Kyle Velino, Miggy Jimenez on how love transcends gender in ‘Gameboys’

Kyle Velino (left) and Miggy Jimenez in “Alt Gameboys” (Image: The IdeaFirst Company)

“Gameboys’” latest potential pairing have spoken up on how the hit BL series imparts the message of love, especially during the coronavirus pandemic.

Wesley and Terrence, portrayed by Miggy Jimenez and Kyle Velino, are initially threats to the love between “Gameboys” protagonists Gavreel and Cairo (Kokoy de Santos and Elijah Canlas).

Velino confirmed in an interview with entertainment journalist MJ Felipe on Sunday, Sept. 27, that he received hate messages from the first appearance of his character.

However, an episode after the “Gameboys” finale, called “Alt Gameboys,” gave Wesley and Terrence redemption and even a following with the show’s global audience—fans have dubbed their love team names like #WesTerUnion. The episode also introduced a femme character named Achilles, played by Kych Minemoto.

Jimenez and Velino discussed what they felt was the message of the show in the online interview with Felipe.

“Love talaga e. Dito mo mapapakita hindi importante kung ano ang gender mo, basta nagmahal ka (It’s truly love. You can show here that your gender is not important as long as you spread love),” said Velino.

“Best example itong pandemic ito. Hindi natin masasabi kung ano ang mangyayari bukas,” he said. “Para sa ‘kin, gawin natin kung ano ang napapasaya sa ‘tin. Ipakita natin kung sino tayo kasi ‘di natin alam bukas kung nandito pa tayo. So feeling ko i-embrace natin ang sarili natin.”

(The pandemic is the best example of this. We don’t know what will happen to us tomorrow. For me, let’s do what makes us happy. Let us show who we truly are because we don’t know if we’ll still be here tomorrow. I feel that we should embrace ourselves.)

He also stressed that the show was able to spread awareness on the impact of the pandemic on people going through it and on mental health. Velino’s character, Terrence, is open about how lonely and down he feels during the health crisis.

Velino added that he was grateful that he and the rest of the cast where “instruments” in spreading love.

“Lalo na 2020 na e, iba na ‘yong panahon noon, iba na ngayon. So whatever makes you happy doon lang tayo. Siyempre tiwala lang (Especially now that it’s 2020, what is going on now is different from before. Let us go with whatever makes us happy. And of course have faith),” he said.

Jimenez had the same sentiments, stating, “Kahit masama pa ‘yan sa tingin ng tao pero kung tama para sa ‘yo, I feel that’s the most important thing na rin na kailangan mong ipasok sa sistema mo. No matter what… basta gawin mo ang gusto mo.”

(Even if people judge you, but you feel that it is right for you, I feel that’s the most important thing that you should put into your system. No matter what… just do what you want.)

“‘Yong takeaway pagmamahal talaga e kahit may issues, saan mapupunta? Love pa din at the end of the day (My takeaway is whatever issues are going on, where do they go but to love? It is love still at the end of the day).”

The two are expected to return for season 2 of “Gameboys,” which has yet to announce a release date. Niña V. Guno /ra

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