now why is that? Both are college graduates so education is not an issue. Here are two gay men with opposing views. Asked what they observed in the theaters, the “parlorista” quipped “andaming paminta.” The yuppie says “andaming bakla.” I’m confounded. Aren’t they referring to themselves? By the way, I’ve seen the movie, and I agree with the views of the yuppie.
In recent years, we are shown that there exist straight looking men who prefer same sex relationships. But instead of a welcome mat, the overt gays insists for these men to unfurl the proverbial cape. And the straight looking gays insists that the overt gays tame themselves down. Neither will give way. As a result, animosity between the communities erupted and seemingly still ongoing. This was clearly depicted in another Orlando Nadres creation: “Hanggang Dito Na Lamang At Maraming Salamat.”
r the movies. BAKLA - a term that used to be associated only with screaming “flamboyant” queens. Their terminologies have become so myriad they even came out with their own version of “pig-latin.” The term “bakla” has even transmuted into various forms.The King was a Queen (and he reigned supreme)
Rodolfo Vera Quizon - Dolphy (Golay, Pidol) showed them all what it took to be called “The King of Comedy.” His trek to the throne started with his 6th film and his 1st top billing in Jack en Jill (1954) penned by Mars Ravelo. Dolphy’s “Glory” encapsulated the “bakla” or the “binabae” of his era that needed to be ‘talyada” (sexy) to be happy. That singular point set the trend of comical stereotypes still prevalent up to the present. For those who are not familiar with the original, Sharon Cuneta and Herbert Bautista did a remake in 1987. In both versions, the “ate” played by Lolita Rodriguez in the original / Sharon Cuneta in the remake, employed the town bully played by Martin Marfil (original) / Rez Cortez (remake) to knock sense into Glory (original)/Jillian (remake) and make him a “real man.” The effort ended in futility albeit all the physical pounding and even being dunked in a drum filled with water. That’s where being a “sirena” (mermaid) was also associated with being gay. The irony is, in both versions, the town bully for undisclosed reasons was the one who cracked and became a “talyadang binabae” himself. Dramatizing that, it showed associating with anyone gay will turn a real man gay. In 1969, RVQ Productions owned by Dolphy came out with Facifica Falayfay penned yet again by Mars Ravelo. Falayfay had a sequel in 1987 “Mga Anak Ni Facifica Falayfay” which catapulted actor Roderick Paulate then already playing bit gay roles.
Pretty in Pink?
The 80’s saw an influx of many stereotypical gay-themed movies and TV offerings from the likes of Roderick Paulate and Joey de Leon among many others. It became the norm to trivialize the gay lifestyle both reel and real. Some real gay talents succumbed and joined in the travesty for fear of losing work. Being loud and proud took another meaning. Now, we have the likes of Diego and the many characterizations of Michael V and Ogie Alcasid in Bubble Gang. Even sing-along masters make fun of themselves and their audience in sing-along bars. What people saw in the big and small screen are what they thought they ought to be, just that, good for a laugh. We laugh “at” them yes? But are you willing to laugh “with” them?
Movies and TV influenced a lot of stereotypes that are most often than not, barely scratch reality. Gay themed movies done by Lino Brocka essayed the other side of gay culture. Brocka even came out with Orlando Nadres’ Stardoom (1971), a dark, tragic view of movie showbiz itself. Audiences were in awe, most surmising that his themes were too surreal to be true.
Pink is the New Blue (Ramification)
The advent of gay themed indie movies is a welcomed reprieve from traditional cinema. The dominant gay stereotype is shattered but not obliterated. Some show a positive shade of pink that gay men are not only those that are “flamboyant” in nature. Sadly, most of these films focused on one aspect to sell. SEX. But that is not entirely accurate. Case in point: I asked a “parlorista” friend what he thought of the movie “Daybreak” all he could muse about was the naked and intimate scenes between the two male actors. But when I posed the same question to a “gay yuppie” friend, he orates about the technical aspect and content of the movie. He even suggested the intimate scenes should have been shortened and added some are unnecessary. Now why is that? Both are college graduates so education is not an issue. Here are two gay men with opposing views. Asked what they observed in the theaters, the “parlorista” quipped “andaming paminta.” The yuppie says “andaming bakla.” I’m confounded. Aren’t they referring to themselves? By the way, I’ve seen the movie, and I agree with the views of the yuppie.
In recent years, we are shown that there exist straight looking men who prefer same sex relationships. But instead of a welcome mat, the overt gays insists for these men to unfurl the proverbial cape. And the straight looking gays insists that the overt gays tame themselves down. Neither will give way. As a result, animosity between the communities erupted and seemingly still ongoing. This was clearly depicted in another Orlando Nadres creation: “Hanggang Dito Na Lamang At Maraming Salamat.”
