I have been catching glimpses of My Husband's Lover episodes in the past days simply because there's nothing else on free TV that I find interesting to watch. And yes, I give it to the new GMA prime time serye for having the ability to pique someone's interest. Its launching seems to be in time for the 2013 International Gay Pride celebration, as well, which may have worked to the network's advantage as they were seen to be of support to LGBT rights and gender equality.
It is obvious that GMA wanted to give people something to talk about and thankfully, they veered away from producing another fantaserye this time. A lot has seen this as a bold move and the network is sure proud of it. Personally, I don't care about what these companies do so they can be hailed as a pioneer on something. GMA can enjoy all the attention and recognition as much and as long as they want -- and honestly, I think they deserve it for being prepared and brave enough to face criticisms. However, as a Mom, a citizen of the Philippines, and a writer who tries to get into blogging again, I thought I needed to say something.
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| Yours truly included. :) |
The Synopsis of Controversy and Celebration
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| The groundbreaking series, they say. |
Created and developed by Suzette Doctolero, My Husband's Lover is a Pinoy drama series that started airing on June 10, 2013. Its plot revolves on the lives of the three main characters Lally (Carla Abellana), Vincent (Tom Rodriguez), and Eric (Dennis Trillo). It is directed by Dominic Zapata, who also did Temptation of Wife.
So far, we can pretty much see what the story is about. Lally and Vincent are married and they make a good couple, financially stable and all. They love each other and they try their best to make the relationship work and last despite the typical meddling of Lally's monster- err... mother-in-law (Elaine, played by Kuh Ledesma). As if dealing with the MIL is not enough to make a wife crazy, Lally will slowly find herself questioning her husband's faithfulness as he shows signs of womanizing. On the other hand, as a closeted gay guy who has fought against his true gender preference for years, Vincent's world is turned upside down when old flame, Eric, comes back to his life. Meanwhile, Eric is shocked to know that Vincent is now married and tries to stay away from the couple to not cause them trouble. However, their love for each other couldn't be suppressed and eventually, Eric and Vincent will be involved in an unconventional extra-marital affair, much to everyone in their world's frustration and opposition.
Extra-Marital Affairs and Homosexuality in Philippine Entertainment
Third parties are common ingredients to most marriages -- both in real life and film or TV. Love stories wouldn't be as lovable without the kerida, the kabit, the other woman or man. The past few years may even be coined as the Golden Age of Affair Movies and Series. There's My Neighbor's Wife and No Other Woman for the movie category while there was Temptation of Wife on TV, for example. Some of these affair films and seryes aimed to show the point-of-view of the keridas, contrary to the typical plots that only showed how helpless the legal wives and "number one's" are. All in all, portraying an extra-marital dilemma is not at all new to us.
Moreover, none of us is new to homosexuality, too. Each of us must have a gay or lesbian friend, family member, or relative. We have also seen them portrayed in films and TV movies many times over -- we have been shown all types of homosexuals: transsexuals, bisexuals, cross-dressers, gay guys, butch, femme, etc. Hollywood has given us Brokeback Mountain as the best example of extra-marital homosexual love affair on film. In the Philippines, there have also been a number of films that had controversial plots involving gay men, with most of them in the indie category, some even scoring international awards and critical acclaims such as Brillante Mendoza's Masahista.
While extra-marital affairs and homosexuality are common in Philippine TV and films, they have never been mixed together before, at least not in a TV series which people get to watch every single weeknight. When I saw the trailer of My Husband's Lover, I just shrugged my shoulders and thought, "oooh... another affair series pero in fairness, may added twist ah, lalake naman ang kabit."
With all sincerity, I wasn't worried about the plot at all. I was more worried about how GMA would maintain creativity and not end up showing us scenes that try too hard to please -- just like how their other series do and did.
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| No more ridiculous "twists" please? |
In the News
The other night, I saw a news clip that tells about how the show is being acclaimed by an organization fighting for LGBT rights. And well, I basically don't need an actual news to know how it is being scrutinized by the Catholic Church (they condemn almost everything nowadays, anyway).
GMA did not decide to do this bold move for nothing. Of course they wanted it to be controversial -- I guess they wouldn't risk being criticized by the Church just for the heck of it. Being radical, carefree, and out-of-the-box seems to be the trend today, and the network is playing its cards well. Now, everyone's joining the bandwagon, and the CBCP was one of the first parties to jump right on it. Of course, LGBT groups will have something to say about it -- good things to say at that.
As a Citizen...
So here's the thing. As a commoner, a typical audience who doesn't have access to cable TV at home, My Husband's Lover meets my meek expectations of how a prime time telenovela should be. (You see, you should not have high standards when we talk about Filipino mainstream entertainment or you'll never ever be satisfied.) It doesn't have the anak-ni-ganito-si-ganon element (yet), and I think (and hope) it will not have a buwis-buhay-mamatay-na-sana-si-kontrabida climax. GMA wanted to be different, and they are successful, so far.
It's refreshing how a new kind of drama is now being shown on Philippine TV. And judging by the few episodes I've seen so far, the technicals aren't bad (transitions, shots, angles, dialogue, etc.). We should not deprive the Filipino audience of a show done in good taste.
As a Mom...
When you're a mom (to a three-year-old boy), the way you look at things changes. This series airs at around 9:30 PM, Mondays to Fridays. Many kids of different ages are still awake at this time in the evening, and children absorb ideas, language, and actions like sponges. And personally, I wouldn't want to expose my child to such types of stories this early. Sure, there's the MTRCB SPG (Strict Parental Guidance) rating, but I don't think it's enough to stop other children from watching. In our home, as parents, my husband and I have the power over the remote control, but I don't think it's the same with all other households. It would have been great if GMA put the series in a much later time slot.
I am not saying it's immoral. Immorality is subjective. This is a reality that happens to real people, like BB Gandanghari. Sooner or later, our children will learn about it. However, I just think that it's not ideal to expose kids just like that, through a TV show that everyone watches and seems to enjoy. Not many parents have the time, energy, and/or wisdom to give the Strict Parental Guidance or the explanation that kids need, unfortunately.
I myself will not risk it. So, NO. No watching for me when the kid's awake and around.
The Bottom Line
My Husband's Lover's progress and end may prove to be a good exhibition of the cliche, "you can never please everybody." For GMA, they should really think hard on which party they will make victorious as the curtain closes on this series: the conservatives, Christians, and the devout Catholics, or the radicals and the LGBTs.
If Vincent chooses Lally and leaves Eric in the process, the Catholics, Christians, and conservatives will be glad and quote,"what God has joined together, let no one separate." Especially not a homosexual. This will leave the LGBTs doubtful of GMA's support, though.
Meanwhile, if Vincent chooses Eric, LGBTs might rejoice and stand firm on their vision of equal rights to loving and being loved. And CBCP might forever hate GMA for that.
But the network may also play the safe side -- no family will be destroyed as Vincent eventually chooses to stay with Lally while Eric finds another guy to fall in love with, and everyone forgives each other and become friends. Or maybe GMA can also kill the Eric character as he tries to save either Vincent or Lally or their kids and everyone celebrates his gay life and heroism.
I have seen a lot of Filipino TV series my entire life. And I am pretty sure this one will play it safe in the end, too.
So, do I recommend it? Sure. Just don't watch it with those tiny eyes around. ^_^
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