SINCE the pandemic started, several amazing shows centered around LGBTQ+ stories have been released on popular streaming platforms like Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime.
Some felt butterflies in their stomach when they watched Charlie and Nick first kiss on Heartstopper or sat at the edge of their seats rife with anxiety as they tried to figure out what was to be of Rue and Jules’s relationship on Euphoria.
And all of these shows are, of course, amazing, but during this Pride Month, why not stream a queer love story set in the Philippines, for a change?
The Philippines is known to be conservative, but that doesn’t mean Philippine media isn’t filled with a number of great films and series that look at the lives of the LGBTQ+ community in the country.
But there are so many streaming platforms, and it seems like new shows are being released in the country practically every day. So for those unsure where to start, here are some queer-centered stories to stream online this month.
- Gameboys
Released in 2020, Gameboys is considered one of the first-ever BL or Boy Love series in the Philippines. Its story revolves around two boys named Cairo (Elijah Canlas) and Gavreel (Kokoy de Santos.)
Here, Cairo is introduced as a streamer who broadcasts himself playing games online to his fans. Cairo eventually starts to play with a boy he meets online named Gavreel, and eventually, their friendship starts to blossom into something much deeper.
As they try to navigate their newfound relationship, they also have to deal with many other issues like health matters, ex-boyfriends and girlfriends, and coming out. Gameboys is a nail-biter, if anything, but it’s definitely worth the watch.
Gameboys received widely positive feedback after its initial release. It was even nominated for an International Emmy Award for Kids back in 2021 and won an award for Best Web Series in Seoul’s Indie Shorts Awards one year prior.
Gameboys is available for streaming on YouTube and Netflix. For those who want to see more of Cairo and Gavreel, Gameboys: The Movie can be found on Apple TV and Google Play.
- Drag Den
Reflecting the gritty reality of the Philippines, Drag Den serves not just as a competition between drag queens, but also as a way to talk about issues prevalent in the country today.
Hosted by drag queen and former RuPaul’s Drag Race contestant Manila Luzon, Drag Den is a reality show wherein eight drag queens are tasked to compete so that one may gain the title of becoming the first ever Drag Supreme and win the grand prize of a million pesos. Manila Luzon is also joined by comedian Sassa Gurl and model Nicole Cordoves as co-hosts, which help to add an even funnier layer to each episode.
For those wondering, no, this show doesn’t have any correlation to RuPaul’s Drag Race. Regardless, this show is a wonderful watch for viewers looking for something that highlights the talent of local queens while also not being afraid to shine a light on pressing matters.
(They’re in a drag cartel, for god’s sake. And Manila Luzon is a drag lord! It doesn’t get any more obvious than that.)
Many enjoyed the show after its release, so much so that it’s been renewed for a second season. If you haven’t already seen it, you can watch Drag Den on Prime Video so you can catch up before they drop season two.
- Sleep With Me
Finally, one for the sapphics! This story revolves around the lives of Harry (Janine Gutierrez) and Luna Jimenez (Lovi Poe.)
Both women struggle heavily in their lives due to their disorders; Harry’s confined to a wheelchair, and Luna has a sleeping condition that hinders her from being able to rest properly.
Harry, a DJ for a radio station who gives relationship advice to brokenhearted people, learns to navigate this newfound relationship with Luna as they both try to deal with their issues with one another, with past lovers, and with the rest of the world.
In an earlier interview, the film’s director and writer Samatha Lee stated that the series was made from the point of view of someone who has experienced what these characters have gone through, and sees this more as just a love story than something that has to be labeled as a GL.
This show shows the struggles of others that not everyone can understand, while at the same time giving viewers a beautiful love story portrayed by some of the best actresses in the country.
It’s no surprise then that in 2022, the series won the Audience Award for Best Episodic during the Outfest LGBTQ+ Film Festival held in Los Angeles that year, given the chemistry of the characters and the uniqueness of the story.
The show is currently available for streaming on iWant TFC. Viewers can binge-watch all six episodes on there or watch the first episode completely for free on YouTube.
- Mga Batang Poz
Based on the book of the same name written by Segunda Matias Jr., Mga Batang Poz is a story centered around four teenagers named Chuchay (Awra Briguela,) Luis (Fino Herrera,) Gab (Mark Neumann,) and Enzo (Paolo Gumabao.)
Mga Batang Poz isn’t really a love story so much as it is a means of showing people the reality of living with HIV, which all four characters in this series have. Opening up to one another through a group chat where they discuss the hardships they have to face given their shared disease, this show teaches audiences not to be so quick to judge people who may live with this illness, because they’re people just like everyone else.
Given that there’s been a constant rise of HIV cases in the Philippines, this show is especially timely given that there’s still the stigma that having a disease like HIV means that you’re dirty, or that you for some reason deserve to live with such an illness.
The reality is that anyone can contract this disease; sometimes you don’t even have to have sex to get it. That’s why a show like Mga Batang Poz, which puts a face to people living with HIV in the Philippines, is so important.
The show won the Jury Prize for Advocacy during the 7th Urduja Heritage Film Awards back in 2021, with actor Raven Molina also winning an award for Best New Performer before the end of the night.
They also bagged The Best Original Programme by a Streamer / OTT at the Asian Academy Creative Awards two years prior.
The show can be streamed on iWant TFC, and the first episode is available on iWant’s YouTube channel for free.
- Chasing Sunsets
Considered to be one of the first-ever Filipino Girl Love series made, Chasing Sunsets teaches people that in the battle of love, all are equal.
The main characters of this series are Lara (Aura Dominique) and Farrah (Danna Erno.) Lara is a writer who struggles with her day-to-day life because of her depression and anxiety. She meets the strong-willed Farrah when she decides to go to a place called Camp Avenue, which Farrah coincidentally owns.
Aside from watching the love between the two women blossom, Chasing Sunsets also highlights the importance of finding yourself and taking care of your mental health in a way wherein you don’t have to depend on others for happiness.
Many have since shown great support and love for the series, and you can too with a simple click because the entire series is available on YouTube for your binge-watching perusal.
