First, there was Dalgona coffee. Then came trying to make sourdough bread and unleashing the plantito and plantita in us. And now we have Wordle. With time spent at home these days, people have been looking for news ways to pass the time. And internet-based word game Wordle is the latest trend that has been taking over social media, particularly Twitter. If you’ve been on Twitter within the past few weeks, then you might have come across rows of green, gray, and yellow squares with a caption like “Wordle 223 4/6” or “Wordle 209 5/6” on your feed. This all comes from the game.
Wordle was created in October 2021 by Josh Wardle. Initially, the game was only played by Josh and his friends before more and more people started playing as well. As 2022 began, the game became viral and soon, players from around the world joined in on the newest craze. In Wordle, players have to guess a five-letter English within six tries. The goal is to guess the word before your tries are over. The less tries you use, the better.
Everyone is given the same word to guess, with a new one on each succeeding day. To help you guess, the game offers clues through the color of the boxes. Green means you have the correct letter. Yellow means that the letter is correct, but in the wrong place. Gray, meanwhile, indicates that the letter isn’t present in any spot. Once you completed the game, you are encouraged to share your results on Twitter for others to see and try.
Wordle has attracted attention not just from crossword puzzle or word game fans, but from the general public as well thanks to its communal aspect. Seeing and comparing how your friends did to you can admittedly be exciting. Plus, it’s also a simple way to exercise your brain and pass the time. But if you’re looking for something a bit more local, you can actually try one. It’s called Saltong, a self-described “Filipino clone” of Wordle.
SALTONG, WORLDE’S FILIPINO CLONE
Created by Carl de Guia, a University of the Philippines graduate and application development lead at Accenture, Saltong was released on January 14, 2022. It is similar to Wordle in many ways except for how you have to guess Tagalog words instead of English words. A combination of the words salita and bugtong, Saltong is web-based and can be played both on mobile and desktop. All the words used in Saltong are sourced from the Tagalog Dictionary.
Aside from the usual five-letter word, Saltong also offer a “Mini” version, which is a four letter word in five tries and a “Max” version, which is a seven letter word in eight tries. And if you really want to test your skills, you can try Saltong Hex, a self-described “clone of the NYT Spelling Bee.” So, if you’re looking to sharpen your Tagalog vocabulary, give Saltong a try. And if you are looking for something a bit more LGBTQIA+ focused, then you can also check out Queerdle, aka the “yassification of wordle.”
alt-J says their new album, The Dream, is one that shows a new side to them musically while also retaining their essence.
For fans of English indie folk band alt-J, their fourth studio album, The Dream, has been a long time coming. Their first album, 2012’s An Awesome Wave, was a critically acclaimed Mercury Prize and Ivor Novello Award-winning debut that put the band on the map. Their follow up, 2014’s This Is All Yours, topped charts and gave alt-J a GRAMMY and BRIT nomination. While in 2017, their third studio album, RELAXER, flew straight into the top 10 and became their second album to be nominated for the prestigious Mercury Prize.
But aside from dropping a rework of RELAXER in 2018 called REDUXER, it has been relatively radio silent the acclaimed folk band, until now. After three years, alt-J returned with their latest single called U&ME, which was later followed up by the emotional and stirring Get Better and the burst of energy that is Hard Drive Gold. All this served as singles off their highly anticipated four studio album, The Dream, set for release on February 11, 2022. Ahead of the album’s release, NYLON Manila spoke with the acclaimed folk band to discuss their latest body of work, what they’ve been up to, and much more.
Photo by George Muncey
Why did you decide to release U&ME as your first single off the new album?
We wanted to come back with a really positive song about good times—after going through the pandemic we thought the world needed it.
Did the pandemic affect how you approached the album? And if so, how?
It gave us more time to work on the album, which was a good thing. In the past we’ve had to rush a bit to meet deadlines but this time we could just go at our own pace.
