It’s a no-brainer. It’s a movie that cuts across all demographics—from kids and kids-at-heart who love a good comic book romp, to frat boys who’d pay to see two hours of Gal Gadot in a bikini (and cutaways of her immaculate armpits), to feminists (like myself) who look to the Amazon princess for a spark of inspiration.
But if you’re an eagle-eyed observer like me, chances are you noticed that the movie resonated the most with a particular demographic unique to the Philippines: that is, the Bekis of Manila. Sorry, but we ladies can’t hold a candle to the baklush.
Every beki we know is blushing, gushing, and wishing he were Diana Prince. Yes, folks, see it with your own two eyes on Facebook: Wonder Woman, whether by accident or design, is fast becoming the penultimate life-changing movie for our beloved Filipino gay community.
Here, we count 8 reasons why. Before you read, you’ve been warned: SPOILERS AHEAD.
8. She’s a princess and she’s a warrior.
What more could a gay man ask for in a superhero? She’s royalty (a goddess even) but she can hold her own in the most arduous of battles. It makes sense, that among all the superheroes, Wonder Woman is every gay man’s avatar—she is what happens when you combine feminine spirituality with raw strength, the constitution of a high-performing bakla.
7. All that Greek mythology.
Wonder Woman is a character steeped in Greek mythology, from the magical items she carries to the supernatural sorority she comes from. And yes, gay men and Greek lore go hand in hand. Hey, it’s their favorite prom theme, right?
6. Aunty Ope.
You’ve got to hand it to the Bekis of Manila for making puns out of thin air. On Facebook, they’ve altered the spelling of the Amazonian warrior-mentor figure Antiope into Aunty Ope—which thereby translates to Tita Ope. (Winner!)
And yes, every gay person has that encouraging tita figure that inspires him to go forth and find his true north. It’s a shame that their collective hearts must’ve shattered when poor Aunty Ope bit the dust by minute twenty.
5. Oh, just some Chris Pine nudity.
Yeah, there’s something for everybody in the movie. While hot-blooded men got their fix from Gal Gadot’s many flattering angles, there’s a particular scene that would make the bekis pinch each other’s arms in sheer homoerotic delight.
Did I mention a sopping wet Chris Pine with nothing on, just his pair of hands covering his manhood? And yes, for a PG-13 movie, there’s a lot of talk about…uhm…watches. This one’s for you, mga baks, with a ribbon, some icing, and a cherry on top.
4. Her costume is so fantabulous.
When it comes to fantabulousness, gay men cannot be beaten. And nothing screams fantabulousness than that frickin’ costume.
Oh, the tiara! Those Ricky Reyes curls! Those bracelets! Everything in her ensemble sparkles, glows, shines! And yes, if there are clothes that turn bright under the lights, more often than not, there will be a hundred gay men squealing in joy. Also, a lasso.
Expect more gay cosplayers in T minus 10.
3. She’s practically a Miss Universe contestant.
Riddle me this: She hails from an exotic island, has a strong accent, and delivers awe-inspiring lines about saving the world. What is she? Have you figured it out?
Holy smokes! She’s practically a Miss Universe contestant! And how much more beki can you go than a super heroine straight out of a beauty pageant, right?
2. She does not tolerate injustice.
Just like the most inspiring of gay men, Diana champions justice for all.
In the end, she fought for tolerance and kindness for every living, breathing thing on Earth—be it horses, babies, First Nation people, even the villains.
And that, folks, must’ve truly resonated with the gay community. They’ve been fighting a similar fight for so long. And now, it is a victory they have won.
1. She believes in the power of love.
“It’s not about what you deserve. It’s about what you believe. And I believe in love.” Powerful words to end a story.
And with these words, it will hit you that this is how gay men, the bakla, fight their battles—not through all-out machismo, but through the power of love.
Sorry, ladies. This movie doesn’t belong to us. Wonder Woman is a gay man’s movie. Pak, ganern!
What do you think of the movie? Let us know below!
