wait no pero legit here's the thing about the rise of the darlentina shippers okay and why i consider it so groundbreaking in so many ways. first of all, it's philippine mainstream media and gay shit on mainstream media almost never happens here so to actually see people, fans and actors and producers alike, clamor for the narda x regina or darlentina dynamic here - despite it being a fan-pairing and despite the fact that both are in this love-triangle dynamic with the main cop lead- is absolutely insane.
SECOND OF ALL, because of the darlentina dynamic and the many, many edits on social media platforms everywhere, abs cbn (aka the studio airing the darna reboot) was able to finally bring back massive social media attention on their teleseryes. and here's the thing about filipino teleseryes: most gen z's stuck on the internet don't give a shit about them anymore because who would give a shit over recycled tropes, cliches, and plotlines that, more often that not, revolve around super straight couples with the same old dynamics and same old heteronormative shit? so, for sapphic filipino twitter to actually give a shit about a teleserye again because of new and actually well-written and well-performed dynamics between the hero and her archnemesis? that is, once again, absolutely insane - so insane that we actually managed to loop in the rest of international sapphic twitter as well. WE ACTUALLY FOUND SOMETHING INTERESTING AND ENGAGING AND REVOLUTIONARY TO WATCH ON MAINSTREAM MEDIA AGAIN AND AS A RESULT, FILIPINO TELESERYE TITLES ARE BACK AGAIN ON THE TRENDING PAGES. WE GIVE A SHIT NOW BECAUSE WE FOUND SOMETHING WORTH CARING ABOUT.
but this also means that we also find stuff worth criticizing in the show and in Filipino Teleserye writing in general - and holy shit there are a lot: copaganda especially considering the sociopolitical climate here what with cop shittiness, men-centric writing, cheesy lines, forced romantic pairings, the SUPERHERO SHOW focusing on thE COPS instead of tHE SUPERHERO, the "women empowerment" failing the fucking bechdel test, bland writing that focuses only on the "kilig" factor, inconsistent characterization to the point that narda cites the cop love interest as her inspiration instead of, like, HER FUCKING MOM - THE ONLY OTHER "DARNA" SHE KNOWS, yea you get the point. These issues and more have always been issues in Filipino teleseryes though and we've grown so used to them that we no longer give a fuck anymore.
but, because of how much potential the Darna reboot holds - even outside of the Darlentina thing - and because of how incredibly tired we are of shitty, shitty, writing in Philippine television, we continue to make the show trend not just with our love for Jane De Leon and Janella Salvador but with our critiques of the show. Keep in mind, we've been staying away from teleseryes for quite a long while now because of the same old shit and now that another local show has managed to get our attention to the point that we are actively advocating for better writing speaks volumes! so, when you guys see the darlentina thing trend not just on twitter but in other platforms as well, remember that this isn't just a matter of us wanting good gay representation on Philippine mainstream media. this is a matter of us finally wanting good stories back on teleseryes because we fully well know that us Filipinos deserve so much better than the same rehashed and backward plotlines.
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The office is dim with half of the floor lights turned off, her co-workers long gone—leaving her with nothing but silence as her company.
Narda has recently learned to treasure rare pockets of peace like these. With the double duty of an EMT and moonlighting as the city's heroine, finding time just for herself has been few and far in-between as of late.
Sometimes, she thinks these are the kinds of consequences her mother could have prepared her for, had she been alive long enough to train her. If Leonor hadn't died, would Narda be having as much trouble learning the trials and errors of being a hero? Would it have been at least a bit easier?
Maybe.
Maybe she wouldn't be staying alone after office hours just to get a little reprieve from the loudness of Nueva Esperanza. Maybe she wouldn't even be here, reading anatomy books in the dark, pretending she's a pre-med student. Maybe she would have had an actual shot in college.
Maybe-
"Working hard much?"
Narda jumps at the voice, the book slipping from her grasp and making a solid thud as it hits the floor.
She turns her head to look at the intruder, and almost jumps out of her seat again at the close proximity of one Regina Vanguardia leaning over her shoulder.
"Oh my god, Narda, sorry kung nagulat kita," Regina apologizes, instantly moving around Narda's chair to collect the fallen book.
Her heart is beating a mile a minute out of her chest, lips opening and closing like a fish out of water.
