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‘My Husband’s Lover’ creator wants CBCP to watch show

Tom Rodriguez, Carla Abellana and Dennis Trillo

The creator behind GMA 7’s gay-themed series “My Husband’s Lover” (MHL) has spoken up in defense of the show amidst the flak it is getting from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.

“Makikita nila na ang mood o vibe ng show, at maging ang content, ay tungkol sa understanding, sa love, at sa equal rights na hindi porke’t bading ay mas less na siya kesa sa straight,” Suzette Doctolero, MHL creator-head writer told Yahoo! Philippines OMG!.

She added, “Welcome sa’kin na panoorin nila. Hindi ako natatakot dahil alam ko na bagama’t may mga bading na karakter sa show, hindi sila masasamang tao.”

“At kung panoorin man nila, makikita nila, mararamdaman nila ‘yung pagmamahal, understanding at magagandang values na gustong i-impart ng show.”

The controversial series tells the story of Vincent (Tom Rodriguez), a closeted gay who chose to marry his girlfriend Lally (Carla Abellana) after he got her pregnant in college. But Tom’s heart only beats for his greatest love, Eric (Dennis Trillo).

No revisions needed despite CBCP’s ire

Doctolero said there are no instructions from GMA-7 management to revise the flow of the show even after the CBCP has released its statement on the series.

“Kahit nagkaroon ng gulo now, hindi naman nila ako kinausap para magsabi na baguhin… walang ganoon. Sa GMA naman, may matinding respeto ang management sa creative team. Nung kinon-ceptualize ko ang show, buong-buo ‘yung kwento at inuprabahan nila (the management) ito dahil nakita nila na hindi siya nagpapalaganap ng kaimoralan, ng kasamaan.”

She further said that the series goes on because there’s nothing wrong with it.

“Patuloy ang kwento niya. Wala kaming babaguhin dahil hindi siya imoral at sa tingin namin, tasteful naman ang pagkakagawa niya.”

A woman creating a series on gays

Doctolero found it easy to see herself in the shoes of the gay characters she created. After all, women and gays have a lot in common, she observed.

“Kahit babae ako, kaya kong isulat ang isyu ng kabadingan dahil naiintindihan ko rin na ang babae ay katulad din ng mga bading na may discrimination din sa society. Gender lang ang pinagkaiba pero ‘yung emosyon, ‘yung sensibility, parehong-pareho lang—parehong nagmamahal, parehong nasasaktan, parehong nalulungkot, parehong mabuti, at meron ding hindi kabutihan sa ugali…pero taong-tao.”

She admitted that having three writers from the gay community on-board makes their task easier.

But she conceded that it takes a lot of risks to produce a gay series in a conservative society like the Philippines.

“Sa umpisa kinakabahan ako, pero nang ipinalabas na siya at nakita ko ang lahat ng reaksyon ng mga manonood, marami akong natanggap na private messages na nagsasabi na ‘yun ang kanilang kwento, na ang MHL ay parang katulad ng buhay nila.”

She’s grateful that rave reviews came not just from the gay community, but from  open-minded straight persons as well.

Soap opera a notch higher

Beyond the reviews – good or bad -- Doctolero felt  GMA-7 was able to take soap operas a notch higher through MHL.

“Pakiramdam ko nakadagdag kami sa pag-eevolve ng soap opera. Isang soap opera na nagpabago, at tunay na sumasalamin sa buhay ng tao.”

MHL is the project closest to her heart so far, and Doctolero is sure Filipinos are ready for this kind of shows.

“Matagal nang handa ang tao para sa ganitong klaseng palabas. Kami lang writers ang ngayon pa lang nakaka-realize na handa na nga sila.”