Marahuyo Project (2024)

Engaging Must watch!!!!

As a Filipino who rarely finds myself drawn to local series, the “Marahuyo Project” LGBTQIA+ series was an unexpected and deeply moving exception. From the moment I started watching, I was magnetized by its authenticity and heartfelt storytelling. This series resonates on so many levels, making it impossible not to become emotionally invested.

The fresh, new faces in the cast bring an unpolished, genuine energy to their roles, making the characters incredibly relatable. Their performances are so natural and sincere that at times, it feels less like watching a series and more like witnessing real-life events unfold. The characters’ journeys, struggles, and triumphs are portrayed with such honesty that they mirror the experiences of many in our community, including my own.

The series is beautifully set against a backdrop of stunning Philippine locations, each chosen with a keen eye for detail. The scenery enhances the narrative, adding layers of cultural and emotional depth. From the vibrant streets of the city to the tranquil beauty of the provinces, each setting feels like a character in its own right, enriching the overall storytelling.

What truly sets the “Marahuyo Project” apart is its relatability. The series captures the essence of what it means to be part of the LGBTQIA+ community in the Philippines. The characters’ stories are not just entertaining but also deeply reflective of our societal realities. The themes of acceptance, love, identity, and resilience are woven seamlessly into the plot, making each episode a powerful testament to our shared humanity.

As I watched, I found myself reminiscing about my own experiences, the challenges I’ve faced, and the joys I’ve found in being true to myself. The “Marahuyo Project” doesn’t just tell a story; it invites you to see yourself in its characters and their journeys. It’s a celebration of our diversity and a poignant reminder of the beauty in our struggles and victories.

In every aspect—from acting to location, from storytelling to direction—this series is a standout. It’s a heartfelt tribute to the richness of our culture and the strength of our community. If you haven’t yet experienced the “Marahuyo Project,” I highly recommend you do. It’s a series that will touch your heart and stay with you long after the final credits roll.

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a confident King goes thru the ringer

Overall: I give the production large props for tackling several realistic issues; however, there were too many plot threads for them to develop them all well. Aired 8 episodes about 30 minutes each on ANIMA Studios YouTube channel. Here is the playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMPz9QG8YAxIjGoPfHFugXYAbumaqC0Cj&si=4tZjYcP2X4JCgqlO

Content Warnings: past suicide, grief, hate crime, blood, homophobia, transphobia (including repeated dead naming), manhandling, non con picture taking, unwanted public outing, slap (the series needed more trigger warnings on the intro screen as I could see many things being very triggering for some people)

What I Liked
- the intro with some historical information included, integrated historical people in with the present
- an outspoken character that felt like a real person and not a stereotype
- queer representation including a trans female character (and something else but it's a spoiler)
- characters used stereotypes to determine who was queer and then called themselves out about it
- addressed realistic issues like homophobia/transphobia
- some sweet moments and the flag/scene at the end was excellent
- supportive friends, grandma & a dad
- production value

Room For Improvement
- hope that friend was fine in episode 1 when the dean was yelling at them and a character did something suddenly, would have been nice to see a check in about that
- odd that the first thing the grandma says to a grandson she presumably hasn't seen in awhile is to ask what his preferred sexual position was
- the water rescue trope where it was so shallow it looked like he could stand
- a terrible "plan" related to the pool
- what the mom did in episode 4 that isn't really addressed
- in episode 4 it wasn't as emotional as it could have been because they at first weren't clear what happened in the past and they hadn't established that character
- too many plot threads/antagonists, weren't able to develop all of them really well
- in episode 5 it wasn't clear what Lili told her friend
- as much as I hated Marco's actions, Lili saying "nobody loves you" went too far, maybe it was a translation error
- kind of making fun of getting consent in episode 6
- I understand why King said, "it's okay to be (spoiler)" but he should have checked in with that character first (ep 7)

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A Story that Should Not Be Missed

This Pinoy BL is everything one can wish for in the genre. It’s witty, inclusive, empowering, shows the power of solidarity and strength in numbers that is fundamental to the queer community, while also highlighting the challenges most societies still face with backwards thinking homophobes and transphobes. While queer representation is quite high, there are rising sentiments of queerphobia throughout the world, even in the West and it is important to continue to highlight and uplift queer voices that are too quickly erased in the world, as was done to Baylan Nalundasan in Marahuyo.

