Barumbadings star Jeric Raval admitted on October 13 that he was surprised to find out that there were a lot of gays in the showbiz industry.
“Noong unang pagpasok ko sa showbiz, sabi ko, ‘Ang dami!’ Paano kaya ito,” he shared during the film’s media conference.
The action star also confessed he was a snob when he was young, which seemed it would be a problem for him to work with members of the LGBTQ community.
However, as time went by, Raval realized there was nothing wrong with having gays as co-workers, adding that he now had gay friends and even employed one.
“Pero time goes by, nasanay na rin naman na ako. Nagkaroon din ako ng maraming mga kaibigan na bakla, maayos naman sila.
“In fact, yung isang lawyer ko, bading. Tapos sa bahay may mga kasama din akong bading, may isa akong alalay na bading. So sanay naman na ako.”
Upon doing Barumbadings, which is about gay assassins–it opened his eyes that Homosexuals are capable, and he may have underestimated their capabilities.
“Nung ginagawa ko ang movie na ‘yon, kasi halos lahat ng galawan kasi, mga katrabaho ko, mga gays. Naobserbahan ko na maayos naman katrabaho ang mga gays.
“Hindi kagaya noong mga nakikita natin dati na makikita sa parlor. Ito nakikita ko na nakikipag-kapwa tao sila.
“Tsaka karamihan ng nasa set successful naman sila. Maayos naman silang pakitunguhan. So sabi ko, dapat hindi sila ina-underestimate itong mga third sex, itong mga bading,” he observed.
He then added that Homosexuals should be treated with respect and as equals.
“So isa sa mga natutunan ko is dapat pinakikitaan din natin sila ng pantay na pakikitungo tsaka respeto. Masarap din pala silang kabarkada.”
But being an action star, Raval said that only a few gays admire him.
“Actually napansin ko sa sarili ko na kaunti lang ang mga bading na nagkakagusto sa ‘kin. Siguro sa sampung bading ang magkakagusto sa ‘kin ay isa lang. Yun ang napapansin ko.”
So whenever he receives admiration from them, he is glad to have them appreciate his craft.
“Syempre natutuwa naman ako kapag may pumupuri sa ‘kin. Nagpapasalamat ako na marami namang pumupuri sa’kin, despite of my age, maraming salamat.”
Catch Barumbadings on Vivamax, November 5.
