Sassa Gurl (center) in a scene from “Balota.” Image: Courtesy of Cultural Center of the Philippines
While Sassa Gurl knows she did her character justice in the Cinemalaya 2024 film “Balota,” she explained that one of the reasons why she did her best is to represent the LGBTQIA+ community.
The content creator-actress is set to make her Cinemalaya debut with “Balota,” which revolves around electoral violence. The Kip Oebanda-helmed film stars Marian Rivera, Will Ashley, Joel Saracho, Donna Cariaga and Gardo Verzosa.
“Feel ko marami pa akong improvement na kailangan… pero binigay ko ang best ko,” she told reporters on the sidelines of Cinemalaya’s press conference. “Binigyan ko ng kulay at buhay ang character ko. Hindi lang naman para sa’kin ito. Ito ay representation sa mga queer artists na bigyan pa kami ng mas maraming trabaho. Ginawa ko ito para sa community namin.”
(I feel I could still improve, but I did my best. I gave color and life to my character. This is not for me alone. This is a representation of queer artists in hopes that we will be given more jobs. I did this for our community.)
Sassa Gurl is happy that her Cinemalaya debut is a film that “fits her advocacy and branding,” while noting that she would have funny moments — or, according to her, “nilaro,” but it’s done with “consent.”
“Kadalasan, hindi ako nakakakuha ng political roles. Pero ngayon, happy ako kasi may touch ng reality naming kabaklaan. Paano nga ba nakakarelate ang mga bading sa eleksyon. Maraming papansin na bading sa eleksyon, alam niyo yan,” she said.
(I usually don’t get political roles. But now, I’m happy that this film touches on the reality of the LGBTQIA+ community. How does the LGBTQIA+ community relate to the elections? A lot of queer people tend to draw attention to themselves.)
‘MAHALAGA ITO SA MGA KABATAAN NGAYON’
WATCH: As she’s set to make her “Cinemalaya” debut with “Balota,” Sassa Gurl shared that it’s her intention to take on socially relevant projects, saying it’s part of her “advocacy.” | @HMallorcaINQ pic.twitter.com/X1U823eKSB
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) July 11, 2024
Social relevance, LGBTQIA+ representation matters
The content creator also pointed out that it’s “important” for her to take on politically centered projects as it’s relevant to the audience. “Talagang mahalaga na i-educate natin ang lahat tungkol sa mga advocacies at political issues sa bansa natin.”
“Hindi naman basta dapat ginagamit ang platform para sa clout,” she continued. “Ginagamit din ito para ma-influence ang mga tao mag-isip differently, at siyempre, i-challenge ang system na meron tayo.”
(It’s important to educate people about the advocacies and political issues in our country. Our platform shouldn’t only be used for clout. It is also used to influence people to think differently and of course, challenge the system that we have.)
Marian Rivera (third from left), along with director Kip Oebanda (center) and the cast of Cinemalaya 2024 film “Balota” at a press conference in Manila. Image: Courtesy of Cultural Center of the Philippines
When asked how stories of the LGBTQIA+ community should be told in mainstream media, Sassa Gurl said it’s about giving opportunities to queer artists as it allows them to take up space.
“Kilalanin ang mga bakla, mag-explore. Mag-explore sa buhay ng mga bakla. Bigyan ng opportunities ang queer artists, queer writers, queer directors — bigyan kami ng space. Ang pinakamaganda at effective [na taong] magkekwento ng kabaklaan ay bakla din,” she said.
“Dapat bigyan kami ng space para mabigyan ng kulay ang buhay ng mga kabaklaan. Kapag ikaw ay bakla, ipaglaban mo ang kapwa mong bakla kung nasaan man, pwedeng sa acting, fashion, medisina or whatever, dahil ito ay mahalaga. Kailangan ng representation para sa isa’t isa,” she continued.
(Know the LGBTQIA+ community, explore. Explore our lives. Provide opportunities to queer artists, writers and directors — and allow us to take up space. The one who will best and most effectively tell stories about the LGBTQIA+ community is us. We must be given the space to give color and life to our community. If you’re part of the LGBTQIA+ community, you must fight for your community no matter where you are — acting, fashion, medicine or whatever — because this is important. We need to represent each other.)
Sassa Gurl (center) in a behind-the-scenes look at “Balota.” Image: Courtesy of Cultural Center of the Philippines
Going back to her performance in “Balota,” Sassa Gurl said she wanted to do her best regardless of whether she wins an award or not. But if she does win a Best Supporting Actress award, she joked that she would curse the audience in her speech.
“Ay, mumurahin ko kayong lahat. P*t*ng in* niyo, deserve ko ‘to,” she said, eliciting laughter from the reporters.