Best gay Filipino films you NEED to see #1

I am an avid fan of gay films, especially from my home country, the Philippines. For a country that is not as progressive as the US in terms of sexual politics (even their pornography is noted as wussy "softcore" at best, and an X rating would consist of showing pubic hair without the genitalia), in recenty years, this country has really mind-blowing gay films. I'll be reviewing a few of those films that I have seen recently to you:

ANG LIHIM NI ANTONIO (Antonio's Secret):
Starring Kenjie Garcia, Jiro Manio, Sharmaine Buencamino and Josh Ivan Morales
Written by Lex Bonife
Directed by Joselito Altarejos

This film was the first I had ever seen from the Philippines that, not only had head-turning eye candy (google Josh Ivan Morales and you'll see), but surprisingly, you actually did see some penis popping here and there in this movie (my reaction: "OH MY GOD, THERE'S DICK IN THIS MOVIE!!" [rewind movie to prove that what I saw was actually penis, then I watch it again a few more times to prove that there was actually penis]), the story was very well-written and the story convincing as well.

Antonio's Secret is about Antonio, a 15 year old boy who is discovering his sexuality for the first time. He lives with his idealistic mother, who is in denial that her husband, working overseas, had abandoned them. His first sexual experience had been with a friend of his from high school, but the encounter became disasterous because it broke up the friendship.

Antonio then meets his father's brother, Jonbert (our darling Josh Ivan Morales), who temporarily moves into Antonio's house while he applies for a job in Manila. Jonbert is a typical guy, but he is lives in secret as a male prostitute who screws gay guys for money (of course, he doesn't really see himself gay since he hadn't been screwed from behind, but I digress). Jonbert becomes Antonio's sexual obsession, and the story continues on to a surprising end.

Out of 5 penises, I'd give it 4.5 penis rating (5 if they showed more dick).

ANG LALAKE SA PAROLA (The Man in the Lighthouse)
Starring Harry Laurel and Justin de Leon
Written by Lex Bonife and Joselito Altarejos

Another Bonife-Altarejos collaboration, this was their first film together (before "Lihim"). Another X-rated gay indie film, the story and filmography was not as great as "Lihim", but the fact that there were full frontal penis shots almost makes up for the somewhat lagging filmography. You will be entertained watching this movie, no matter what angle you're watching it from (from the bed or from the floor LOL).

"Ang Lalake sa Parola" is about a young man named Mateo, who works at a lighthouse. He had moved from his hometown to this rural village because he had heard that his estranged father, who had abandoned him when he was little, had lived there, but once Mateo had discovered his whereabouts, he discovered that he was working overseas. Mateo had been with his girlfriend for about 3 years before he meets Jerome, a shy urbanite from Manila, who was in his hometown for vacation.

The two become the best of friends, and slowly, they become lovers. Mateo is confused with his sexuality because he can't admit to himself that he's gay, even though he's in love with Jerome. So the story is basically Jerome's personal journey about discovering his sexuality.

I'd give this one a 4 penis rating (5 if the filmography was better).

MACHO DANCER
Starring Alan Paule, Daniel Fernando, Jacklyn Jose
Written by Amando Lacuesta and Ricardo Lee
Directed by Lino Brocka

I've recently discovered Brocka's films, and his films are extraordinary. For any film enthusiast, Brocka's films are a must see - his films have begun the trend of filmaking excellence from the Philippines, starting with his film, "Insiang", that was shown at the Cannes International Film Festival in 1976. Although, with this film, this one completely threw me off guard, until I discovered the Lino Brocka was gay - which made a lot more sense why he made this film.

"Macho Dancer" is a titilating and honest look about the Filipino sex industry, the sex, the drugs, the dangers and the corruption of the system surrounding the people who work in it. There are many steamy scenes, besides the male macho dancers (check out the two or three "shower scenes" in this movie), but as you watch the movie, you are given a closer look at their lives outside of the gay club, and you almost feel guilty enjoying those macho dancing sequences. You realize that the character's lives are hard and gritty, where there are instances of life or death. Macho Dancer is a wake-up call about the sex industry - that it isn't only glitz, glamour and sex.

The story of Macho Dancer is about Pol, who lives in a poor village, and sells himself to American military servicemen to help take care of his mother and 3 siblings. After his last military serviceman had left, his friend Greg, convinces him to move to Manila in order to get a job as a macho dancer in a gay bar. While at his "interview" at Greg's workplace, he meets Noel, who works at a rival bar, and Noel convinces him to not only work at Noel's gay bar, but live with him at his small, run-down apartment.

Pol gets used to life in Manila working at the club and living with Noel, he falls in love with a woman prostitute (his first straight relationship, it seems). As he gets to know Noel, he discovers that Noel is looking for his long-lost sister, who ran away from their village to look for him in the city. Noel and Pol, during their off hours, travel to all the whore houses in the city to find his sister, with ending disasterous results.

The story can be a bit predictable and a bit unbelievable (you don't really hear about gay men falling in love with women every day), but the film gave you a feel of the difference between the glitz and glamour of the gay club and the dirty, poverty-stricken world outside of the gay club that it really makes you analyze the movie.

Out of 5 penises, I give it a 4.5 penis rating.

I promise to review more films soon!!