I was never really a fan of Glaiza before but I had a huge admiration to Rhian Ramos when she just entered showbiz and played the love interest of Richard on “Captain Barbell”. At that time, she was still “nene” and I feel a deep huge interest on her. I actually didn’t like her acting because she seemed to be overly “maarte”. I also find her acting funny because she seemed to be struggling how to speak “Tagalog” properly. However, for some reason, there’s something in her that I seriously admire. I just don’t know at the time yet. Sometimes, I would just look at her photos and really have a huge crush on her face. But then again, I didn’t know which show’s she’s with after because I was not interested watching her shows. She seemed to still have to learn a lot. I cut her some slack because she’s a model and unlike others, she didn’t go to acting classes. She just started it. GMA was known to have catered the fist GAY couple on TV under the show “My Husband’s Lover” which has earned lots of support for the fandom TOMDEN (Tom and Dennis). It was so popular that they have earned the LGBT fan base. Then later on,GMA put up a lesbian themed show called “The Richman’s Daughter”, the first ever local show. Of course, majority of the reaction was a bit skeptic because so far, we haven’t watched any healthy representation of lesbians on tv shows or movies. It was always the lesbians who were mentally challenged, murdered or God knows how they end their character. I was very skeptic too specially when I heard that it will be played by Marian Rivera. I am not a fan of hers as well and I know she is a good actress as she was well experienced. But this would be something new and I wonder what made her accept this role. Of course, this would be represented by straight female actress. I didn’t care at all. I didn’t watch TV for a long time until literally; I do not own any TV. I am more of an internet person. I saw a JATHEA fanvid and much to my surprised, it was Rhian and Glaiza. It piqued my interest because I was expecting Marian Rivera. Turns out, I was so off the loop for a long time. Marian got married to Dingdong like a royalty wedding. She got pregnant during the taping of TRMD while it was not on air yet. They have to replace her and offered it to Rhian. Here in the Philippines, we are so used to seeing gay men on TV being represented and we have strong personalities representing them but not for lesbian. As much as we want to believe women are being respected in this country, I think there is still discrimination as a whole. I think it is still patriarchal. Yes, lots of us go to work and are accepted in many fields but when it comes to the role of women, there seemed to be an imbalance. We have tito Boy and Vice Ganda and they were well respected and accepted. But what about Aiza and Charisse? They barely have appearances anymore. People may say what they want but I believe it has something to do with their gender preferences. I really think that there is an imbalance acceptance in our society. There is an unhealthy representation of gays as prone to “AIDS” or “HIV”. They are heavily tattooed and really a rebel by nature. But that was just one side of the story. How about those who were girly girls who happened to have fallen in love with the soul of another human being who happens to be a girl? JATHEA RASTRO: A FRIENDSHIP AND FANDOM FOR KEEPS I literally spend the whole week stalking all TRMD/JATHEA/RASTRO related topics on the internet. They have taken so much of my time. I would go home excitedly after work and spend couple of hours replaying videos of them. I have stalked them in every way. I have stalked Rhian’s twitter and IG posts because she was the one I have a huge admiration. Also, based on how I can see it, she seemed to be more expressive and the kind of girl who is on game. She seemed to be the one who can initiate the kiss without any problems at all. She was the one who most likely started teasing their online fans. She is more open minded to it. She seemed to be enjoying the game as we all know she is straight but she went really way ahead for “fanservice” sake. IF we really compare, we should be thankful as fans for the extra effort they did and for going on with the dare just to please RASTRO fans. It is understood that once a show was finished, we call can move on but to how it seemed, they were generous enough to accommodate their fans even after the show by putting up some fans day meet and greet and even accommodating fans on twitter. Well, it was job for them of course but it was a good job because they seemed to be passionate and realistic in what they do. It’s easy to pretend for the camera but to be nice to each other and for the fans of camera is evident. You cannot fake that. That I admire between these two leading ladies. I understand if the RASTRO fireworks have come to past since November last year and didn’t last till January 1,2016. But to those like me who have just started watching them and to those who will eventually find out about them in the future, yes that was short lived but it was really a delight to watch and this was for keeps. The support of the LGBTQ community was also overwhelming. The Rastro Rebels fan club has found friendship online and have shared this love spreading good vibes on the internet. That’s what I can draw from stalking all their conversations. JATHEA RASTRO EFFECTI understand it was a very challenging role to take but these ladies accepted the role because maybe to them, it’s another avenue to grow in acting. They have their fears as they admit and it was really