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Love wins! Teleserye tandems that tickled our penchant for BL and GL tropes 

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Liezel dela Cruz

<p>Love knows no bounds; it’s for anyone who dares to feel its beauty, warmth, and pain. Love is free. Love is about being accepted for your true self. Love wins. </p><p>Over the years, we’ve seen Kapamilya teleseryes featuring subplots about two LGBTQIA+ characters in a relationship receive kind, warm, and big-hearted reactions from the public. We can all agree that it’s because many viewers can empathize. </p><p>After all, the BL (Boys’ Love) and GL (Girls’ Love) tropes in teleseryes not only represent different sexual orientations; rather, they represent many truths of the journey and hard work it entails to find a love that’s thriving and accepting – and any person would wish for the same thing. </p><p>In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, as we celebrate love in all forms, we put the spotlight on the BL and GL stories that brought us all the ‘feels’ in Kapamilya teleseryes. Whether you are part of the LGBTQIA+ community or simply looking for a love story to inspire you today, below are notable same-sex relationship angles in Kapamilya shows that will make your heart extra happy. </p><p>Have you ever fallen in love with your buddy? Played by Jerome Ponce and Yves Flores, the characters of Phil Panganiban and Benjie Arguelles in “<strong><a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/asoldiersheart"><u><em>A Soldier’s Heart</em></u></a>”</strong> (2020) proved that gender orientation is never a measure of one’s worth, skill, ability to serve the country, and more importantly, ability to love. Starting as cadet trainees and eventually becoming full-fledged soldiers, PhilJie’s ‘<em>bromance</em>’ endured despite initial misunderstandings, showcasing the comforting feeling found in a genuine connection. </p><p>The military drama was among the series that opened the new decade with a progressive and stirring storyline that sheds light on pressing issues in the society – from war and justice to soldiers’ plight, culture differences, gender equality, and sexuality.</p><div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="523" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8Vn8XhTIofg" title="10 times Benjie and Phil proved love knows no gender in A Soldier" s="" Heart="" Kapamilya="" width="930"></iframe></div><p>Known for its gripping twists and turns, thriller-romance drama “<a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/thekillerbride"><em><u><strong>The Killer Bride</strong></u></em></a>” (2019) shookt viewers when the character of Mayor Juan Felipe dela Torre played by James Blanco was revealed to be in a relationship with his bodyguard Ivan Munoz played by Angelo Patrimonio. Although theirs was a forbidden kind of love, it was difficult to turn a blind eye to the fact that they fulfilled each other’s heart. </p><div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="523" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aGjjwKfRueI" title="Juan Felipe secretly meets his lover | TKB (With Eng Subs)" width="930"></iframe></div><p>Delightful is one word that springs to mind when we look back on Atty. Ken Velasco (Hero Angeles) and Barry Sebastian (Christian Bables)’s cute love story in 2018’s most controversial series, “<a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/halik"><em><u><strong>Halik</strong></u></em></a>.” The two men, the best friends of lead characters Jacky (Yen Santos) and Lino (Jericho Rosales), provided comic relief in the narrative as they navigated their strong attraction for each other. </p><div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="523" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fhZlbcZTtiA" title="5 times Ken and Barry made us all " with="" their="" in="" Halik="" Friday="" width="930"></iframe></div><p>When you can be your authentic self in front of another person, and feel safe in his/her love, it becomes easier to face life’s worst challenges and pain. In “<a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/dirtylinen/"><em><u><strong>Dirty Linen</strong></u></em></a>” (2023), Olga Arguelles (Andrea del Rosario) was introduced in the story as the Fiero clan’s trusted legal counsel, thus audiences assumed that her closeness with Leona Fiero (Janice de Belen) was purely business until the two started to reveal their feelings. Barring the conflict and moral aspect, their story taught us that the heart truly wants what it wants. Happiness is real when the heart isn’t suppressed, like how Leona would only find the love, support, and care that she needs in her unfiltered moments with Olga. </p><div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="523" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZSUTE0vwjzo" title="10 scenes of Olga and Leona" s="" unexpected="" chemistry="" in="" Dirty="" Linen="" Kapamilya="" width="930"></iframe></div><p>Things are looking lit for LGBTQIA representation in the mainstream media, with Gen Z shows serving up BL and GL tropes. In the recently concluded hit drama “<a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/seniorhigh2023"><em><u><strong>Senior High</strong></u></em></a> (2023),” the characters played by Zaijian Jaranilla and Miggy Jimenez as Tim and Poch, respectively, mesmerized viewers with their realistic portrayal of a queer relationship that explored the complexities of self-discovery as they moved from ‘enemies to bae’ status. TimPoch taught us that love feels great when not restricted; and even when the other person’s life gets messy and complicated, true love means naturally finding yourself fitting into the chaos of their world. </p><div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="523" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Y3VcQoUV6rE" title="10 most kilig moments of Tim &amp; Poch in Senior High | Kapamilya Toplist" width="930"></iframe></div><p>Mainstream media is embracing the GL storyline more as well, with ABS-CBN’s recent youth-oriented show “<em><strong>Zoomers</strong></em>” [LINK OUT https://ent.abs-cbn.com/articles-news/zoomers-youtube-online-views-reaches-more-than-2m-21571] (2024) infusing it in the light-hearted moments of Tania (Krystl Ball) and Faye (Kei Kurosawa). Those who’ve found their S.O. through a shared interest or hobby will sure relate to vloggers Tania and Faye’s cute story.</p><div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="523" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EdrBiMMRA1Y" title="#Zoomers The Series | Tania and Faye Shared A Kiss | Episode Highlight | Watch on YouTube" width="930"></iframe></div><p>Our wish this Valentine’s Day is that everyone may feel free to express love. Why not celebrate the universal right to love by binge-watching these series?</p>

In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, let us celebrate the BL and GL stories we’ve loved in Kaamilya teleseryes