Push Admin

Why Anne Curtis agreed to play a trans man on ‘MMK’

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA—In the short teaser for the upcoming &quot;Maalaala Mo Kaya&quot; (MMK) episode this Saturday, Anne Curtis&#x27; character, a trans man, is being told to act more feminine by his father. </p><p>His retort was, delivered with defiant rage by Curtis: &quot;Paano ako tatanggapin ng ibang tao kung ang sarili kong ama, hindi ako kayang tanggapin?&quot; </p><div><script src="https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&amp;version=v2.5" async="" type="text/javascript"></script></div><div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/MMKOfficial/videos/2066437163652286/" data-width="auto"> </div><p>This is the story of an overseas Filipino worker named Marrz Balaoro, a pastor of a small Hong Kong church that welcomes all genders.</p><p>Speaking with ABS-CBN News at a press conference for his <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/07/09/19/finally-vice-ganda-anne-curtis-team-up-for-first-movie-together">new movie with Vice Ganda</a>, himself an icon for LGBT rights locally, Curtis said that they aim to bring justice to Balaoro&#x27;s inspiring journey.</p><p>&quot;It&#x27;s always very difficult to tackle a role like this but I&#x27;m very inspired by his story [and] that&#x27;s why I decided to take it on. I really hope to give justice to it,&quot; Curtis explained. </p><p>Balaoro grew up in Abra and was raised being told by his religious parents to wear skirts and dresses, despite him identifying as a man at a very early age. In Hong Kong, where he moved to work, he was arrested in 2017 on <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/05/07/19/filipino-pastor-takes-new-gay-marriage-fight-to-hong-kong-court">suspicion of marrying same-sex couples</a>. Charges were eventually dropped.</p><p>Balaoro also established the Filguys Association, which provides help and refuge to migrant workers who are members of the LGBT community. </p><p>The &quot;MMK&quot; episode, set to air after &quot;Idol Philippines,&quot; is directed by Barry Gonzalez. </p>

<p>Saturday's "MMK" episode tells the story of overseas Filipino worker Marrz Balaoro, a pastor at a small Hong Kong church that welcomes all genders.</p>

Saturday's "MMK" episode tells the story of overseas Filipino worker Marrz Balaoro, a pastor at a small Hong Kong church that welcomes all genders.