When The Dream drops this February, it will be your longest time between your album releases. Aside from working on the album, what have you been up to in-between the release of Relaxer and The Dream?
We’ve been growing up! Marriage, babies, dogs, houses. All the usual things people in their 30s do, haha.
Why did you call the album The Dream?
It’s named after a Picasso painting of the same name. But also we thought it worked for the album in other ways, like how it’s always shifting and taking unexpected turns.
What was it like working on The Dream?
It was like walking through an orchard and picking ripe delicious fruit from different trees. A delight.
Get Better differs greatly from your previous releases with its peeled back sound and emotional message. How did that song come about?
It was written during the pandemic, about a man losing his wife to an illness. While it’s not necessarily about coronavirus, it’s definitely a product of the time.
Given the long wait between the release of your last album and this upcoming one, do you feel a pressure to live up to the anticipation?
All we can do is make the best music we possibly can and hope people like it as much as we do!
Could you describe the album’s art cover and what was the inspiration behind it?
It’s rather unsettling drawing of a humanoid figure by the artist Joel Wiley—a friend of ours and someone whose art we love. Much like the album, it’s intriguing, a bit dark but open to interpretation.
What can your fans look forward to with the new album?
Hopefully they will find we’ve gone to new places on it musically but retained our quintessential “alt-J-ness.”
What songs from the album are you looking forward to performing live?
I’m playing bass for the first time on this album on several songs: Hard Drive Gold, Philadelphia, and Losing My Mind. So, I’m excited to play those ones!
Throughout ITZY’s nearly three year career, the girl group has taken on many personas. They were icy but on fire, wannabes, mafias in the morning, and crazy in love just to name a few. But for their latest endeavor, the quintet are set to take on their most interesting role to date, Pokémon trainers.
ITZY x POKEMON
Announced on January 27 via Pokémon Philippines’ official Facebook page, the Pokémon Company revealed that they were officially partnering with ITZY to promote the just-released new Pokémon game, Pokémon Legends: Arceus. While not many details were revealed, the statement did say that on February 9, Pokémon would release a new commercial for the game starring ITZY, as well as TikTokvideos.
“I was happy to hear that I could work with Pokemon, which is known by many people and which I have loved since I was a child,” said Yeji in a statement. Chaeryong also had the same sentiments sharing “I’m very happy to be working on “Pokemon”! I’ve been watching it since I was a kid, so I feel nostalgic and honored at the same time!”
The members also talked about their connections with the iconic franchise. Lia, Chaeryong, and Yeji expressed their love Eevee. Ryujin, meanwhile, said that she would play the games so much as a child, her parents would get angry at her. Lia adds, “When I was a kid, I would always watch Pokémon in front of the TV every morning. It was my routine for the day.”
MORE PROJECTS IN THE NEAR FUTURE
It should be noted that this is just the “first part of the tie-up,” meaning that ITZY are expected to be partnered with Pokémon for a while. So, expect more happenings as part of this campaign. In the image released, Yeji and Yuna are both holding a mobile phone, Ryujin and Lia are holding a Nintendo Switch, while Chaeryong has a card from the official card game. It’s not hard to imagine collabs and promotions for not just Arecus, but for the popular Pokémon Unite, and Pokémon Trading Card Game as well. Who knows, they might even make an appearance in a game or we might get an ITZY costume set.
This actually isn’t the first time a JYPE group collaborated with Nintendo. TWICE appeared in a series of commercials promoting the Nintendo Switch and a variety of games likeMario Party Superstars, Miitopia, and Ring Fit Adventures. It’s also not uncommon for K-pop groups to partner with a video game.
2022 was already going to be a big year for Pokémon. The latest Pokémon game, Pokémon Legends: Arecus is noted for its big departure from past games in the franchise. It features an open world, brand new mechanics, and serves as a bit of a prequel to the main series. So far, early reviews for the game has said that while not perfect, it’s a solid adventure. Now, fans of both Pokémon and ITZY have another thing to look forward to. As for ITZY, they are also set to have their first in-person fan meet in years on February 19. And don’t worry if you can’t be there in person as it will be streamed on BeyongLive for international MIDZYS. You can get your tickets here.
