Actors Ian Pangilinan and Paolo Pangilinan of the Boys Love series, Gaya sa Pelikula, won the RAWR Awards 2020, BL Tandem of the year. However, what made this pair stand out from the rest of the BL love teams on the roster?
Firstly, the two have this palpable chemistry that translates both on and off camera. It’s a must-have for any love teams to exude a certain amount of chemistry to pull off noteworthy kilig-inducing scenes.
However, what sets Ian and Paolo apart from other BL pairings is their off-screen dynamics, especially during their post-show online conference, Banlaw-Sesh. The pair actively creates engagement between them and the viewers alongside the cast of the show, such as creator Juan Miguel Severo and Director JP Habac.
The two also have an active social media presence wherein Ian and Paolo effectively use their accounts to spread awareness and shed light on relevant social issues, such as the SOGIE equality bill. Their advocacies and active presence on social media create familiarity between them and the fans of the BL series.
The series itself also tackles various LGBTQIA+ and social issues such as coming out, euphemisms, microaggressions, and problematic allies. Ian and Paolo effectively portrayed their roles through nuanced and in-depth characterizations that made GSP both relatable and organic to their audiences. As a result, the series and the characters started to become a beacon to help educate people in normalizing the queer experience.
Finally, because of the actors and cast’s active engagement with their audience and the series’ mission to normalize queer relationships, GSP created a protective and supportive fan base both locally and internationally.
As a result, it led to their BL tandem overtaking other BL pairings in the BL Tandem of the Year category at the RAWR Awards 2020.
