'Marahuyo Project'. Screenshot from Anima Studios' YouTube channel. 

MANILA — Saturated with the stories of the LGBT sector in the metro, director JP Habac wanted to show the struggles of the queer community in the provinces with the latest series "Marahuyo Project" which concluded last June.

In an interview with ABS-CBN News, Habac said that his vision was to create a barkada show with representation among the spectrum of the LGBT community.

"May concept ako ng film na 'yung theme nu'n ay pagbubuo ng org [organizaton], doon siya nag-start talaga kasi 'yun talaga 'yung germ ng idea. Dream ko kasi talaga makagawa ng barkada project series, growing up fan ako ng mga youth-oriented shows 'Tabing-Ilog,' 'G-mik,' 'Click.' Sabi why not gawa tayo ng barkada series pero queer representation," he said.

"Hindi siya focused sa love story ng dalawang bakla, parang mas malawak 'yung sasakupin na idea, sasakupin na kwento. Growing up 'yung mga youth oriented shows na napanood ko, hindi malinaw kung kanino ako nakaka-relate kasi nga as a gay boy never ko 'yung nakita sa mga youth-oriented shows lahat sila roon mga heteros ... (sana) ma-feel nila young queer Filipinos na may napapanood silang ganito onscreen," he added.

"Hindi nagiging katawa-tawa 'yung pagiging femme, kasi I think 'yun 'yung isa sa naging sakit din ng mga queer shows ... I think kahit nung nag-pandemic 'yung portrayal ng femme, hindi siya portrayed by a femme person talaga, which is frustrating," the director said. 

"'Yun 'yung gusto naming ma-achieve dito sa 'Marahuyo Project,'tama 'yung representation na hindi sila nagiging katawa-tawa at hindi sila mere device para lang umusog 'yung kwento. Malaki 'yung pine-play nilang role para swabe 'yung pagku-kwento ng 8 episodes na 'yun," he added. 

"Marahuyo Project" takes on the journey of King (Adrian Lindayag) and his attempt to form a LGBT organization in their school in the province.

"Itong si King, sobrang lapit niya sa puso ko as an advocate and activist. Na-inspire ako sa tapang niya and na-inspire ako sa puso niya, sa optimism niya to want to chance things kasi ganoon din ako bilang tao, marami akong gustong baguhin na lumang pag-iisip," Lindayag said.

"Gusto kong matutunan nila na maging matapang sila, na huwag silang matakot na kung alam naman nilang tama. Magpakatotoo ka sa sarili, 'yun ang isa sa mga pinakamagandang tinuro ni King," he added. 

"Sobra akong na-inspire kay King kasi even sa pananamit niya, after naming mag-shoot, feeling ko nag-iba 'yung pananamit ko, tsaka mas nagkaroon din ako ng mas mas matapang na disposition sa buhay na kung alam mo 'yung pinaglalaban mo, huwag kang matakot to be in the frontlines fighting for your community." 

Habac said that "Marahuyo Project" mirrors the reality that people in the provinces need to be educated more on the LGBT community. 

"May mga ganitong klaseng mga lugar, wala silang access sa tamang information, ending, kung mali 'yung tradition nila, 'yun na lang 'yung paniniwalaan nila. Na-experience ko 'yun personally kasi may sarili rin akong probinsya, kasi ganoon pa rin 'yung tingin sa mga bakla na 'pag bakla parlorista agad, 'pag bakla mahilig sa sex, mahilig sa kalibugan, kapag bakla ka kailangan magaling ka sa school kasi may kailangan kang punan na something kasi feeling mo kulang ka," the director said. 

"Ganoon pa rin 'yung paniniwala ng mga tao sa ibang probinsya, na ang naisip ko para siyang 'fish out of water' 'yung theme na paano kung nilagay mo itong sobrang progresibong isang tao sa isang conservative na lugar, paano magka-clash 'yung dalawang personality," he added. 

With their aim to form a group for the queers, Lindayag hopes that the show would also teach the audience to appreciate the importance of community-building.

"Maganda na nagsasama-sama tayo and in that age, you're all discovering who you are, your identity tapos maganda na you're discovering it together and maganda na nagbi-build kayo ng confidence together. Napakahalaga na mayroon silang org or mayroon silang grupo of people sa school laluna na safe space nila," he added. 

Habac added that a community is not defined by numbers but by its bond as a family that will be there for you in the good and bad times.

"'Yung org naman or 'yung community, doesn't have to be a huge group of people parang ano rin siya, chosen family mo na tutulungan kang i-navigate 'yung paghahanap mo sa sarili mo at tsaka doon sa identity mo," Habac said. 

"Mas madali rin kasi 'yung process ng pag-accept at pag-discover ng truth mo, ng identity mo, kapag mayroong tumutulong sa 'yo ... mas madali 'yung proseso 'pag mayroon kang kasama sa journey of knowing yourself," he added.

"Kapag straight diba ang dami mong nakikitang straight, 'yun na nga 'yung tinuturo ng society, 'yung pagiging straight pero kapag queer ka, sobrang bihira makakita ng tamang representation around you. To be with people who knows your struggle, na maiintindihan 'yung istorya mo rin, matutulungan ka nila sa journey."