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Male Masseurs Anyone?
Entry Feed TrackbackIt’s undeniable that a lot of our fellow PLUs (People Like Us) enjoy pampering. Fact is, most of us work like crazy, trying to prove our worth, and in the process earning a decent amount of money for our family and for ourselves. Once in a while, we get that feeling of entitlement towards the moolah we earn — “I deserve some pampering.” Work hard, play hard. I guess this is the fundamental driver of the “Male Massage” industry. Well, at lest that’s my take. A movie, “Heavenly Touch” uses this industry as a backdrop. And on the foreground? These:
HEAVENLY TOUCH
Synopsis
Nursing student RODEL (Paolo Serrano) supports his schooling by working nights as a masseur at the Heavenly Touch Spa, which offers more than massage to its mostly gay clientele. When he discovers that JONARD (Joash Balejado), a former classmate for whom he has secret romantic feelings, is in dire need of a job, RODEL teaches him basic massage skills and brings him to the spa.
Immediately, the reluctant JONARD discovers that, contrary to its name, the spa is a hellish place ruled by a vicious ex-cop, SIR TONG (Jeffrey Santos). The jolly and maternal spa manager, MAMA ORANGE (Jim Pebanco), makes up for the owner’s cruelty even as he treats SIR TONG with abject devotion.
SIR TONG has a fair-haired boy among the masseurs, BIBOY (Marco Morales), his trusted lieutenant in his illegal drug business. BIBOY takes a liking to JONARD, much to RODEL’s distaste. Soon, RODEL’s affections for JONARD can no longer be denied.
JONARD finds financial relief in dispensing massage and extra service to his gay clients. Suddenly, there’s hope for his fight against the impending foreclosure on his family’s home. RODEL also eagerly contributes his own earnings to the cause, especially the tidy sums he receives from a very generous home-service client, the lovely SHEILA (Gwen Garci).
Amidst the spa’s oppressive state of affairs and JONARD’s bleak domestic situation, romance blooms between him and RODEL.
Unfortunately, RODEL gets a terrible beating when he and SHEILA are caught in flagrante delicto by her politician benefactor. With RODEL sidelined by his injuries, JONARD has no one to turn to when his financial problem escalates. JONARD succumbs to BIBOY’s overtures, setting off a series of events that culminates in a violent confrontation between SIR TONG and RODEL.
“heavenly touch”
a film by joel lamangan
written by: eric ramos
starring
paolo serrano
marco morales
introducing
joash balejado
also starring
gwen garci
paolo rivero
jeffrey santos
john apacible
jim pebanco
irma adlawan
Opens in May at selected theaters.
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sus eto na naman po tayo…
Wouldn’t it be easier (and interesting) if the producers just drop the “indie” and “film art” facade?
And why even bother with plots and narratives that, as we all know, at the end of the day, will not really matter and in all likelihood, does not have substance?
Wouldn’t be a refreshing change if the producers will just come out and say it as it is: Watch the movie because it has hot muscular guys in steamy gay scenes and there’s a high chance that Marco Morales will again give a cameo of his schlong!
I know I’m being cynical.. pero nakakapagod na kasi sumugod sa Robinson’s Indie Cine or sa UP Film Center, anticipate a GOOD gay film with substance, and end up watching soft core gay porn…
I mean, if I wanted to see porn, I could easily download it off the net. I wouldn’t have bothered going out of my way for an overpriced hard on.
And Migs, pasintabi lang po, wouldn’t you say that as ‘influential voices’ in the gay community, we should at least be critical (in whatever way we can) in promoting Gay flicks? wala lang, naisip ko lang…
Coz most of the time, I read about these movis in blogs…get all hyped up by all the blog buzz and then find it disappointing…
Again, pasintabi po sa mga nasagasaan, just giving my two cents…
Oliver at Apr 14, 09 at 11:17 pm
I agree what is written above. Well, if you really wanted to have a gay flick that has a sense, better watch (again and again, me in the nth time)LOVE OF SIAM.
There are no frontal nudities, sex scenes, pumping scenes, or name-that-position stuff. Just only a genuine kiss between Tong and Mew. And the totality of the video has just been so perfectly fantastic. So far, for me, that is a good standard of a gay movie.
Sometimes(or most of the time), movie goers tell that this indie/gay film is beautiful because there are a lot of your-penis-will-surely-erect-in-a-second scenes. But for me, it will never be the case. Just watch LOVE OF SIAM, and you will realize the REAL beauty of what a REAL gay flick is.
