On July 18, PaThirsty director Ivan Andrew Payawal and stars Kych Minemoto and Bob Jbeili voiced their thoughts on the struggles faced by the LGBTQIA+ when coming out.
At the media conference for their Gameboys spin-off movie PaThirsty, Jbeili cited that people should not be afraid to be themselves.
“Ang number one important thing po dito is, well, you should not be afraid of being yourself talaga. And as long as wala naman po tayong tinatapakan na tao, wala po talagang kaso na maging tunay sa ating sarili.
“And I guess, ‘yun siguro ‘yung way na kung may friend ka man or close friend, family member na gustong mag-out, wala parang i-inspire natin sila na wala naman talagang masamang maging totoo sa sarili eh.
“As long as masaya ka dito, as long as wala kang natatapakan na tao, I think wala naman po talagang masama. And ‘yun life is short, so I think we just have to enjoy our lives kung ano po ‘yung truth natin talaga.”
Payawal stressed that coming out must be a decision, and no one has the right to force anybody to come out.
“I think being a member of the [LGBTQIA+] community, coming out kasi is a very /sensitive topic–no. But it should be a decision. Coming out should be a decision of the person if he wants to come out or not. Nobody has the right to out anybody, kung hindi handa ‘yung tao. Siya ang dapat magde-decision kung magco-come out siya o hindi.”
He also shared that he didn’t feel the need to come out to his family about his sexual orientation, citing that straight people do not have to go through that experience.
“So I feel like it’s– of course, it shouldn’t be forced kung ayaw talaga ng tao mag-come out. Kailangan natin respetuhin ‘yun. I never came out to my parents, to my family actually. I never came out because I feel like it’s my choice.
“And second, if straight people don’t come out naman– straight people don’t go to their moms and say, ‘Hi Mom! I’m straight.’ So I feel like why would I have to do such an event of me coming out. That’s just me, because that’s me, and that’s my decision.”
As for Minemoto, he emphasized the importance of equality and support for the LGBTQIA+ community.
“Ako naman, equality talaga eh. At the same time, parang minsan kailangan ninyo ring suportahan talaga ‘yung mga kaibigan ninyo, minsan nakakalimutan natin, akala natin, tulad ni Achilles okay lang siya pero may dinadala na sila.
“Siguro, kailangan din natin minsan–dito sa Pilipinas kasi medyo mababa ang pag intindi ng mga tao and thankful ako kasi nabibigyan tayo ng ganitong platform para mas mabigyan natin ng kwento sa mas maraming tao.”
The Gameboys spin-off movie, ‘PaThirsty,’ stars Adrianna So, Kych Minemoto, and Alex Diaz. The romantic comedy film includes Chad Kinis, Bob Jbeili, and Kate Alejandrino.
Directed by Ivan Andrew Payawal, the sexy comedy PaThirsty is currently streaming on Vivamax.