Francine is literally Isabela. Everywhere she goes, she makes the flowers bloom. ?
Just when you thought her birthday week was over, Francine Diaz gets an enchanting surprise from Dra. Vicki Belo. As one of her new muses, she went all out and decided to give the rising superstar her much-deserved moment. And on her 18th, Francine had the sweetest surprise when Belo transformed their house into a lush garden of flowers inspired by the Casita, the magical home in Disney’s animated film, Encanto.
“We turned our house into Casita Belo (like the one in the movie Encanto) for Ate@francinesdiaz birthday,” writes Scarlet Snow Belo’s official Instagram account. More than bringing the charm and spirit of family together in their home, it’s the little details that surprised us above everything else. Read more below to see the tiny deets you might have missed in Francine’s birthday surprise!
The set designers at La Belle Fete did a great job subtly incorporating the butterfly elements of Encanto in Francine’s birthday surprise. Even the necklace she was wearing also had those tiny charms!
ISABELA’S FLOWERS
The florists could’ve just stuck to Isabela’s pink and white flowers, but they decided to sprinkle some actual references from the movie by including the ones from her creative outburst with Mirabel.
THE DOORS FROM ENCANTO
Francine deserves her own door like the rest of the characters of Encanto. Even the other details of the cake like the patterns seen in the movie were also on point.
FRANCINE CHANNELS ISABELA
Make way for Señora Perfecta! We honestly can’t keep count of the many times we’ve said that Francine Diaz needs princess roles in the future, especially now that we’ve seen her as Isabela Madrigal, too.
Ahead of the auspicious Chinese New Year, liven up your traditional and classic red by merging it with the brave and fierce spirit of the new collection of Onitsuka Tiger.
Whether or not one strictly subscribes to the traditions of Chinese New Year, it certainly doesn’t discount the fact that its promise of a refresh. If the collective slump of January hasn’t quite held up to the hope you had at the onset, then the dawn of a new year in the context of Chinese culture is another chance to reset and recalibrate. Falling on the second new moon following the winter solstice, things are looking to be quite auspicious because on February 1 begins the fierce year of the tiger.
Of the rituals and rigors of Chinese New Year that are practiced to sweep away bad spirits and to attract an abundance of good fortune, the gateway to observing the spring of new life is by wearing the lucky color red. While this is still the most common and powerful of practice, Onitsuka Tiger is pouncing on the scene with its roaring collection of contemporary sports-inspired innovations that are above all, comfortable and stylish. It is the year of the tiger after all and what better way to celebrate that than with an eye-catching selection of tiger-printed pieces that will have heads turning, including lady luck.
Get Your Courage On
Get Your Luck On
Tracing its origins from the ambition of Mr. Kihachiro Onitsuka, whose vision was to champion the philosophy of sports being able to transform lives, there is a lot more now to the Japanese brand than the signature striped sneaker. Today, it is taking on the world with reinvigorated purpose and precision by fusing athleticism with future-forward sensibilities. At the helm of this shift is its creative director, Andrea Pompilio, who honors the heritage and iconography of Onitsuka Tiger with unique and interesting design propositions.
The Future Of Sports-Inspired Fashion
This is clearly manifested in the Year of the Tiger capsule offering of Onitsuka Tiger, which takes inspiration from the king of the beasts in the Chinese zodiac. In a commanding set of casual pieces and sportswear, the leisure of athletics is the formidable foundation, which is then decorated with slashes of stripes, a smattering of golden orange, and other tiger iconographies. From updated classic silhouettes to fresh new styles, Onitsuka Tiger is offering a wealth of fashionable and functional options for you just in time for Chinese New Year such as tiger-printed socks, graphic shirts, track tops, trousers, shorts, dresses, performance blousons, and of course, the Serrano sneakers. And just like the tiger it takes its cues from, you can and will get your courage on with these pieces, guaranteed.
