What ‘Glorious’ suggests

Tony Labrusca (left) with his mom Angel Jones

It got 17 million views. It’s either we have 17 million promiscuous people or 17 million who are open-minded and want to talk about it.”

Thus observed Angel Jones, mom of actor Tony Labrusca, of the unexpectedly positive reception that the trailer of her son’s film, “Glorious,” received since it was posted online in early November.

“Obviously, people are interested. It’s something that they want to talk about, but are probably too ashamed to do so. They just don’t know how to start the conversation, and this film is a conversation piece for them,” Jones told the Inquirer during the special screening of the film directed by Connie Macatuno.

“In the States or in Europe, trailers like this are nothing special. But here, oh my God! It’s like we’re not allowed to talk about it publicly. I’m happy that we finally have a film with this theme,” she said.

The movie tells the story of Niko (Labrusca) and Glory (Angel Aquino) as they navigate the complexities of a May-December romance.

“I think it’s hot and sexy. (Hollywood actress) Demi Moore is doing it. There are so many hot older women who date younger guys and vice versa,” Jones pointed out. “There’s nothing wrong with it. Let’s not make it an issue. It’s great that there’s a movie here in the Philippines that makes people more aware.”

Jones said it’s sad when people make fun of women who date guys who look much younger—or older. “I say, ‘Go girl!’ It’s a great thing. It should be normalized because love is love. We should allow people to love whom they want, as long as it’s real,” she declared.

She said she was grateful to Aquino, 45, who personally chose Labrusca, 23, to be her onscreen partner, for making the steamy love scenes “look like art.”

“It wasn’t awkward at all. When I see stuff like that, I don’t cringe because it’s life. We kiss our lovers like that. We sleep with our lovers like that. It’s exciting to see,” she said. “It felt natural.”

Jones, 40, added: “What’s great is that Angel and I are almost the same age. She’s also a single mom. She is such a nice person.”

As his mom, Jones said she has always known that Labrusca would be a great actor one day. “When he was little, maarte na siya. There was something about him—he needed attention all the time. He had this attitude that told me he was meant to be seen by people, to entertain them,” she recalled. “I just didn’t realize that it would happen to him this fast. It’s amazing!”

Jones said that when Tony did this movie, she likewise already knew “that this was going to be a movie for titas to fantasize over… He grew up around women of different ages. They sort of flock to him. He’s a good boy, a nice guy. Everyone is somewhat drawn to him.”