When love replaces friendship

My Own Private Idaho


I've finally had a chance to watch this movie which I've been wanting since I was seventeen. When I saw it where I usually rent my DVD's it's still out so I have to wait until it was returned. Anyways the wait was well worth it because the movie was awesome that is if you are an art movie connoisseur. It is a critically acclaimed movie and also a gay movie classic which definitely a must-have and must-watch for every PLU, just like James of the film Shortbus who inferred the former when he came out.

The movie centers on two street hustlers, Mike (River Phoenix)



and Scott (Keanu Reeves)



embarking on a soul search that takes them to Mike's hometown in Idaho (hence the title) and then to Italy in search of Mike's mother. Scott is the son of the wealthy mayor and claims he's a rogue and that he hustles mainly because he wants to rebel. Mike, however, is a narcoleptic gay and has no other means of support. They've develop a strong friendship that is tested by Scott's ambivalence to street life and his forthcoming inheritance, as well as Mike's budding affection for him.

One particular interesting scene in the movie which Phoenix re-wrote himself is the camp fire scene where Mike professes his love for Scott implicating that his character was gay whereas Gus Van Sant had originally made it more obscure. Scott did not take Mike's feelings seriously and married a girl. Reeves reportedly was uncomfortable with this aspect of the film. He said in an interview that although he is not against gays or anything he won't have sex with guys. That he would never do that again on film. Could it be that he is afraid that he would be taking it with him on the real life just like what happened to River Phoenix?

The children of the sea

"El Mar"

I've never seen a movie so gory and disturbing as this one. Actually when I saw it I ended up having a nightmare. Well if you're into looking for something not Hollywoody films then this one is for you.



The story revolves around the three childhood friends; Ramallo(underground accomplice played by Roger Casamajor),



Manuel(religiously devoted played by Bruno Bergonzini)



and Francisca(Antonia Torrens as a nun that harbors the secrets of the three). Set during the Spanish Civil War, their lives were marked by a vengeful slaying of another child and they have carried this secret until they were adults.






The three reunited after a few years in a hospital for the care of tuberculosis. Where their lives have entwined again in desperation to find deliverance from its horrors. A particular interest here is that Manuel is trying to repress his sexual desires for Ramallo. He turns to religion in order to avert it, but to much dismay. (Does this sound a bell???) While Ramallo is particularly obsessed to be in the beach, hence the title "El Mar". Metaphorically signifying that the torment in our lives will one day find its calmness.

Although the casting was not that remarkable, their performance have suited the strange but beautiful story. The cinematography and sound effects succeeded to evoke you the feeling that there's hope to look forward to.

When sex is not just S-E-X

"Short Bus"


You've just lost half of your gay life if you haven't seen this movie yet. I suggest that you and your beau go to the nearest video rental and grab a copy and watch it. While the movie got some banging from the critics for the sexual content, I guarantee you that it would not raise any horny goosebumps on the back of your head neither because the way it was relayed in the movie is a contradiction to the definition of pornography. The plot which Revolves around the lives of a sexually diverse group of emotionally challenged New Yorkers trying to connect with each other after the 9/11 tragedy. Actually there are more than 3 subplots that the movie contain, but in our interest I will be discussing more of the gay subplot here:

A soft-spoken James (Paul Dawson)



which is a former male whore suggest to his boyfriend whose name is James (PJ DeBoy)



also that they should have an open relationship. Meaning they could have sex with another guy. They met a young ex-model and aspiring singer named Ceth (Jay Brannan)



and the three begin their menage-a-trois. Meanwhile unknowingly James and Jamie's life is stalked by their across-the-street neighbor Caleb(Peter Stickles).



He fears the inclusion of Ceth in James and Jamie's relationship might break them up and thus destroy his ability to live vicariously through them. One time he attended Shortbus and confronted Ceth. And what goes on after this rendezvous is all for you to see. I'm not going to spoil your excitement, am I? Here's a sneak preview:

The dilemna of a beautiful life and living with the truth.

It really incurred my ire upon learning that up to the present suicide cases on the gay teens were still on the upscale. After all my brother's and sister's have broken their legs and limbs just to forward the LGBT cause from all over the world. It is such a waste to loose them, their skills and abilities alone could help in changing our world. The social stigma attached to homosexuality, a lot of people out there still practice out-and-about homophobia which includes derogation and physical assault.

(Read the news itself here.)

I myself have lost a female cousin, and because of what she is and the bigotry of all the people surrounding her at that time she committed suicide. She died from a gunshot that she pointed on her head. (May she rest in peace!!!) It's so painful to think that you lost them and the reasons why they committed it is until now unresolved. When will these so-called adults learn?

Short Film: Trevor
Uploaded by nonightfan

So much for the adage "The truth will set you free," in the real world this things does not really happen. It's only a piece of the pie that you have to work on still for every detail of coming out and accepting who and what you are. We are still in hope that in every place could have what New York City have started, "The National Coming Out Day", that someday PLU could truly be happy with their chosen lives.

'Til death do they part

"Burnt Money"

I just saw this really, really awesome movie and I highly recommend you to watch because it is a reminiscent of the infamous "Brokeback Mountain". However this one was made by our Argentinian brothers (I don't know if this is true but I saw one commercial ad saying that 7 out of 10 of them have leanings.) and it has a sudden twist in the end that I guarantee you will love. It's hard not to tell you the story but I don't wanna spoil your interest in watching it. Just don't be offended by the lovescenes done by the straight actors here, ooooops did I just dissed the movie? The overtly homoerotic scenes will keep you wanting more though.

The movie based on a true story of a bank heist in Argentina was starred by Eduardo Noriega

and Leonardo Sbaraglia,

who were referred to as "The Twins" but they weren't really twins instead they're lovers. They've found each other in a run-down t-room cubicle doing the you-know-what, which we are very famous of (hmmmm naughty!). The cinematography is really perfect in capturing the dimness of the condition and fate of their relationship which has an obvious effect in capturing our emotions and empathy to the their characters. Enough said you should watch it yourself!!!

Potato Queen

With the advent of the internet technology, one can no longer feel alone and different in this world. This is what I felt when I chance upon this set of videos describing what I am really wanting in my life.

Video 1




Video 2

It took out the words from my mind, freaky yet very true. A lot of Asian gays have been curtailed by this barrier, posed by the video, being on the bottom of sexual hierarchy (in lay terms, sexually unattractive). GAYS were shouting for equality and yet within our community we are also exercising a different kind of discrimination.

I had my share of futile attempts to change my appearance, from using colored contact lenses to even dying my hair to blonde, as a Caucasian wannabe. None of them have made me contented. I am still wanting more and that is now expressed thru' having Caucasian boyfriends.

And eventhough I stopped trying to morph myself and decided to go back to my old looks I am still a mutt. I wonder why even in my own country they think I am a foreigner. One time I was in a long line of people getting visas from the Australian embassy in the Philippines when an old lady approached me, and tapped my back;

"Hello! Do you speak "Tagalog"?

Opo lola! (Yes grandma!)

Ay ganun? Akala ko foreigner ka, mukha ka kasing taga-ibang bansa. (Really? I thought you are foreigner, you look like from another country)

Naku lola Pilipinong-pilipino po ako! (Grandma I am a pure Filipino!)

My fascination of what you call, "poster looks" still haunts me up to this day and until we are plagued with this pseudo-thinking of what is beautiful we can never be free. Would you believe it, I even swore that before I die I will have the looks I dream of.