Juana Change's new ‘sex film’
MANILA, Philippines - When Juana Change enters a building, Mae Paner steps out. It’s been like that ever since 2008, when Mae decided it was time to reignite her love for country. With the help of filmmaker friends Rody Vera and Raymond Lee, they created Juana Change, a costumed caricature dishing out biting political commentary on YouTube. As Juana, Mae has started movements like the anti-epal and anti-dynasty campaigns. In her big foray into film, she takes on a raunchier subject.
You’ve covered a lot of political topics before. This time, why focus on sex?
It’s hard to make an advocacy movie and be kind of grim and determined about it. Most likely, people won’t want it, because it’s going to be very upfront and serious. If you make it funny, and it’s sexy, then it becomes more appealing to people. So we thought of making a sex comedy with a political twist.
Sex sells.
Doesn’t it? Of course it does.
Growing up, what was your biggest misconception about sex?
Siguro that sex is something you can’t celebrate, that it’s something na hindi puwedeng pag-usapan outside the confines of the room, na pang-adult lang. Eh ako naman, feeling ko sex should be something we can celebrate and talk about. It should be something we can really enjoy. People should learn and understand it starting at an early age. I didn’t know this then. When I was growing up, we couldn’t talk about body parts. You can’t talk about titi or pekpek. The very names of our genitalia are taboo, so you can’t. You just can’t. Then, feeling ko sex was such a bad thing.
Why do you think it’s so taboo?
Yung simabahan siguro. The Catholic Church, ‘di ba? They’re kind of still very Jurassic about it. Like, for example, they’re so anti-RH. Eh samantalang people like sex and enjoy sex, so why can’t we have the choice to have condoms when we do it? But the Church won’t allow it.
You’re pro-contraception?
Pro.
Sex education?
Pro. More kids are talking about sex, and want to be able to discuss it without fear of ridicule, or pagagalitan ng mga magulang, or pagsasabihan ng teacher. Kasi it’s so out there anyway. They watch it in movies. They can read it in books. They have Internet. Why can’t they learn it in school? Why can’t they ask their parents? Why can’t they have discussions with their friends, you know? Ang alam ko lang, kung bukas ang isip natin, even at an early age, puwede namang pag-usapan in an appropriate way ‘di ba?
How about same-sex marriage?
Pro.
Masturbation?
Of course, pro! I love masturbating.
Abortion?
Well, that depends. You should have a choice. Kasi if it’s threatening the life of a mother, yeah. It’s your health. You have to have the right to decide for your life and for your body.
Do you ever worry about people’s reaction to your advocacies?
No. I don’t like to worry. I mean I’ve always had good reactions and really, really negative reactions about what I do, but what’s important to me is that there’s discourse happening. If I do something and nobody even dares to watch or talk about it, then I do have a problem with that. But the fact that people are watching, listening, and reacting, it boosts me to keep doing what I do.
What’s the worst feedback you’ve gotten?
Oh, it’s just about me. They call me a big fat lard na gusto lang sumikat at magpapansin pero ang pangit-pangit naman. They get really personal, but they’re very mababaw. They don’t get to the issue. If you give trolls your attention, all the more they’ll enjoy it. I don’t allow them to enjoy it. So if I see something really negative, it’s okay. It’s part of being a critic. As a critic, you also get criticized. It’s part of the game. To me, it’s all about the advocacy. Kung may gusto tayong baguhin, dapat kaya nating banggain.
* * *
Juana C. The Movie opens in cinemas May 29.
Read the rest of the interview on pelikula.tumblr.com.