The Power Of Essentials
As the tiger begins to burn bright and rule the rest of the Chinese New Year, it is by all accounts bound to be a very special year for Onitsuka Tiger. So, bring on the tiger goods, because as it is another chance to start anew, we are suiting up in stripes as the new moon shines its light on the rest of the year. Here’s to a roaring one.
When you talk about today’s hottest young stars, the conversation isn’t complete without including Francine Diaz. In just a few years, the she went from supporting actress to emerging leading lady. She rocketed onto the scene thanks to her iconic role as Cassie Mondragon in Kadenang Ginto and she hasn’t slowed since. Aside from her acting capabilities, Francine has also a rolodex of traits that make her a top tier Gen Z star. And now that she just turned 18 years old, the young adult is now entering a new phase of her life and career which undoubtedly will take her to new heights. Here are six, among many, reasons why Francine Diaz is a shining star to watch out for.
SHE’S A VERSITILE ACTRESS
Francine Diaz isn’t an in-demand actress just for nothing. Time and time again, Chin has proven that she has the acting chops. From romance, comedy, drama, thriller, and horror, Francine has done them all. Her roles in Kadenang Ginto and Huwag Kang Mangamba wonderfully show off her serious acting skills. While her participation in projects like the internationally recognizedTenement 66 and CLICK, LIKE, SHARE prove that she can do more than just a certain kind of character. With her set to star in the upcoming series Bola Bola this year, Francine looks to amaze us once more.
What Francine has now wasn’t given to her on a silver platter, far from it in fact. Growing up as the third of six siblings, she and her family struggled to make ends meet and afford basic necessities. They even had to ask to borrow money from their neighbors from time to time. Francine ended up becoming the breadwinner of the family at just 10 years old to support her family. But despite all the obstacles in her way, she persevered and worked hard to become the star that she is. She started with bit and minor roles, often playing the younger counterpart of the lead actress before taking on lead protagonist roles.
SHE PRIORITIZES HER FAMILY
Chin’s family plays a very important role in her life. She is very close with her family and has even featured her siblings in some of her YouTube videos. In fact, many things she has done so far are to give her family a comfortable life. She revealed in an interview that helping her family has always been one of her biggest goals in life. It’s clear though that all her hard work has paid off as she was able to buy a house and car for her family, a top priority for the young star. She even pays for the tuition of her siblings because she wants to see them finish college.
With everything that has been going on for Francine, it would be understandable if she decided to focus fully on her career instead of school. But Francine has her priorities straight and decided to put her education as one of her main focuses in life. In 2021, the young star enrolled in Southville International School Affiliated with Foreign Universities (SISFU) for senior high school. She’s currently under the Business Management strand of her school. While she has admitted that balancing her work and school is not easy, she remains committed to getting that degree. Francine has also expressed in pursuing a college degree in the future so that she has something to fall back to if her acting career doesn’t work out in the long run. Francine is out here showing us that no matter how big you get, education should always be a priority.
Some may assume that Chin acts in a certain way or is a too big of a star to talk to. But in reality, Francine stays grounded and is that kind of girl who you would want to be friends with. She has remained humbled despite what she has achieved and in the end of the day, is a regular teenage girl. Francine doesn’t she herself as above others. The fresh faced beauty can get serious when she has to, but she also has an admirable personality that makes her approachable.
At just 18 years old, Francine is one of the country’s top stars of her generation. And as such, she has become an in-demand personality. Aside from the projects Chin has lined up, she has been tapped either to endorse or be the face of some of the country’s biggest brands. You may have seen some of her commercials or passed a couple of her billboards along EDSA and other major thruways. She even got to open a fashion show for Michael Leyva wearing a breathtaking purple ball gown. And it so happened to be her very first fashion show. Secure that bag Francine.