Read the complete article here-

https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/09/13/marahuyo-project-series-review-ep-1-to-8/

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Must Watch Show That Deserves a Season 2

This show is really a must watch for anyone who enjoys BLs but especially ones that are able to tackle more realistic storylines. Well I don't think that everything was done perfectly I do believe that this show had a great cast of actors who were all able to properly portray their characters and really let them shine. The acting in lower budget dramas from my experience can sometimes be a little questionable and hard to watch at times but I think that everyone did a wonderful job in that regard.

One of my favorite things about this series is not only the representation that it had but also the manner in which it went about portraying it. With a lot of BLs they can tend to have a more idealistic approach to them which is definitely needed at times but also can get a bit repetitive if they go about them the same way. I do not think that this show had that problem at all. With that realistic approach it allowed for both the good and bad sides of being a member of the LGBTQ+ community to shine through and also how the circumstances in which one is brought up can affect their perception. And that is something that I really appreciate being portrayed.

I will say that one thing that I wish was better resolved which makes me think they're going to try and do in a season 2 is the dynamics that the main cast have with the adult figures in their lives. A lot happened in the final episode and so those plots still felt very unfinished and some didn't necessarily leave off with a satisfying conclusion. And so if the show doesn't get a season 2 I think that would bring the overall story down because there wasn't necessarily a "proper ending". But all in all with the show being a relatively shorter series I do think that some of the things that they were able to do with the time that they had in the show prior to that slightly make up for it.

But overall I really hope that more people are able to watch this show because it has some truly truly amazing moments and I hope that it can get the season 2 that it deserves to be able to further develop this amazing cast of characters.

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Queer excellence

More than just a BL series, Marahuyo Project is queer excellence in its purest form.

For a low-budget series, the level of quality delivered here is astonishing. The cinematography is beautiful, the performances are impactful and full of nuance and emotion and the script delivers a story full of depth and realism despite the limitations and short length of the episodes.

It's a short series, but it manages to develop and introduce each of its characters and their stories. And what fantastic stories they are.

The representation here is not forced or unnatural, the series knows how to beautifully present and introduce each of its characters and their dreams and fears.

A much-needed series, full of symbolism and that addresses important issues for the LGBTQIA+ community. It's a series that has heart, that delivers moving scenes and dialogues, that shows the anxieties and fears of queer people, that explores love, friendship, respect and even prejudice and pain.

Congratulations to the creators of the series and the Philippines for once again delivering an exciting series, very well directed and that is not afraid to show its colors and positions.

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An underrated LGBTQIA+ series

From the director of Gaya Si Pelicula (Like in the movies), THIS SERIES SCREAMS PERFECTION indeed. There wasn't a single moment I wanted to skip a scene. No cringey scene, no cheesey romance shit, just people being themselves and the story just went smoothly. The story shows the dedication and fight of King for opening a LGBTQIA+ club in their college which is in the jurisdiction of local church. There he met a lot of allies, homophobes and a reason to stay in Marahuyo Island.

If you're looking for NC scenes like Thai, sorry you won't get any. If you're looking for hot kisses like Taiwan and you won't get that either. But what you'll get is true satisfaction of watching a LGBTQIA themed content being honest with its promises. Filipino dramas feel a journey to your neighborhood of friendly and outspoken neighbours sharing their daily lives with a big smile on their face.

Actors were amazing! From the beginning the character King seemed like long lost brother of Bretman Rock, which is I was hooked from the very beginning! His acting is spontaneous and full of life. Another actor who needs to be applauded that is the character Venice! Oh my my, his character arc mind-blowing. Venice was such a sassy little queen of the show >.<

This is the type of ending I love. An ending showcasing realistic approach to life and real events with full of hope. It was a short series with 8 eps yet it said and expressed a lot more than you think.

Before fighting the whole world you need to fight with your family first. And if you win, you can win any situation in your life with their love and support.

Not to forget the OST, it's a lullaby to ears. The soothing & calming music just blends in with the storyline and gives you the compact feeling.

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It tells an LGBTQIA+ Story Brilliantly

The beauty of series like these, especially coming from the Philippines, is that they not only evoke a story with intensity, they bind it with a background history as to why. In other words, it explains how things are the way they are. More importantly, you get to feel that why and also be entertained. That is what gives them uniqueness and depth. For those of us who are not Filipino/Filipina, the characters are generally over-the-top with singularity and distinctiveness. So, we see clearly what has come about. It is far from formulaic. One of the best for this year!