heartwarming when they are concerned of how the LGBTQ community will react to it. If there’s one thing this actress got in return for their passion and dedication, it would be the overwhelming support of the community was they were embraced fully. They admitted they were shocked and surprise of how committed the LGBT fans are. Even international actresses acknowledge these kinds of support and that would explain why more and more TV shows includes the gay couples to probably get support the LGBTQ community. But this show was made FOR the LGBTQ and that’s the difference. I was thrilled to know that the shows purpose in putting up TRMD is to give a positive and healthy representation of the LGBTQ community especially to closeted lesbians who are initially scared of who they are. The show seemed to have triggered other people to question themselves and validate if what they feel borders to being gay as we all know, most lesbians are victims of falling in love to straight women who sometimes responded but in the end, have to leave the relationship ending marrying a man. MY THOUGHTS ON THE SHOWI love how the show emphasized fighting for the love they feel for each other despite being against all odds. However, I feel that they didn’t give justice to the story apart from the most awaited kiss that wasn’t given due to MTRCB compliance. I feel that they have wasted the effort and feelings they have build up all throughout the run because the ending was just abrupt. Did they just spent episodes building up and creating this intense longing and feeling and have suddenly gave us an ending that’s happy but not satisfying. It was very child like because they haven’t even got time to justify what they have established. We have endured the suffering and pain of watching most of the episodes hoping it will get better which it does. But it was obviously wrap up in a way just to finish the show. Thankfully, these two know how to appease our broken hearts off cam! ON CENSORSHIP: WHY CAN’T THEY KISS ON SCREEN!I question MTRCB’S very discriminating censorship. It is okay to show hetero couple fondling and half naked. It is okay to show detailed rape scenes and very violent scenes but to allow two people who are passionately in love to kiss on screen is not allowed because it so happened that they are both feminine and it might give a negative impression on tv. You know, this is 2016 and what is there to censor anyway? If you don’t show it on TV, the internet is free for everyone regardless if race, gender and age. I am not saying we will not care about the content of our television as I for one is very old fashioned but I do not understand the rationale behind showing morbid scenes and all but a kiss from two women is forbidden. I think that eventually, people will go online for entertainment. Majority doesn’t need to wait for the air time and sit 30 minutes enduring 25 minutes commercial and 5 minutes airing of the show. I think it is about time that MTRCB update their guidelines and be consistent. THE ACTORS There was definitely chemistry between these two! Or as Glaiza puts it, there’s “kenekshen”. This was the first time I loved Rhian’s acting. Or maybe, I was being biased this time. I don’t know but it was fresh to see her portraying not as the usual “sosyalera” . I get to see her portray one side of her that is how she puts herself when fighting for love and having to convince us that she meant it. That moment when she really cried hard knowing she loses Althea was beautiful. I am not sure if she has drawn those emotions from later experiences in her life but the way she plays her character as Jade is charming. But you know what really impressed me? It’s Rhian. I got obsessed with Jade but I stayed for Rhian. I have enjoyed their off screen videos more than I enjoyed her as Jade because what can I say, it is emotionally tiring and I wanted sometimes to shake the writers of the show on how painful can they make the show? Like could it be any more painful and chaotic? How can they let Jade cry her tears away and drenched her pillow half of the show?! Because of that, we deserve a commercial! Unplugged commercial :) I loved “Batchi” because she is the moderator of the group and the funny one. She doesn’t take seriously on things and just open a drink for her friends, give them a huge and then just moves on. Magaan lang syang kasama. I seriously never thought that was China Ortaleza not until I saw her name credit on one of the yooutube fanvids. I know she seemed familiar but I have never thought that was her! I seriously thought GMA had hired someone lesbian in real life portraying Batchi. Kudos to China! That confirms how really skinny she is. She seemed fine when in dresses but when in a man’s suit, she really is very small. Well, I have enjoyed those lines she delivers and the way she delivers them. She really seemed to be enjoying her character. The first one when she gave her advice to Althea, “dude, wag mo ng pangarapin pa. Eh mas straight pa yan sa buhok mo eh”. Katrina as Wila nailed it. But there was nothing else different from the other characters she has been portraying as a villain. This time, she played the funny crazy ex girlfriend villain. Luis Alandy nailed it well. My favorite scene was the one when she confronted Jade and forcely kissed her. I can see his tears, controlled anger and over all emotions like it was both an anger and passion burning in love and I loved that scene. I loved how he was so angry and yet he kept his feelings under control and I salute Luis for that incredible scene. QUOTABLE QUOTES |
ABOUT
|