Boy’s Love (BL) genre has been gaining popularity in the Philippines, but Girl’s Love (GL) has yet to be known, and it’s time, according to Direk Sigrid Bernardo, on Monday, December 7, to make it popular.
Bernardo aims to provide more platforms for the LGBTQIA+ community, thus creating a series that tackles girl-to-girl love.
“Ngayon, maganda na marami na ang you know, mas may confidence na ang mga producers to take some risks para mabigyan naman natin ng platform ang members ng LGBTQIA+ community,” she said in the virtual media conference for the GL series Lulu.
Lulu boasts a team comprised of members of the community and even starred an LGBTQ member.
However, she clarified that the portrayal of gay characters is not exclusive to LGBTQ members as straight actors can definitely don the role.
“I’m not saying na only the LGBT community can act as themselves. The actors can definitely can act na LGBT rin. They have more platforms so now is the right time siguro para mabigyan ng platform ang members. Dahil yun ang mas mahirap, yun ang mas kaunti.”
Bernardo felt that culture has a hand to play when asked why she only made a GL series now. Since time immemorial, men have been known to dominate women, the same with the BL genre being the first to be popularized rather than GL.
“Tapos kapag lalaki naging bakla laging kahit na yung mga pelikula natin untraditional. Usually, comic ang mga gay lagi, nakakatawa sila, they’re funny. Pero kapag babae, kapag tomboy, seryoso, hindi nakakatawa, and boring. Ganoon lagi ang impression kapag lesbians.”
Bernardo said she was ready to break the stigma that women are “too emotional,” and Lulu would start.
“‘Pag babae kasi mas emotional, yun ang tingin nila sa mga babae. Lalo na yung society. Ang babae emotional, kapag nagme-make ng point, madaldal.
“Parang ganoon kasi lagi eh. So tumatawid siya sa pagiging lesbian. Kapag naging lesbian, mas maraming struggle, seryoso silang tao, and wala silang sense of humor.
“Ang hindi nila alam, normal din silang tao. Nasasaktan, may sense of humor, and may iba-ibang characters. So very important na ipakita sa mga series or sa mga new films kung ano ang totoong characters ng mga lesbians,” explained Bernardo.
Rhen Escaño, one of the lead stars in the series, agreed with Bernardo, saying it’s time to make a GL project.
“I think yung Lulu, isa ito sa masasabi kong mag-uumpisa na sana mas makilala sila, mas mahalin sila ng mga tao, at mas maintindihan sila,” Escaño hoped.
Lulu star Rita Martinez, on the other hand, expressed her desire to spread awareness and help people be open-minded in these kinds of genres.
“For me, my opinion also in this is for awareness naman. Yes, it’s about time na people see the real side of what it is to be in a lesbian relationship, not necessarily a lesbian relationship but in the LGBT. Because there are stereotypes and given na po ‘yan.
“This time, thank you kay Direk na at least parang mamulat naman ang mga tao sa kung ano talaga ang nangyayari. Kumbaga this is the reality that everyone is about to see in this show.”
Bernardo was also eyeing to make a Gay-to-Gay Love (GGL) genre.
“Yes, meron na ako, iniisip ko pa. Hindi pa buo pero definitely gusto kong gumawa ng BL na tawag nila na GGL na pala.”
To those who do not accept the genre, Bernardo was fine with it. She said that her projects are her own way of “contributing to society.”
“Okay lang. Basta gagawa pa rin ako. Kumbaga ihahain ko pa rin sa inyo ang dapat ihain. Darating din ang panahon na ma-appreciate din ng mga tao ang mga films about women and members of the LGBTQ.”
Bernardo also encouraged the LGBTQIA+ members who are facing discrimination to “hang in there.”
“I think lalo na sa generation ngayon, lalo na sa panahon ngayon, nagiging open-minded na ang lahat ng tao. It’s a constant struggle and we just have to live with it na very cruel ang society. That is why it is very important for directors or filmmakers to make these kinds of movies or these kinds of series to help the LGBTQ community to be relevant in society; to continuously tell them that we are also here and we are also human and they should respect us.”
Lulu is a Vivamax original series and is set to premiere on January 7, 2022.