Randall at Apr 14, 09 at 11:45 pm
why do indie films always have the plot of “poverty”?
Joe at Apr 15, 09 at 12:33 am
JOe, I think poverty is a prerequisite in order to insert gratuitous nudity in these gay indie flicks. It’s always the penis-hawking masseur with the heart of gold or the poor orphan boy giving Mang Ramon a blowjob.
dylan007 at Apr 15, 09 at 12:40 am
Hi Oliver, unfortunately I do not take it upon myself to be a vanguard of anything just because some people consider me “influential.” Not that I shouldn’t be, it’s just my choice not to be.
migs at Apr 15, 09 at 12:46 am
Dont you just go crazy for a man in a sando?? Do you agree Migs? Hehehe
Ryan at Apr 15, 09 at 1:27 am
Yes, gay filipino movies are now a dime a dozen but it doesn’t help if we indiscriminately regard them all as worthless “soft porn”.
it’s good that these film producers are acknowledging the power of the pink peso but if we want the type of gay films we have in mind then we better “vote” on the type of gay films we want by watching what we feel are QUALITY gay films in cinemas like Robinson’s IndieSine and UP Cine Adarna. (I hope Randall watched LOVE OF SIAM in gateway cinemas when it was repeatedly shown in the last cinemanila film fest and does not rely on pirated dvds or youtube).
speaking of quality gay films and cinemanila, an excellent gay film which garnered accolades from the last cinemanila film fest on the life of a transsexual is currently showing in Robinson’s: THE AMAZING TRUTH ABOUT QUEEN RAQUELA. It doesn’t feature gratuitous sex but it treats the subject matter with warmth, humor and humanity. I urge you to watch it. unfortunately, its producers do not have the marketing muscle of say, HEAVENLY TOUCH, that enables the latter to foist its publicity photos in blogs like MGG.
Lastly, there are many ways to know beforehand if a gay film is a QUALITY gay film you’re looking for “para hindi na mapagod sa pagpunta sa sinehan”. Look for movie reviews. Ask the people who have seen the movie. Look at the track record of the director. For instance, if you didn’t like WALANG KAWALA, detests Joel Lamangan as a mainstream hack pretending to be an indie auteur, then by all means don’t touch this HEAVENLY TOUCH film.
So put away your pitch forks and torches, folks, and “vote” with your movie ticket purchases if you want to see the pink films you have in mind. As migs says: World Peace!
ariel at Apr 15, 09 at 2:38 am
yes.. bakit kailngan pang sabihin na indie film o art film ang mga pelikulang ito.. eh sa totoo lang, ginawa ito para lang tumigas ung titi ng mga bading na nakipila at nagbayad sa UPFI..
wag maiimbyerna yung iba, pero kadalasan sa mga nagsasabi na maganda ang mga pelikulang ito eh ung mga moviegoers na hindi nag-iisip at kalaswaan o paghuhubad lang ang habol sa pelikula..
am not against nudity,pero wag na sanang manloko pa ng mga bading.. art film eh kangkangan lang naman talaga ang bentahe ng pelikula.. mag download nalang ako ng porno sa internet..
sam at Apr 15, 09 at 6:53 am
i agree with oliver and randall.. the only gay indie film in the philippines that makes sense to me is ang pagdadalaga ni maximo oliveros… the other movies puro sex na ang theme..
codeblue2187 at Apr 15, 09 at 8:04 am
agree ako sa 1st na nag post.
kasi parang walang sense at storya ang mga gay indie dito sa phils.
puros sex, katawan, yun ang highlight.
pero ang story? walang wala.
agree ako na ang love of siam.
it has substance about tong and mew.
isang intimate kissing scene lang.
at may story..
yung bangkok love story, may sex nga.
pero it has lessons at parang eye opener sya na movie.
ayoko ang gay indie ng philippines.
i dont support them.
ang first na napanuod ko na gay indie, yun daybreak,
boring.
si coco martin, siguro may gay benefactor na sya since lahat ng indie nagawa nya, gay theme.
baka nga may hiv/aids na sya eh.
hahahaha…
ingat.
anthony at Apr 15, 09 at 11:26 am
ung mga ganito masarap i-take home, silang lahat pagsasabay sabayin ko! ahehe
wakamaru at Apr 15, 09 at 11:38 am
Ang indie film ba ay dapat na tawaging gay film?
