Having just watched GB for the third time, I wanna talk to somebody about it…..and you guys are nominated for the conversation.

In my opinion, this is going to be recognized for decades as a seminal piece of video creation. It is a unique depiction of this moment of human struggle. With so much sadness around us, both in real life and in the film, GameBoys still comes out to be uplifting. The genius of all those involved in its creation deserves rich recognition.

Everybody focuses, of course, on Elijah and Kokoy (and Adrianna!), who are fantastic acting talents, and deserve all the kudos they get. People who -- like me -- find their smiles absolutely enchanting should watch this fanvid, which sets their great interactions to some very nice music:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7i3DmasfDzo

But I want to comment on three other aspects:

-- The Music. Emerzon Texon’s songs and background music are sooooo good. And so spot-on meaningful (I had to search for full translations rather than just the subtitles). I don’t think he gets enough credit. I particularly love “Ngayon”, which closes the series. With Dex Yu’s soaring vocals, that song is unforgettable. May pag-asang. Pag-ibig na ito. (“There is hope; this is love.”) And at the end: Malaya na tayo – “we are free.” Guys who fall in love have not always been free – and still are not in many places. Bless the Filipino love of music s for giving expression to this hope and optimism about love. It brings tears to my eyes every time.

-- The Pandemic. This is a film about love in a pandemic, and the pandemic dominates everything. I mean dominates both the plot – and the making of the film. It will go down in history not only for the story it tells, but for the fantastic way the IdeaFirst Company and Ivan Andrew Payawal found ways to create such a work, despite the obstacles they faced. The techniques they had to use, the pressures they were under…….it is and will forever be a unique work of creation – unique to this moment. Clearly the team felt the pressures of working at this time – there’s a cast interview video posted on YouTube, done right when the series was ending, where Kokoy dissolves in tears, while thanking God for the blessing of being able to do this work in the pandemic. (And Elijah responds, completely naturally, “Hugs, Baby.”) They are real people who faced huge real challenges and their success is a tribute to huge professionalism all around.

-- The Kiss. This (in the last episode) is a sublime moment of cinematic art. Watch it closely, if you haven’t done so. It's the run-up to the kiss that is so special. When Gav removes his mask, Cai, true to character, is scared and backs away (“Gagong!”). Gav approaches him raising his hands in a beckoning gesture. Cai’s eyes look down with anxiety at Gav’s hands; and then his look softens, he takes a step forward, and bows his head ever-so-slightly. In that gesture, he wordlessly surrenders himself to love. Amazing acting. With the masks off, they look at each other with such empathy and love (how can both actors DO that and look so sincere????) Watch Elijah’s eyes in particular, through the moment when a tear runs down his cheek. Dex Yu croons “Our hearts now beat as one.” And only then The Kiss. Wow.

As is probably obvious, I am full of admiration for the work of all the people who created this series. I suspect it is probably on its way to being the most-viewed ever piece of Filipino audiovisual art. Millions of people around the world are coming to know Pinoy creativity and Pinoy culture (the music! the romanticism!) in a way that never could have happened before. The creative team should all be proud, and their country should be proud of them.