"Here." Regina thrusts the book at her, and it isn't until that moment Narda realizes she hasn't spoken a word.
"Sorry, again. If I startled you," Regina says, and she looks so ethereal in the dim lighting of the office like this. Her hair framing her face perfectly, and oh, words. Narda needs to speak words. Now, if possible.
"Pauwi na rin kasi ako, but natanaw ko na may bukas pa na ilaw so I came to check it out, and well," Regina shrugs, smiles softly at her, "-didn't expect to find you."
Regina's eyes sparkle as she looks down at Narda, still frozen in her chair.
Words, Narda. Salita. Bibig. Now na, dali.
"Oh, uhm naku," Narda fumbles, "'wag po kayo mag-sorry, ah eh, nagcacatch up lang po 'ko sa mga reading ma'am. Alam nyo na para laging prepared."
Wow, Narda, isang buong sentence 'yun ah. Congrats.
"That's Seeley, right?" Regina gestures at the thick textbook at her hands, and Narda finds herself nodding.
Yes, it is Seeley, and the textbook cost her almost 3,000 and a chestful of guilt for buying it for herself. She kept thinking she should've just given the money for Ding's allowance. What was the point in buying such an expensive book anyway if she wasn't even going to college?
"Sipag ah, extra-reading?" Regina teases, "The program doesn't give off Seeley books e. As far as I know, instructional packets lang noh? Maybe we should change that, huh? Baka if ganun your colleagues can be as good an EMT as you."
Narda flushes, hoping the darkness doesn't let Regina see the redness in her cheeks. Because phew! Did she just receive another compliment from Regina? She's still not used to that. That someone as esteemed, as beautiful, as powerful as Regina, takes the time to pay notice and sing praises to someone like her.
"Oh, uhm- opo, ma'am, 'di po toh sa program, akin po toh."
"Ah." Regina nods, and maybe it's the late hour, the kindness in Regina's eyes and the adrenaline rush of her sudden presence that Narda finds herself saying, "Gusto ko pa kasi maging doktor e. Kaso, mahal mag-PreMed. Kaya eto na lang muna, basa-basa na lang."
"I didn't know you were into Med?"
"Ay opo, ma'am, science nerd po ako growing up e," Narda finds herself laughing a bit as she admits it, "tas si nanay pa, EMT, lagi syang nagkwekwento ng mga interesting na medical cases. Kaya ayun, parang nagustuhan 'ko mag-doktor."
She used to join science quiz bees, and she was good at it, too. She remembers the look on her mother's face whenever she won. Remembers Ding's awe when she would recite the Krebs Cycle and the enzymes in Glycolysis with ease. Biology fascinated her in a way nothing else did, and becoming a doctor meant getting to use her love for science to help people.
"I didn't know that," Regina comments, utter fascination and curiosity in her eyes, and Narda finds herself getting lost in them. Regina tugs a nearby office chair with her foot, perches on it and crosses her legs. She's all smooth movements and grace.
"E pano nyo po malalaman, ma'am? Ngayon lang tayo nagkwentuhan," Narda jokes, and she takes delight in the way Regina chuckles at her. She feels like she's won the battle here somehow, and her reward is Regina's smile and intoxicating presence.
"Tsk," Regina clicks her tongue, and it shouldn't be as hot as it is, but it is. Narda swallows."I thought napag-usapan na natin na you shouldn't call me ma'am anymore, just call me-"
"Regina," Narda finishes for her, savoring the way the syllables drag along her tongue. Relishing the taste of her name—it's sweet, she likes it.
"Good. Exactly." Regina beams at her.
Narda lets out a breathless laugh, before sucking in a breath, and asking, "Ikaw Regina? Pagiging attorney na ba talaga pinangarap mo?"
A mischievous look crosses Regina's face, and she surprises Narda when she says, "No, actually, I wanted to be a rockstar."
Wow.
"Wow? Rockstar? Regina the Rakista?"
Regina laughs, a sweet little melodic thing ringing in the silent office.
"Yes, yes, I mean as you can tell from the bleached hair, I had a Hayley Williams phase...and an Avril Lavigne phase." She twirls one curl around her finger, and Narda is endlessly fascinated by the gesture.
"Kitchie Nadal ma'am?"
Regina just raises an eyebrow at her and Narda realizes her mistake, recalibrates.
"Kitchie Nadal, Regina?"