Asyano at Apr 15, 09 at 1:55 pm
it’s good to be back in here…glad for it’s new look, so refreshing!
jed at Apr 15, 09 at 2:09 pm
I’m glad that MGG is on a very simple layout. I was about to text MIGGS (to thank) but unfortunately I lost his number. Keep this up MIGZ!!! Thank you.
burning_iceburg at Apr 15, 09 at 3:39 pm
I second with the agreement of codeblue2187 with Oliver and Randall, “Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros” should be the benchmark for indie gay films in the Philippines, very original and really worth its salt. I believe “Jay” is a worthy title also.
After watching “Lihim ni Antonio”, I really thought that it was soft porn and was mortified with idea of having the young actor face Josh’s dangling dong and performing pseudo-fellatio (I wonder what was going on in Kenji’s mind that time). I remember that there was also a scene where the protagonist really touched the other actor’s penis, that was way overboard for me. These goes also for the other so called pink films. Gone are the days of creative use of visual metaphors instead of gratuitous sex scenes.
And now even some of our respectable directors are also jumping into the pink bandwagon just for the easy profits coming from the titillated gay audience; to the extent of giving us films with just the slightest idea of substance or none at all. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I sense that this “Heavenly Touch” film is nothing but another washed-out “Macho Dancer” clone only with masseurs instead of go-go boys.
Tsinitoboy at Apr 15, 09 at 3:42 pm
hehehe paulit ulit na theme na yang mga spa mga club na may mga macho dancers mga masseurs hayyy
tama ka atleast they could make a movie na gay theme na may mga kilig factor or drma…pero mga kapatid,papanoodin kaya ng madla kapag wala naman mga body parts showing?hahaha
maccallister at Apr 15, 09 at 5:14 pm
soft porn.
peppoi at Apr 15, 09 at 7:32 pm
I agree with codeblue, I heart Pagdadalaga Ni Maximo Oliveros too.
Randall at Apr 15, 09 at 8:05 pm
wala na bang ibang storyline?
tralala at Apr 15, 09 at 10:15 pm
Wouldn’t it be cool to have a Pinoy “Foreign Language” Gay movie? And by Foreign Language, I mean everything is in gay lingo complete with subtitles! I smell an Oscar…
dylan007 at Apr 15, 09 at 10:37 pm
oo magdownload na lang daming blogsites jan! hindi pa harang…
Adan at Apr 16, 09 at 8:57 am
one indie noteworthy of spending your dime on is “Hanggang Dito Na Lamang At Maraming Salamat”. heartfelt, with all the elements blended perfectly to convey the story, a real one as it seemed.
Prongs&Thongs at Apr 16, 09 at 2:22 pm
HAY NKU!!! PG MOVIE NI JOEL LAMANGAN ASAHAN MO NA WALANG KWENTA, PILIT GAYA MGA GAWA NI LINO BROKA EH MSYADONG OA MGA MOVIES NYA. SIDHI LNG ANG GUS2 KO SA MGA GNWA NYA…SANA NMAN LAGYAN NG LALIM UN MGA GAWA NDI UN BSTA MGPKITA LNG NG LAMAN. LUK LIHIM NI ANTONIO SO SIMPLE PRO ME LAMAN ANG PELIKULA AT MALINIS PGKGWA.
kris at Apr 16, 09 at 10:01 pm
Wag naman masyadong nega! Hehe!
I believe that we’re just in the “first wave.” Moviemakers and some of our viewers need to immerse themselves in these movies wherein they can find affirmation of their sexuality and desires, which IS an essential part of our identity. However, we shall not stay as sexual as these movies have portrayed us. We shall be liberated, too, from the things (and people) that have “caged” us through the years, di ba? We shall see more gays in film that are rejected, bashed, hit, kicked, spanked…for oppression and violence have also defined us.
Cris at Apr 17, 09 at 12:20 am
im actuali surprised na andaming haters sa post na toh, but c’mon on a lighter note, hot naman si marco eh
)
pacifico at Apr 17, 09 at 12:24 am
i believe there are stages to the development of things. these types of movies eventually lead to quality that we so want them to be. it just so happens that we havent reached that stage yet [save a few]
so, i say, let them be. if you think its the sleazy type, stay away. if its of good quality, go ahead and patronize.
as my manager used to say, control things which you can; influence things you cant control; observe things you cant influence. and yeah, i like what the other poster said- vote for it by the tickets.
dan at Apr 17, 09 at 2:55 am
bading1: i REALLY hate the latest pinoy gay slash indie movie. antagal magsimula, hinintay pa yung press, tapos WALANG KWENTA naman pala ang pelikula. pwe!
bading2: bakit walang kwenta?
bading1: naku walang istorya, puro hubaran lang. Ang mga pinoy indie talaga ngayon LAHAT walang kwenta! nagpapakita lang ng nota para kumita!
