5 Filipino Films About Same Sex Relationships To Watch

There’s lots of love for and in these Filipino films.

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If you’re always in the mood to snuggle up with a big blanket, your favorite snacks, and some good movies, you’re in luck.

While the Philippines still has plenty of room for LGBTQ representation and acceptance, there are already quite a handful of local films that shed light on the beauty, complexities, and triumphs of gay and lesbian love. The selection is quite wide, and includes light romantic comedies as well as tear-jerking dramas.

Below, we list five Filipino films that celebrate these relationships.

Si Chedeng at si Apple (2017)

In Si Chedeng at si Apple, 66-year-old Chedeng and her best friend Apple set out to find Chedeng’s ex-girlfriend. The film mixes drama, humor, and a little absurdity to show viewers that it’s never too late to look for love.

Hello Stranger: The Movie (2021)

Picking up from the web series of the same name, Hello, Stranger: The Movie, takes classmates Xavier and Mico from their online classes to the real world. Will the two guys still feel the same about each other, IRL?

Rome & Juliet (2006)

Rome and Juliet is a romantic and emotional story of two women in conflicted but deep love. The romance is made even more complicated by the fact that Rome is Juliet’s wedding planner.

Rainbow’s Sunset (2018)

Rainbow’s Sunset is the story of Ramon, an 84-year-old man who suddenly comes out to his family as gay, and leaves home to take care of the love of his life, Fredo. The film won Best Picture and Best Screenplay in the 2018 Metro Manila Film Festival.

Baka Bukas (2016)

These are just a few of many Filipino films that put a spotlight on gay and lesbian relationships. Maybe some of these stories will feel just like some of your own love stories, maybe another film not on this list will do the trick, or maybe your story is unique to you and hasn’t found its way to the big screen. Whichever the case, we hope these films, and others like it, remind you that love really is for all.

Source: Romano Santos, VICE