Soxie: ‘Gays are not many, but they make noise’

MANILA, Philippines - Award-winning theater and film director Soxie Topacio does not believe that gay people have ballooned in numbers, as often jokingly stated by both straights and members of the LGBT community themselves. He thinks that gays are just naturally talented and expressive that they somehow dominate showbiz and the arts by making some big noise, creating an illusion that they’ve multiplied hundredfold.

“Gays are expressive and most of them are in the arts which is influential. Kaya kami ang namamayagpag,” he frankly said during a conversation concerning his latest theater project Halik Ng Tarantula which he describes as “political” and “talks about gay relationships.”

The intriguing play was written by the late Rene Villanueva. The plot involves two male prisoners, a political male detainee named Valentin and a gay called Molina, and how their “delicate relationship” develops.

Soxie pointed out, “’Pag pumunta ka sa kulungan, mas marami pa rin ang lalaki. Nasa lugar lang kami being artists na kaya namin gumawa ng ingay.”

Last year, during the televised wake for comic King Dolphy, one of the stand-up comedians asked to share some jokes stated that, “Dati makakakita ka ng bakla every 10 minutes. Ngayon makakakita ka every 10 seconds.”

Familiar with showbiz fans for being an actor as well, Soxie explained, “Gays are learning the concept of respect. Di na stereotype ang bakla ngayon. The acceptance within and outside the gay community has become more open.”

The controversial BB Gandanghari plays Molina in Halik Ng Tarantula which is based on the movie Kiss of the Spiderwoman from which actor William Hurt earned his Oscar award. Playing Valentin on separate play dates are relatively new actors Jet Alcantara, Xyruz Cruz and Jovic Monsod.

On his leading act’s highly-publicized coming-out, the jolly director expressed, “Importante ang ginawa niya because only in coming out can he be more creative. I believe BB is serious than ever to being an actor.”

(Watch Halik ng Tarantula at Teatrino Promenade in Greenhills.)