bading2: di ba ang press release ng pelikulang pinanood mo ay kung ilang beses nagkaroon ng frontal si Marco Morales? E ano bang inaasahan mo nung pumunta ka pa sa UP film center?
bading1: BASTA dapat gumawa sila ng mga magagandang pelikula tulad ng LOVE OF SIAM na paulit-ulit kong pinapanood sa dvd! ang mga pinoy indie PURO walang kwenta!
bading2: pero marami rin namang matino tulad ng MGA PUSANG GALA, Maximo, Compound, Hanggang Dito na Lamang, Selda at iba pa. E yung Queen Raquela palabas nga eh.
bading1: e wala naman dun si Marco Morales e bakit ko panonoorin?
(tatahimik)
bading2: wag ka na lang kasi manood sa UP film center. hintayin mo mun yung mga reviews nina AJ, ganyan, tapos saka ka manood sa Robinson’s.
bading1: ano, ka hilo? e di CENSORED na ‘yun, no?
bading2:(dadampot ng matalim na bagay…)
ariel at Apr 17, 09 at 3:00 am
Male Masseurs isnt that redundant? masseuse is feminine of masseur
Joe at Apr 17, 09 at 7:40 am
Napansin ko lang sa mga comments dito eh reklamo ng reklamo ang mga movie goers sa mga ganitong klaseng film eh hindi naman nanonood ng quality gay film pag merong showing.
Naisip ko lang eh bakit ba merong ganyang klaseng film dito satin at patuloy na dumarami?
Kasi may market, kasi kumikita, kasi may nanonood.
So bakit may nanonood?
Kasi may laman na pinapakita. Kasi “Hot” ang bida.
—————————————————
Observation ko lang sa LOVE OF SIAM fans, kikita o makikilala kaya ang film na ito sa pinas kung hindi mga cute ang bida? Lets say Atong Redillas as Tong and LA Lopez as Mew
Joey at Apr 17, 09 at 12:49 pm
to all na nagpost ng negative… yes i definitely agree to you guys!
but if given a chance n mapanood for FREE.. will you watch it or not?
Dennis at Apr 18, 09 at 3:17 am
I have to disagree with Cris and the people who say that this is just the “first wave”. Come on. This so called wave has been going on since Duda in 2003.
I’m glad that there are now more vocal negative comments regarding these “gay indie flicks”. It wasn’t like this not long ago. The only way we’ll get producers to make better films is if we say we don’t like this kind of films anymore and don’t care to watch them.
I wish that these people would just make all-out Pinoy gay porn movies and get it over with. Wala ng pasawsaw kunwari into deeper, social meanings. Just bring out the dicks and leave the profundity and insight to the real filmakers.
Jedd at Apr 18, 09 at 9:12 am
i think the philippine cinema and tv in general sucks. the bottomline for the producers is profit. they will make movies and tv shows that sells. plain and simple.
harrypotter at Apr 19, 09 at 10:26 am
I think one of the more noteworthy “gay-themed” pinoy flicks would be DAYBREAK. Yes it had a little bit of kangkangan in it, but the story lingered more on the dynamics of the two protagonist lovers portrayed by Coco Martin and Paolo Rivero.
The treatment was so sensitive and tender, and I would say that this is where Coco graduates from newbie macho actor to true blue thespian. All succeeding appearances of Coco shows that he has matured into a real character player.
Fishy at Apr 19, 09 at 3:44 pm
possibly a great movie
MMMM at Apr 20, 09 at 12:20 am
Well for me…
I can say Daybreak is OK…
But of all the gay-themed movies I’ve watched the one that hit me the most, as in GRABEH is “BANGKOK LOVE STORY” well it is not filipino made though.
Pero you’ve got to watch it!!!
Una ko s’yang pinanood ng paputol-putol sa youtube…
And oh I recommend this sight if you’re on a hunt for gay-themed movies, well foreign movies:
http://www.outfilms.com
It has reviews and all…
XD my first reply…
Patroclus14 at Apr 21, 09 at 1:04 am
Bakit nawala yung mga comments?
