Television: My Husband’s Lover

What would you do if you find out that your husband is cheating on you–with another man?

This is the story of Lally Agatep-Soriano (Carla Abellana), her struggle to be the best wife for the husband she loves, and her discovery of her husband’s most kept secret. This is the story of Vincent Soriano (Tom Rodriguez), and the effort he makes in keeping his two worlds–the one with wife Lally, and the one he’s not ready to reveal to everyone–apart. And this is also the story of Eric del Mundo (Dennis Trillo), the man who will come between husband and wife.

My Husband’s Lover is not an easy story to tell.

Sure, you can say that it’s just another love story with a third party. But when have you seen a story where you empathize with the third party? Because we know where Lally is coming from, we know where she wants to go, and we don’t want her to get hurt.

Yes, Lally is the wife. But in this love story, if you read the synopsis that’s going around the ‘net, and if you watch the trailers that has been released, you’ll understand: the wife is the third party between two men who love each other.

Does that make Vincent and Eric the villains in the story? No. They’re not even antagonists. They love. And they love Lally. Well, Vincent does. To a point. And they hurt too. Because growing up, they know that many people would look at them and say that their love is wrong.

But how can love be wrong?

This is one of the question that this new show endeavors to explore beginning tonight, June 10, when GMA-7 presents the compelling stories of a wife, of her husband, and of her husband’s lover.

From the creative mind of Suzette Doctolero, with the writing team of Amaya and One True Love, the production team of The Good Daughter and Temptation of Wife, and director Dominic Zapata, My Husband’s Lover also features Kuh Ledesma, Chanda Romero, Glydel Mercado, and Mr. Roi Vinzon. Also part of the cast are Pancho Magno, Victor Basa, Kevin Santos, Bettina Carlos, Karel Marquez, and Mike Magat.

My Husband’s Lover airs weeknights, after Mundo Mo’y Akin.

Television: Louise delos Reyes shares unique love story in ‘Magpakailanman’

Magpakailanman has tackled many celebrity stories that share with viewers how so-and-so became famous. Tonight, Louise delos Reyes takes a different route in telling her story.

Unlike other actresses, Louise never had to go through rejections and second-bit roles. Even as a child, she was already getting cast into television commercials and other projects. Although fame did not come until later on in her career, Louise was happy with where she was and where she was going.

That is, until she met Jack.

Jack was a Korean national who came to the Philippines to study–he got more than he bargained for when he met Louise. The two hit it off–literally–when Jack’s erstwhile bag hit Louise instead of his chair. Sparks did fly–just not in a romantic way.

But when there’s attraction, fate finds a way to bring two people together–regardless of how bad their first meeting was. And soon, Jack has fallen for Louise.

It started out as friendship. And Louise was surprised to find Jack at her house one day, all dressed up to do what he learned Filipinos do when they like a girl: courting them through their parents, or as we Filipinos say ‘umakyat ng ligaw.’

Louise’s parents, although hesitant to allow their only daughter to entertain love at a young age, were impressed with Jack’s perseverance at courting her.

They allowed Louise to see Jack as more than a friend–so long as they’re always supervised.

And it seems that Louise was about to get a fairy-tale ending even though her story was just beginning.

But to get a happy ending, couples need to face a final test to their relationship. Which Louise faced when Jack suddenly stopped being there for her. Stopped being there at all.

Confused, Louise wanted to know why.

And you will find out tonight, on Magpakailanman, after Vampire ang Daddy Ko.

The Louise delos Reyes Story is written by Vienuel Ello based on the research of Jonathan Cruz, under the direction of Gil Tejada, Jr. The episode features Louise delos Reyes as herself, with Ken Chan, Jan Marini, and Jomari Yllana; also in the episode are Yassi Pressman, Rox Montealegre, and Down to Mars.

Book: Leche

“After thirteen years of living in the U.S., Vince returns to his birthplace, the Philippines. As Vince ventures into the heat and chaos of the city, he encounters a motley cast of characters, including a renegade nun, a political film director, arrogant hustlers, and the country’s spotlight-driven First Daughter. Haunted by his childhood memories and a troubled family history, Vince unravels the turmoil, beauty, and despair of a life caught between a fractured past and a precarious future.“

It’s Filipino Friday time! And I was really hoping I’d be writing about a book that I’d be recommending wholeheartedly. I’m not. Obviously.

