Marta is a young copywriter for an advertising firm. She is vain; one who sprinkles her bathtub with petals of roses and lingers there until she smells like the fragrant flower. She carries an on and off relationship with Steve - a businessman who is very much willing to take but not to give. He is scared of marriage having been born out of wedlock. She lives independently and shares a duplex apartment with Boyet, an aging gay romance novelist.
Boyet has an adopted son named Jojo who at first attempted to rob him out of hunger. After pitying him, he welcomes him in his home. Boyet is engaged in an affair with Dom, a production assistant at the publishing firm he works for. Unknown to Marta, he makes her the protagonist of his next novel. But his gay publisher snubs it because the storyline does not fall under romance-fantasy genre, which is a hit with the "masa" crowd.
Marta and Boyet may have different genders but they long for one thing: commitment. But Dom lives with Boyet only for monetary reasons and nothing more. Boyet does not mind the arrangement at all. Ironically, he scolds Marta for being so stupid with her love for Steve when he, himself, is blinded by his excessive affection for Dom.
Boyet and Dom share the same bed. In the four corners of their apartment, Boyet is the mother, Dom the father, while Jojo is the son. It is a carpet ride in the beginning, but turns gloomy in the long run as Dom beccomes increasingly demanding and insecure. The affair eventually collapses. In their hunger for worldly passions, such as sex and money, Dom kills Jojo enough and runs away as a wanted criminal.
At about the same time Marta gets pregnant. Steve, as expected, leaves her. With no other person to turn to but each other, Marta and Boyet face the circumstances of their actions together. Until when would they remain strong enough to face the challenges of a crazy, wrong love? Ladies and gentlemen, this is the spellbinding plot of Mga Pusang Gala, a digital film that explores the joys and pains of loving and surviving. Directed by Ellen Ongkiko, this art film is produced by Evaristo Productions in cooperation with MLR Films.
The movie stars Ricky Davao as Boyet and Irma Adlawan as Marta, who both delivered superb acting. They were joined by Bodyshots winners and commercial models, not to mention natural actors, Reggie Curley as Steve and Lauren Novero. It would not be a surprise if all four of them would have a field day come awards nights. I would say it's a celebration of Filipino craftsmanship at its best. Its plot maybe complicated and heavy, yet its comical scenes are delivered at the right time that they leave a smile on your face or even make you laugh. You might not like the ending but there could be no other better resolution than what the movie has.
I was privileged to watch the special screening at SM-Cebu Cinema 2 last weekend courtesy of Madam Josie Pereyra. When the movie ended, I was so thankful that I wasn't like Boyet after all. For me, it's always "to love and be loved." I don't like a relationship that centers on what I can give financially. First, because I don't have the money to give, but more importantly doing such makes me guilty because I'd rather spend it for myself or give it to my parents. And why should those who don't love me be lucky enough to partake in what I've worked so hard for? And I'm very particular with the emotion I invest. It should be reciprocated. Ayaw ko na ako lang ang nagmamahal.
Love should be a two-way process. It should be based on mutual respect and understanding. You can say I belong to the old school when it comes to love. Those I got involved with knew I couldn't give them anything but commitment. Some of them tried working it out, some of them backed out. Yet in the long run, it all failed because it would always boil down to money - and nothing more. Most men get into gay relationships because of what they can get and always get out when they can no longer have anything. That's the selfish reality I am not willing to accept.
Now, if there's one thing that Boyet and I have in common, it's the fact that I continue to wait for the right one who will love me for what I am and not because of what I have. I continue to believe that the perfect moment would soon come in God's will.
The reason why I like Pusang Gala so much is because it actually serves as a very encouraging, self-help guide for people who are in doubt and in trouble. In the big screen, after seeing Boyet and Marta so madly and stupidly in love and then go through the aches of loving, it would dawn on you that what their situations should not be your case. It opens your eyes to the reality and shows you the right path.
Go and watch the movie that opens next week - and learn from it. There's a reason why we have to feel pain, make sacrifices and allow ourselves to get hurt because of love because as the saying goes, "When God drops needles and pins along your path in life don't stay away. Pick them up and collect them. They were intended to teach you to be strong."
Goodness! Lines like "Saan nyo ba napulot yang bading na yan," and "Di ka naman babae eh. Ayan o may nakaumbok," in reference to IC, were definitely discriminatory statements. Who does Mike Tan think he is? Yes, he is the Ultimate Survivor but he still has a lot of proving to do.
The mess might be patched up last Sunday via "S-Files" but the fact remains that Mike Tan did not only hurt IC, but also insulted the whole gay community. I just hope he truly meant his asking for forgiveness and not because he and IC has an upcoming movie that will hit theaters soon. As for me, Mike Tan is already blacklisted. It would take time before I would support him again. To think, he can't even act and the charm is not even outstanding.