"Ikaw, gusto mo lang ata makarinig ng sample ng 'Bulong' e."
"E kung willing ka naman sumample, ma'- Regina, diba? Why not?" She doesn't know where she's getting the bravery to banter with her so boldly like this, she wonders if this is some leftover Darna confidence, or if Regina just really brings out the best in her. The latter seems more likely.
"Haha, maybe some other time.” Regina leans back in her chair, relaxes and crosses her arms across her chest, “But yes, I wanted to be an artist. A musician. But well, I think you of all people know that minsan, things change, life happens."
And yes, Narda does know.
"Ah, naiintindihan ko nga 'yan."
"I mean- not that I don't like being a lawyer, I like my job. I like what I do. Gusto ko na nakikita kong nakakatulong ako sa mga tao. Baka, 'di ko man mabago ang mundo, but it wouldn't hurt if I managed to change a few lives noh?"
Woosh. Pucha. Nahulog na. In-lababo na si Narda.
Narda wants to know more, wants to ask more, wants to know what it is exactly she meant when she said, things change, life happens. She wants to know everything—anything. But the silence that follows Regina's words seems to be here to stay.
So, she clears her throat and she says, "Well, ma'am-" Regina pointedly stares at her when she says that, and Narda laughs, shakes her head. "Regina," she corrects, and in the sincerest voice she can muster, murmurs, "Ako na mismo magsasabi sa 'yo, binago mo buhay ko."
She reaches out her hand, dares to put it over Regina's and squeezes. The air is charged. She can feel it somehow, this moment is important. This is something she will re-play in her mind again and again, see in her dreams night after night. It's like the cliff all over again. But the funny feeling in her chest doesn't feel like fear this time, nothing in her feels afraid of falling, because Regina turns her hand, palm up and catches her fingers in hers.
heyo this is your resident rambler bringing you updates from sapphic filipino twitter: darlentina has been featured on the "for sapphics" twitter account twice and both posts are racking up a lot of views and likes. it's been a week filled with a rollercoaster of darlentina content and we're already breaching the international sapphic stage that is the "for sapphics" twitter account. even more clips and shitpost edits outside of that are amassing hundreds of thousands of views. everyone, this is our pinoy queerbaiting era ala supercorp except that through the power of sheer gay spite, we are very rapidly pushing the production crew to a corner in the hopes that international queer pressure will make them drop the dude cop love interest in favor of what could be one of the most revolutionary twists in philippine mainstream media: making darna and valentina, canonical archenemies, the main romantic pairing and partners in crime in fighting against very thinly-veiled allegories to philippine political corruption
im getting soo queerbaited by darna 2022 and I'm just having a blast and a good time. Yes I do want to see this girl pout and raise her voice when the pretty girl she invited over just keeps talking abt some random dude. Yes I do want to see that girl get drunk and cry over the fact that her girl is mad at her for raising her voice when they're not even dating. The actors are in on it? The PRODUCER is in on the ship? ANd have secret identities and hero identities?? and IT'S A FRIENDS TO ENEMIES TO LOVERS SHIP??
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bruce springsteen’s dancing in the dark and mitski’s two slow dancers are about the same couple with dancing in the dark being about them meeting for the first time and overwhelmed by youthful love and two slow dancers taking places decades later with them having grown with one another into old age in this essay i will
sinks into the deepest crevices of my wallet, never to be seen again as i crawl desperately to the kitchen to make dinner only to find the fridge empty, cobwebs flourishing in every pantry while i live on every little coin found under carpets, over workbenches, on the tiled floor of this small apartment that i have to give up.
ever since anthony fantano said he got theater kid vibes from brendon urie's singing in Viva Las Vengeance, whenever i sing the chorus in my head, i imagine a bunch of pirates with colorful coats raising their swords in the air while they sing the title on stage.
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When people call you a “snowflake” just remember they’re quoting Fight Club, a satire written by a gay man about how male fragility causes men to destroy themselves, resent society, and become radicalized, and that Tyler Durden isn’t the hero but a personification of the main character’s mental illness, and that his “snowflake” speech is a dig at how fascists use dehumanizing language to breed loyalty from insecure people.
So basically people who say “snowflake” as an insult are quoting a domestic terrorist who blows up skyscrapers because he’s insecure about how good he is in bed.
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