A bit of background. I found Leche while browsing in National Bookstore. I wasn’t really looking for any particular title at the time, I just wanted new books because my pile at home was dwindling. And then I saw Leche. It was a novel about a Filipino heading back to the Philippines after being raised in Hawaii.

Interesting? I didn’t really know. That’s all I knew coming into this book. Well, that and the fact that this is not locally produced. A printing press in the United States believed enough in this book to publish it.

Unfortunately, I can’t see whatever it is that publishers saw.

I mean, sure, Leche is very easy reading. It took me three days to finish the whole thing. And that’s while commuting! But there’s a difference between easy-reading and engaging.

Though, yes, Leche was very engaging at first. Even with its heightened version of reality. It was when the timeline become wonky that the book lost me.

Here’s a bit of backgrounder: Leche is set in the early 90′s. Cory Aquino is still president, and Kris Aquino is the darling of the media. But author Linmark thought it would be interesting to compress the 1990s to the 2000s of the Philippines and present it as Leche.

Instead of making cute (though odd) romantic-comedy films like Pido Dida and Magic to Win, Kris Aquino was already known as the Massacre Queen, hosting talk shows where she’s the one who’s doing the most talking, and is already broadcasting her secrets to the world.

Imelda Marcos is a megalomaniac who cuckolded her husband in revenge against his infidelity.

And Metro Manila is filled to the brim with closeted homosexuals, who all convene in a place called Leche.

Now, I don’t really mind heightened reality. Used correctly, it can be a very powerful tool in opening the eyes of the public. But at which point is heightened reality a form of satire, and at which point does it become too much that it’s just–wrong?

That’s my problem with Leche. I might not be the smartest reader, but I’m a reader nonetheless. Books are supposed to enrich (if not entertain); but at this end of the book, I’m left wondering if what I read was tongue-in-cheek or crass. If it was an attempt at a wake-up call, or the writings of a disillusioned ex-local.

I don’t subscribe to the idea that if one doesn’t understand something, then that something must be good. But I’m not saying that my views on this book is the be all and end all. Which is why it’s important to see what other people have said about the book–

You Fight Like Anna Rice!
Kirkus Reviews
Bakit Why?

What I wrote is my opinion. Just my opinion.

But if you’re looking for something easy to read, then why not pick up Leche. And then make your own mind up and then tell me what you thought about it.

Book: Mythspace

I don’t understand. Is this supposed to be an ongoing series, or a series of stories set in one fictional universe?

See, when I got a hold of Mythspace Lift Off at last year’s local comic convention, I thought there would be four stories that deal with the what if engkantos, folklore creatures, were aliens. Different stories that handle the situation, well, differently.

Instead we get four stories set in the same universe where things are just confusing.

Lift Off (Part 2 of 3)

Lift Off is the first one I read because it ties to one of the stories in the previous Mythspace release. I wasn’t a fan of the art then, but I’m warming up to it now. Maybe because out of the four stories they released, this one looks the cleanest.

Unfortunately, if it was unclear about what’s going on with our protagonist before, it’s murkier now. In the second of three parts, our lead Ambrosio is being presented as a gift to a megalomaniac overlord. And to bridge the gap of what happened since the story cut off the last time, we get treated to flashbacks.

The premise remains interesting, but I still can’t grasp the story.

Or why I’m supposed to care for Ambrosio.

And by issue’s end, I’ve made this assumption: Lift Off is a Summer blockbuster–it’s one story. And breaking it off into three is hurting its storytelling, because readers are only privy to the now, with no clue of the before and the after. Cliffhangers only work when you actually care about the characters.

Had this been released in one go, I think Lift Off would have made a better impression on me. In its current format, I’m just– Well, I’m just concerned if it will all be worth it in the end.

Devourers of Light

I loved the style of this story. I prefer cleaner art, yes, but you have to give credit where credit is due. And the art in this story definitely has style. I just wish the story made an impression too.

