"SENYALEZ"

Elloso, Ma. Fatima Aiza Mamasig. "Senyalez" BA thesis. University of the Philippines Diliman College of Mass Communication, 2010. Lesbians are a very rare sight in Philippine cinema. In the few films where there is a lesbian character, she is almost always shown as an unattractive, bad-mannered “tomboy” (butch lesbian) who likes to pick fights. She would also probably have vices like smoking, drinking and doing drugs. More often than not, she would also have a “straight” girl as love interest, who in the end will leave her for a “true” man. Either that or she gets raped and becomes a “real” woman. “Senyalez” seeks to divert from such negative portrayals and tragic story lines. It aims to break and go beyond the stereotypes by portraying lesbians in a positive light. It also makes use of camp and anime influences, as opposed to the usual dark and “realistic” approach in stereotypical lesbian films.