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ISANG NAPAKA-REALISTIC NA COMING-OF-AGE SERIES.

[Translate to English if y'all want hahaha. This is a Filo series so I'm writing this review in my native tongue.]

OO, HINDI SIYA BL. COMING OF AGE QUEER SERIES 'TO.

Grabe, sorry na agad kung word vomit ang lahat ng 'to, alas singko na kasi at katatapos ko lang panuorin 'tong seryeng 'to nang isang upuan.

Hindi ko talaga alam kung saan magsisimula. Lahat pinag-isipan: 'yung storyline, 'yung script, 'yung references (lalo na 'yung filo inside jokes HAHAHA YUNG SA CHINESE VESSEL NA PART TAS BENTE PESOS NA BIGAS HAHAHAHA), 'yung mga aktor na gumanap (na i think lahat sila nasa community?), 'yung cinematography, 'yung coloring, 'yung (mapanghusgang) kultura ng Pilipinas, at higit sa lahat, 'yung kasaysayan at references patungkol sa babaylan at mitolohiya. Napakahusay.

Ipinakita talaga sa seryeng 'to na kahit marami nang out na LGBTQIA+ sa Pilipinas ay hindi pa rin maiiwasan na husgahan ka ng mga taong nakapaligid sa'yo, lalo na kung nasa probinsya ka. Ang husay din kasi binigyan ng representation ang pagiging trans, intersex, at pansexual. Hindi sila nag-focus masiyado sa love story nina King at Ino pero ipinakita talaga ang dynamics ng pamilya, pagkakaibigan, at ng sosyal na aspeto.

Nagulat at nagustuhan ko rin ang pagrerepresenta ni king sa mga aktibista na walang sawang kalampagin ang mga taong nasa itaas upang maipaglaban ang karapatan ng mga LGBTQIA+ community. Nakakatuwa at napaka-refreshing makakita ng gen z na aktibista sa isang Pilipinong serye. Natuwa rin ako sa karakter ni Archie. Nakikita ko ang sarili ko sa kanya bilang isang taong lumaki sa isang Katolikong pamiya. Naipakita sa seryeng 'to na hanggang ngayon ay dala-dala pa rin natin ang mga virtues na na-instill ng mga dayuhang sumakop sa atin.

BASTA ANG DAMI KO PANG GUSTONG SABIHIN PERO INAANTOK NA AKO. SOBRANG PERFECT AT VERY REAL NA REAL ANG REPRESENTATION NG SERIES NA 'TO. I FEEL SO SEEN!!!! T____T

Ang problema lang sa seryeng 'to ay wala pang season 2 announcement. DIREK JP HABAC WHEN NAMAN OH IIYAK NA SI BADING SOBRANG GANDA PLSSSS T______T

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Build the path to freedom, inclusion and empowerment with empathy