I hate being negative, but I don’t get the point of this story. I don’t even feel like this was a complete story. If this were a television program or a movie, Devourers of Light was just a couple of scenes that detail what the villains are doing.

From the moment I started reading until the time I turned the last page, I wondered, what I was supposed to learn from the story– Or what am I supposed to take from this? What does the writer want to say?

I drew a blank.

But I’m open to discuss this to the others who read the story. Maybe I was looking in the wrong places?

Black Mark

Soap opera lives in comic form! Main character Mang has been living in the fringes off society after an accident killed his family. Why? It’s something you get to discover as you delve into the story. And Black Mark definitely has the makings of a great story–so long as you don’t get turned off by an introduction that runs a little too long. An introduction that didn’t feel necessary once the story actually got started.

Unlike the first two stories I’ve mentioned, Black Mark has a great handle on delivering information without taking us away from the action. That is, provided you don’t dwell on the introduction.

If there’s anything I want to ask for, it’s this: I wish the story was longer so we could have been more invested in our main character. But, hey, I could live with what we have.

Humanity

And so we arrive at the best story off of this batch of Mythspace stories.

Humanity focuses on two miners, slaves to an alien race–and slaves to hope. And even with art that really messes with your mind in trying to decipher who’s who, the story is strong enough to get its point across.

I like it so much that I’m actually at a loss as to what to say. So how shall I put this?

If you can only afford one out of the four Mythspace stories? Get this one.

Book: Interim Goddess of Love, Book 1

“When Hannah is asked to take the place of the goddess of love, she agrees because it was assigned to her by the love of her life–who just so happens to be the very gorgeous sun god. Though she does havea knack for listening to people’s hearttaches, she’s totally new at it and can’t understand how she can help bring love into people’s lives when she can’t even get one particular boy to pay attention to her. Will Hannah ever survive this goddess gig? Or will she end up heartbroken as well?“

I don’t know what I expected from a book this thin.

You might probably be able to hazard a guess on what I think about the book. But just to make it crystal:

I think the characters are underdeveloped. There’s always that risk, no matter the length of the book. I mean, just look at Jude Deveraux’s Stranger in the Moonlight. But when you pepper your story with more characters than you actually need, you’re sacrificing pages that should have gone to developing the characters you need developed instead.

I wish Hannah had more personality. And while I must admit that the whining part maybe necessary, I think the author could have cut it down some. I wish we could have developed the Quin-Hannah-Robbie triangle more, with the Jake-Kathy subplot pushing the story along–

But these are just wishes. The book is already out, there’s no taking it back.

In Interim Goddess of Love, Summit Books and author Mina V. Esguerra seem to be riding the wave of paranormal romance. And while I can’t say it’s bad, because it isn’t, I just wish there was more effort in making it original.

The characters are humanized gods and goddesses based on Tagalog mythology. Notice how I didn’t say Filipino? Aside from the fact that there really is no Filipino mythology, as each group of the ethnic tribes believed different sets of deities (diwatas) depending on their location, experience, and exposure to other cultures. Digression aside, you wouldn’t have been able to tell that the deities were based on Tagalog mythology. They read too much like Greek gods and goddesses: with the sun god being a romanticized version of Zeus, the sea god being very much like the non-calm version of Poseidon (so, no, not the Percy Jackson version), and the moon goddess being more like the cold Artemis.

And then there’s Hannah, our interim goddess of love who reads more like a teenaged Aphrodite.

I wouldn’t have any issues with this, actually, had the book just said that they’re Filipino versions of well-known gods and goddesses. But the book was very specific in that they were based off Tagalog mythologies. They didn’t read or feel Tagalog.

The straight-English medium of (most of) the book didn’t help either.

Overall, I salute the author for making an attempt to make a Tagalog-based paranormal romance. But I have to think really hard if I want to pick up the sequel. As it is, the world created so far isn’t very interesting–and the characters, aside from Diego’s contradiction of a character, are mostly forgettable.

Let’s see what other people think about the book:
Chachic’s Book Nook
Reading is the Ultimate Aphrodisiac
Amaterasu Reads
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