Happy Pride Month! Kapamilya actors’ compelling depictions of gay characters in teleseryes

Liezel dela Cruz

<p>As Pride Month unfurls its vibrant rainbow hues across the world, Kapamilya shows and artists remain as allies for exploring diverse identities and narratives on TV. This month, we’d like to highlight the incredible performances by these actors who have fearlessly embraced and portrayed gay characters with depth, authenticity, and respect. Let this Kapamilya Time-List feature serve as a recognition and applause to their ability to step into roles that challenge societal norms and portray the LGBTQ+ experience with empathy. </p><div><strong>Tirso Cruz III in Huwag Ka Lang Mawawala</strong></div><p>The 2013 teleserye &quot;Huwag Ka Lang Mawawala&quot; was packed with drama and gripping revelations that heoked viewers. Among the most shocking plot twists was the discovery about Tirso Cruz III’s character, the strict patriarch of the Diomedes family, Romulus, being gay. This went beyond a mere narrative twist, as it also delved into themes of personal acceptance. </p><p>The veteran actor depicted his character&#x27;s journey towards self-acceptance and finding true love with his wife Helena (Coney Reyes). It turned out that beneath his intimidating facade was a poignant backstory of struggling to gain validation from his parents due to his sexual orientation when he was young. </p><div><strong>Coco Martin in <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/angprobinsyano" target="_blank"><u>FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano</u></a></strong></div><p>In the action-packed police series &quot;FPJ&#x27;s Ang Probinsyano,&quot; Coco Martin&#x27;s character, Cardo Dalisay, faced numerous challenging missions as a dedicated cop. One of the most memorable arcs involved Cardo going undercover as the flamboyant dancer Paloma. What made Coco’s performance as Paloma even more exciting was his collaboration with Vice Ganda, who played a significant role alongside him in that particular story arc. </p><div><strong>JC Santos in <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/tillimetyou" target="_blank"><u>‘Til I Met You</u></a> </strong></div><p>JC Santos, now happily married and a father, gained attention for his role as the gay character Ali, a close friend of Iris (Nadine Lustre) who developed feelings for Basti (James Reid), in the Jadine series &quot;&#x27;Til I Met You.&quot; This storyline was groundbreaking for its portrayal of LGBT community issues in a series with a strong millennial following. </p><div><strong>Matt Evans in <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/thegreatestlove" target="_blank"><u>The Greatest Love</u></a> </strong></div><p>Bringing to life the challenges and triumphs of being true to oneself within a loving but sometimes complicated family dynamic, Matt Evans delivered a compelling performance in the family drama “The Greatest Love.” He played Andrei, the gay son of Gloria (Sylvia Sanchez), who navigated the complexities of familial relationships alongside his siblings Amanda (Dimples Romana), Paeng (Arron Villaflor), and Lizelle (Andi Eigenmann), while also serving as uncle to Z (Joshua Garcia).</p><div><strong>Hero Angeles in <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/halik" target="_blank"><u>Halik</u></a> </strong></div><p>In “Halik,” Hero Angeles painted Ken with a nuanced portrayal that captivated viewers. His character&#x27;s journey with his crush, Barry (Christian Bables), endeared audiences with amusing scenes as their friendship slowly blossomed throughout the story. </p><div><strong>James Blanco in <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/thekillerbride" target="_blank"><u>The Killer Bride</u></a> </strong></div><p>In the thriller-romance drama &quot;The Killer Bride,&quot; James Blanco&#x27;s Mayor Juan Felipe dela Torre took viewers by surprise. His character&#x27;s relationship with his bodyguard, Ivan Munoz, played by Angelo Patrimonio, added a forbidden yet compelling layer to the storyline. </p><div><strong>Yves Flores in <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/asoldiersheart" target="_blank"><u>A Soldier’s Heart</u></a></strong> </div><p>The military drama “A Soldier’s Heart” was among the series that opened the new decade with a progressive and stirring storyline that shed light on pressing issues in the society – from war and justice to soldiers’ plight, culture differences, gender equality, and sexuality. Yves Flores’ Benjie Arguelles proved that gender orientation is never a measure of one’s worth, skill, ability to serve the country, and more importantly, ability to love.</p><div><strong>Albie Casino in <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/initsamagdamag" target="_blank"><u>Init Sa Magdamag</u></a></strong> </div><p>Always one to skillfully navigate diverse roles with authenticity and charm, Albie Casino won praises for his believable, sparkling portrayal of LGBTQ character Raymond in the sexy-drama series “Init Sa Magdamag.” In an episode of Kapamilya React, [LINK OUT https://ent.abs-cbn.com/initsamagdamag/articles-videos/albie-casino-reacts-to-his-funny-scenes-in-init-sa-magdamag-amused-by-raymonds-character-15647] Albie shared that it’s difficult to etch a closeted gay character because there has to be balance in his movements. </p><div><strong>Zaijian Jaranilla and Miggy Jimenez in <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/seniorhigh2023" target="_blank"><u>Senior High</u></a> and <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/highstreet2024" target="_blank"><u>High Street</u></a></strong></div><p>Things are looking lit for LGBTQIA representation in the mainstream media, with Gen Z shows serving up BL tropes. In “Senior High,” which now continues with its sequel “High Street,” the characters played by Zaijian Jaranilla and Miggy Jimenez as Tim and Poch, respectively, have mesmerized viewers with their realistic portrayal of a queer relationship that explored the complexities of self-discovery. TimPoch teaches us that love feels great when not restricted. </p><p>As we celebrate Pride Month, let us also recognize the courage and skill of these actors in bringing LGBTQ+ experiences to the forefront of Filipino television. <br/> </p>

Happy Pride Month! Kapamilya actors’ compelling depictions of gay characters in teleseryes

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Happy Pride Month! Kapamilya actors’ compelling depictions of gay characters in teleseryes

Liezel dela Cruz

Published Jun 26, 2024 09:37 AM PHT

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