Let's get used to his name, JP Habac, because this Filipino filmmaker is going to provoke lively controversies, raise dormant consciences and enliven an independent film scene, in need of exponents like him.
After pleasantly surprising us with the critically and popularly acclaimed 'Like in the Movies', in 2020, or other dramas and films, such as 'Meet Me Outside', 'Drag You & Me', or the short film 'I'm Drunk, I Love You', from 2017, now returns with the series 'Marahuyo Project'.
In its 8 episodes, about 35 minutes long, we will meet King.
You either love King or hate him. There is no middle ground, and everything will depend on the person you are.
As punishment for his irreverence in the face of power and homophobia, the principal of his high school gets rid of the progressive student and sends him to finish his studies in Marahuyo, his place of origin, where he returns after leaving in his childhood.
And there we, the viewers, join their journey, which began long before the first scene.
Ricardo Matayog, his real name, is similar to many other activists for the rights of gays, lesbians, transsexuals and bisexuals, for being a dreamer, empathetic, a lover of justice, but also for his deep ideological positions: his anti-imperialism, anti-totalitarianism, anticolonialism, antifascism, anticlericalism..., inherited from his grandmother and his own experience of fighting homophobia.
If the world were fair, instead of presidents of nations with a long history of invasions in order to plunder natural resources behind supposed "humanitarian interventions" or imposing sanctions on third parties for not bowing to their hegemony, people like King would be recognized with the Nobel Peace Prize.
Better, if the world were fair, people like King would not exist, since homophobia would only exist in school textbooks as something of the past.
King's story is much more than the story of a human being faced with violence, discrimination, homophobic persecution, and the violation of the Human Rights of LGBTIQA+ people. King is the essence of a country with joys, sorrows and a lot of faith to rise up every time logical and illogical setbacks bring it to its knees.
King is Philippines. King has the essence of any Filipino. He is a person who has been through a lot, but still clings to the fact that things can get better, because he has great energy and faith.
King is a natural leader. He is chosen by the group for his actions. He is capable of leading at any level of the organization he is creating and meets the needs of those who, due to their prejudices and fears, hide their homosexuality to comply with what a conservative country with strong patriarchal and heteronormative traditions demands of them.
King calls, in each episode, and many times masterfully breaking the fourth wall, to reflect on everyday life, common events (or not), social representations inherited from patriarchal hegemony, the world with its lights and shadows. …
Like many others, King fights for the acceptance of the LGBTIQA+ community in Philippine society, to accelerate policy reforms and to establish programs to ensure the inclusion of its members in the political, social and economic life of the country.
That is why he immediately points towards the Church, because he perfectly recognizes that it has faithful followers in the Philippine political sphere, who have blocked any bill that tries to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or identity, as well as prevent already existing conquests in other places in the world, such as two people of the same sex being able to marry, carry out a joint adoption, or have the right to have their sex change reflected in the Civil Registry.
Likewise, understand that political institutions easily give in to the influences of the Catholic Church when it comes to limiting the rights of gays, lesbians, transsexuals and bisexuals.
King will always be valid, as long as there is a discriminated person in the world, for whatever reason.
Regardless of the topic that the audiovisual deals with (the life and adventures of an activist for the rights of LGBTIQA+ people dedicated to making a difference in his community of origin through the creation of the first organization that brings together the members of said group in its campus, the defense of human rights, community empowerment and much more, and that is where a very important conflict begins), is a pretext to address many things that are happening in that country.
But there is also the King who loves, the one who falls in love, and in this aspect he is also faithful and committed. Since his return to the island, he has been attracted to Ino (Neo France Garcia, in his acting debut), the heir to a legacy of conservatism and heteronormativity, who will play a fundamental role in the fight to achieve the young activist's plans since his position of president of the Student Council.
Their lives intersect precisely upon King's arrival at the Marahuyo dock, when he accidentally bumps into Ino, like a parable about the unpredictability and irony of destiny.
The great merit of 'Marahuyo Project', the first Filipino queer series presented by Anima Studios, directed by JP Habac, based on the creative idea of ​​the director himself and Benson Logronio and Fatrick Tabada, is the social denunciation against the violation of Human Rights of Filipino LGBTIQA+ people.
Another of his achievements is stealing the audience's ovation despite having a patriarchal society as a setting. Art is followed by the masses, what it legitimizes almost becomes law, often in a stronger way than what the country's legislators could say, refusing to approve measures that protect the members of this human community against discrimination.
It works in favor of the series that the script intelligently discovers the psychological profile of the main character and correctly recreates everything that happens in his private life, elements that tend to humanize 'Marahuyo Project'.
King is played by Adrian Lindayag, a young actor known for his role as Dominic Cruz in the 2020 film 'The Boy Foretold by the Stars', and as Dominic Benjamin Fuentes Cruz in the series 'Love Beneath the Stars', 2021, with a high range of records that knows how to do its thing well and projects an overflowing sympathy that encourages the viewer, because its maximum interest and priority is to advocate for freedom and for people to be happy in the way they want.
The actor is an activist for the rights of the LGBTIQA+ community, a challenge that he always succeeds in, as his character Dominic in the aforementioned series also takes a similar position: denouncing homophobes and their laws that discriminate against homosexuals. And he achieves it, with the maturity of an actor who grows on stage in accordance with King's own rhythm, a resilient human being, with shocking energies.
'Marahuyo Project' is also a kind of contemporary "Odyssey": returning to the origins, letting ourselves fall into the arms of the sirens that ask us when we pass by and accepting the temptations or maintaining the commitment to yourself to move forward.
Magnificent and complicated like life itself and necessary, like the fact of discovering that a future promise of cinema, JP Habac, has become an author of the present and we will have to count on him from now on.
YA

