Action drama scores with ‘dance duel’ between dubious dames

COCO Martin as Paloma (left) and Vice Ganda as Ella

SOME months ago, Coco Martin’s tough cop character on “Ang Probinsyano” threw viewers for a loopy loop when he went undercover to solve a case—by masquerading as a lovely partygoing lady named Paloma.

The cross-dressing ruse was the tale of the televiewing town because Coco turned out to look like quite a lovely lass—especially his finely-featured face.

His body was something else, however, because his beefy arms and chunky legs were difficult to lissomely “elongate” to pass for a young adult female’s form. The show’s stylists did try with long-sleeved blouses, jackets, stockings, gloves, high-heeled shoes, etc.

But it was still a wonder and a marvel that the male characters in the show were successfully “convinced” that Paloma was all female.

Still, the cross-dressing gimmick did cause a lot of buzz and comment, so that was all to the good of the show!

It’s no wonder, therefore, that the production has decided to again resort to its Paloma gambit, now that Vice Ganda is guesting as an even more improbable and unconvincing “woman” who’s the show’s resident cop-hero’s latest criminal target.

Since Vice’s character variously named Charmaine or Ella is a blackmailer who fools her victims into thinking that she’s all-female, it must have been quite excitingly “logical” for the show’s writers to bring Paloma back for a big cross-dressing “duel” with the new “dame!”

Never mind the believability and successful cross-dressing, what fun it would be for viewers to gawk and giggle as the two dubious broads tried to outwit and outdance each other.

In that regard, the show’s ongoing ploy for viewers’ avid attention has been successful. The recent “dance duel” between the two “women” has gotten a lot of attention, because it was such an unusual viewing treat.

Adding to the fun factor were the pithy “hugot lines” and smart-alecky putdowns that Ella and Paloma were made to cattily hiss at one another!

What’s up next for the two fighting and feuding “femmes”? Paloma has joined Ella’s gang so “she” can get enough first-hand evidence to catch, charge and convict the “gorgeous” gang leader.

Ella will probably be able to get away for a spell, but we can expect Paloma to catch up and corner her for a big, all-out catfight and slugfest that should get viewers avidly watching and whooping all the while.

That’s the intended effect and aftermath, of course—so, if everything pans out as designed, Vice’s “chapter” should enjoy one humdinger of a fist-flying, wig-pulling, rip-roaring, cross-dressing finale!