What Iñigo Pascual learned from queer character in ‘Boyette: Not A Girl Yet’

Iñigo Pascual learned a thing or two from Zaijian Jaranilla’s character in “Boyette: Not A Girl Yet,” the newest Star Cinema movie.

Pascual’s Charles character is the object of affection of Jaranilla’s Boyette. The two are best friends in the movie and along the way, Charles finds out Boyette wants more than just friendship.

“Gusto kong magpasalamat as Charles and Iñigo sa character ni Boyette. Feeling ko sa lahat ng mga Charles dito ay marami kayong matututunan kung mayroon kayong best friend na Boyette,” Pascual said in the online conference for the movie on Monday, Nov. 16.

(As Charles and Iñigo, I want to thank the character of Boyette. I feel like all the Charleses here will learn a lot if he has a best friend like Boyette.)

Inigo Pascual, Zaijian Jaranilla, Boyette Not a Girl Yet
Iñigo Pascual and Zaijian Jaranilla in “Boyette: Not a Girl Yet.” Image: Star Cinema

For Pascual, a line in the film got him into his senses.

“May line nga si Zaijan sa movie na sobrang paborito ko: ‘Minsan mas lalaki pa sa lalaki ang bakla’ kasi makikita mo iyong tapang nila na minamahal nila ang sarili nila, hindi sila takot ilabas kung sino ang totoong sila,” he recalled.

(Zaijian has a line in the movie which has become my favorite: “Sometimes gay men are more manly than [heterosexual] men” because you will see their courage to love themselves. They are not afraid to show their true selves.)

That line, for Pascual, rings true.

“As Charles, sobrang naging sampal sa mukha ko iyon. Oo nga, totoo nga pala iyon,” he said.

(As Charles, it was a slap to my face. [I realized] that yes, it is true.)

And for those who are like Charles, Pascual advises them not to worry about being friends with someone gay.

“Huwag ninyo isarado ang pintuan ninyo kasi baka mas marami pa kayong matutunan sa kanila,” he said.

(Don’t close your doors because you might learn even more from them.)

Doing the movie reunited Pascual with his former love team partner, Maris Racal. It was for him, a welcome reunion.

“Para sa akin, since nanggaling kami sa love team nandoon iyong maturity namin, siguro mas intinding-intindi namin ang isa’t isa,” he related.

(For me, since we came from a love team, the maturity was already there. We understand each other even more.)

Pascual shared that he and Racal were just a room apart during the shoot, which provided him the chance to say “hi” to his former leading lady.

He also admitted they were past the awkward stage.

“Hindi kami nagkakailangan kasi hindi naman kailangan (We did not feel awkward). We’re here to be professional and we’re here to work together,” he said.

“At saka ayos naman ang friendship namin ni Maris; wala naman kaming hinanakit sa isa’t isa.”

(Our friendship is OK; we do not have grudges against one other.)

Pascual admitted he had some hesitations in doing the movie since it came during the pandemic.

He wondered if it was safe, considering it was his “first project during the quarantine.”

He noted, “Siyempre natakot ako pero may protocols naman tayo sa Star Cinema and I was sure naman na magiging safe iyong takbo ng project namin.”

(Of course I was scared but we have protocols in Star Cinema and I was sure that the project would be run safely.) NVG

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