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A Queer Barkada (friend group) Series with a Message

Marahuyo Project is not your typical BL or queer series. it presents itself as a queer "barkada" (friend group) series which explores the lives of each of the people in this "barkada." As queer person who grew up with different barkada series like TGIS, GIMIK, Tabing Ilog (Filipino shows) or Saved By The Bell, Sweet Valley High. Dawson's Creek, I have always wanted a series involving a queer young adults going through their trials and tribulations. The only criticism that I would have with this concept is that, I wish it gave use more time to explore more of the lives of each character. Since the series only has 8 episodes, even though we get an (ongoing) resolution to their main plot, I believe that I would enjoy it even more if we had more time to see what other stories are within the lives of each character we well.

Story:
The story of homophobia and general hate towards the LGBTQIA+ community and the fight to be heard is not new. What the Marahuyo Project did was to weave a story that involves a lore on why there is such hate towards what they called "sirenas" (mermaids). Much to the point that they do not even utter the name, just like Voldermort. It added more to the story and gave a bit of mystery to the plot. I also like the idea that instead of using the word "bakla" (gay), they focused on the term "sirena". Sirena/Mermaids, like terms for bakla/gays in the Philippines, would have a different meaning, depending on who you are speaking to. Typically mermaids are beautiful and magical creatures, but in olden times, they are considered as monsters and give bad luck or curses. It's not any different to the word "bakla" (gay in Filipino), where it's usually used as a derogatory term, and only now being in a way celebrated. As I expected, they would not be able to fully resolve everything in 8 episodes, because just like in real life, homophobia and hate is not easily defeated. They did leave the viewers on a positive note, where they emphasized on being seen and letting people know that we as queers do not mean any harm, we just wan to live.

Acting: (I will only focus on the main group, but the other actors were superb as well)
Adrian Lindayag as King - King's character came as such an enigma, not just to the people in the series, but also to the viewers. I love how he played the role very naturally and added a bit of light, to the somewhat heavy story. The confidence and overzealousness that he had did start as being annoying, but the more we got to know him, he showed that it was a product of him finding himself and reacting to how the world is around him. Adrian's expressions really made this character dynamic and made us want to root for him, because this character can easily be very exhausting. My favorite parts are when he breaks the 4th wall, when he becomes even more like himself because he was speaking with us.
Neo France Garcia as Ino - At first, I was worried that he did not look like the typical leading man, but as I watched through the episodes, he exuded this amazing charm that really pulled me in. He initially was the typical "tsundere" type, although he initially did not seem too confident about it. It does make you realize that, it was just a facade that he had, to hide the fear and curiosity that he had. Neo's boyish expressions makes you endeared to him, especially how he pouts like a little boy, but speaks with conviction.
Nour Hooshmand as Lorie - Lorie is your cool popular pretty girl at school. She always shows confidence and you can see a bit of mischievousness in her eyes. Nour was able to show her strength and vulnerable side, especially with her moments with Lili. That moment after Lili kissed her was the first time you would see confusion from her.
Yani Villarosa as Lili - I've been following Yani for quite a while through her "Basic Bitch Review" videos. I've always found her as the funny cool girl, so seeing how she played Lili really impressed me. She gave justice to the emotional turmoil that Lili was going through, and was able to give an amazing performance given the weight of her role.
AJ Sison as Archie - Archie's character clung to religion due to his fear which in the end also became his prison. It's easy to hate a character like Archie, but AJ as able to show the pain in the eyes of his character. His relationship with Venice was so special, and I lived for their moments together. I do wish they added a bit of acknowledgement on why he was always scratching his neck that it already turned red. I guess they wanted us to think that it was due to his stress/anxiety, but one of my friends already thought he was sick, hehehe.
Ian Villa as Venice/Bienvenido - Venice initially presents herself as the comic relief character, and for the most part she is. Where Ian shines as Venice are with the moments with Archie, where Venice serves as the more mature and caring friend. Ian was able to bring light and brightness to the role, but also serves as the heart of the series for me.

I would say that it was not the most revolutionary series out there, but it was able to showcase a moment in the lives of queer youth, that was not to heavy handedly done, and gives hope for the future of the queer community of the Philippines.

I would have given it a perfect 10, only if there was a promise of a second season. Fingers crossed.

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