Tsinitoboy at Apr 21, 09 at 8:36 pm
i know Oliver. i understand Oliver. see you at the movie preem. now, get back to work!
antony at Apr 21, 09 at 9:56 pm
Siguro depende nalang sa manonood kung anong habol nya. It may be out of curiosity or just to entertain himself. If it never quenched your curiosity after watching an array of low-quality films, generally speaking, then that’s something else. And by that you give these people more opportunities to produce more low quality films.
jun-jun at Apr 23, 09 at 2:10 am
yeah…I agree with most of the comments in here…Our indie films are actually cheap gay porn films hiding at the very good concept of a the real indi film….. Maximo Oliveros is an exception…….One good movie that I’ve watch but that was quit a while is “Latter Days” …watch it guys
brian at Apr 26, 09 at 8:20 am
correct me if im wrong…
pero kasi ang pagkakaalam ko is, ang isang indipendent fils has nothing to do with its plot or story but has someting to do twiht hte productions…
ewan ko vague kasi eh…
and ang alam ko, indie films are produced by some individuals at hindi ng isang productions, kasi naalala ko sa HUM1 eh asbi ng prof ko, indie film ang tawag kasi indipendent yung production..
wala lang… pero true… as i have observed, madami nang indie films ang naglipana na wala naman kinalaman ang sex scenes sa mismong kwento, hindi din naman maganda ang scoring….
hehehe,,,,
sakai at Apr 27, 09 at 1:04 am
balita ko ipapasilip daw jan yung tip ng penis ni paolo,, sinabi daw yun ni direk joel tapos nashock si paolo pero nagagree na rin sa kagustuhang madirek ni joel lamangan,, nabasa ko sa news paper
boom at Apr 28, 09 at 1:08 am
In general point of view, if the public wants it to appreciate then it has a quality movie then by goes to a word of mouth comments wherein you will base your judgement either to watch or to condemn it.
We need to be more carefull and patronize quality movies because by then producers and directors will learn to come up with a good one.
by nature, its good that comments like this are being brought up regardless wetther it is optimistic or negative.
kabul Guy at May 1, 09 at 4:37 pm
sosyal ang sarap ng mga kialalakihan dito…
efrain at May 3, 09 at 10:42 am
Haayyy naku, basta ako, like ko mga good looking pinoy boys at type ko silang panoorin in the nude. Kaya nga kumpleto ako ng mga DVD’s. Take note, original lahat i.e Provoque, Pagdadalaga…, Lihim ni Antonio, Sikil, Lalaki sa Parola, M2M (1 to 3), Pantasya, Exxxtreme, Paolo vs. Paolo (VCD lang), Uncovered Boys, etc. Looking forward for Sagwan, Showboys, Gay Erotica, etc.
ferds at May 8, 09 at 4:07 pm
Hi! do not go to asian massage malate lalu na kapag nandun si paul yu (gay receptionist)!
dave justin de vera at May 17, 09 at 3:38 pm
Hi Dave!
balita ko nga may attitude problem yang si Paul Yu, may nakapag sabi sa akin na masahista ko na may nakasagutan daw itong si paul kwento niya sa akin during ng massage nya ako sa clinic nila sa malate. grabe dapat di siya ganun kasi baka maubos client nila.
mark cruz at May 17, 09 at 3:42 pm
yup arogante nga yung baklang receptionist sa Asian Massage Malate
ed at Jul 27, 09 at 2:22 pm
I got the chance of seeing this movie. Maganda naman ang takbo ng istorya. Marco Morales, for the second time around has frontal nudity. Joash Balejado, has frontal also. Halata ang pagiging baguhan niya sa pag-arte, but he fairly did it good naman. Paolo Serrano, who played a discreet guy here, okay naman din pero pilit ng konti at halata na hindi talaga bading in real life. Grabe ang love scenes dito lalo na ang kissing scenes…grabe!
Cruiser Dude at Oct 25, 09 at 11:37 pm
Ang Indie Films ay low-budget films lamang pero minsan ay hindi mo matatawaran ang quality nito. Pero bakit karamihan ng indie films ay gay themed? Kasi po mura nga. Siyempre yong mga hubadero at hubadera ay mura din lang naman ang singil na talent fee or yong mga baguhang willing magexpose ng laman kahit mura lang ang bayad basta magkaroon ng break sa pelikula. E bakit paboritong setting ang slums? kasi nga mababa lang ang budget! Di na kailangang magrenta ng mansion or mamahaling mga gamit para maging realistic ang movie. Burak at barung-barong lang ok na ang props at mga bit players na uhugin ay ok na.
Yong mga gay-themed indie movies ay nakikiride on lang yan sa popularity of indie films as a way of expressing artistic taste pero sa totoo pornographic . Yong mga may reputasyong mga direktor lamang ang gagawa ng indie films, gay themed or not, na may katuturan. Yong iba, bara bara lang.
Jasper Cortez at Nov 18, 09 at 4:14 am