When it comes to inspiration, there’s nothing more universal then heartbreak, especially when it comes to making music. Nearly every musician has used heartbreak as inspiration for a song, lyric, or tune. Some of the most popular musicians in the world have used heartbreak to fuel their global successes. 17-year-old rising musician GAYLE is one such artist that used heartbreak to inspire music. After going through a particularly bad breakup, she used that experience to pen the anthemicabcdefu. But little did she know that the track would become a breakout hit from 2021 and give the young artist her biggest success to date. NYLON Manila got the chance to chat with the musician to talk about the track, her future plans, and advice on how to get over a heartbreak.
TALENTED AT A YOUNG AGE
Growing up outside Dallas, Texas, GAYLE first started singing at the age of seven. Eventually, she took up piano and guitar as well writing songs on her own. By the time she was 14, GAYLE was already making her own songs. Later on, she crossed paths with GRAMMY Award-nominated songwriter, former American Idol judge, producer, and music publisher Kara DioGuardi, who promptly took on the role of mentor after recognizing the talent she had. In January 2020, she dropper her first single, dumbass. The rest of the year was filled with single drops in the form of z, happy foryou, and orange peel. While the songs did receive praise from critics, they weren’t necessarily hits. But that all changed in August 2021. After signing with Atlantic Records, the young musician released abcdefu.
ABCDE F U
“I wrote abcdefu when I was trying really hard to be nice and considerate to my ex. Then I heard through some mutual friends that my ex wasn’t saying the nicest things about me and all bets were off,” she said in a press release at the time. The track is a mixture of GAYLE’s raw sincerity with a sometimes irreverent perspective. She pulls no punches as she details a laundry list of the things she hates about her ex during the memorable choruses.
“I really just came out of talking, like I was just ranting,” GAYLE tells NYLON Manila. “I was just like, ‘I hate him. And his mom and his sister and his job,’ because all of those things are true. I hated his mom and dad. I hated his brothers. and his sister. His job was terrible. His car was the worst.”
She continues, “And yeah, all of the stupid things that he would just like, buy off Craigslist that would break in seconds. And like, he would think he was so financially responsible and be like, ‘You should be more like me.’” With its minimalist backdrop of jagged guitar work, the tongue-in-cheek breakup song explodes into a free-for-all that serves as the highlight of the track and one you won’t forget easily.
“HE WOULD JUST BRING ME DOWN”
At first listen, the track makes you think that it was a bad breakup. But by GAYLE’s own admission, the relationship was more than just being with an immature boy. It was a toxic and unhealthy one that affected her deeply. “It was one of those things where a lot of little things just kind of built up to bigger things over time. And it changed who I was as a person and build myself because I never felt like I was good enough for him.”
She continues “All I ever tried to do is be good enough to make him happy. It was one of those things where he just never made me feel good about myself ever. I just like lived in this constant state of feeling I was a problem and I didn’t deserve happiness. And I didn’t know how to be like happy around him. Because anytime I was happy, he would just want to bring me down.”
It was only after she broke things off with him was when she was able to really sit down and process what she went through. “I was just mad that it took me that long to get mad. And that it took him saying things behind my back to actually let myself feel that.” This is why she sees abcdefu not just as a breakup anthem, but a song where she could validate her feelings. “For me personally writing that song was very empowering. It was very therapeutic to like, just get all of my thoughts out on into a song.”
And if you’re curious, no ,she doesn’t know what her ex thinks about the single. “We haven’t reached out to each other at all. I literally have no clue if he’s heard it. I feel like maybe he’s heard it, but yeah.”
A BLUNTER NAME
Just at looking at her song titles, GAYLE is not one to be subtle about how she feels. From her debut single being called dumbass to her latest, ur just horny, a rock anthem of calling out a guy who just wants to sleep with you instead of getting to know you, the 17 year old can get blunt. And as forward as abcdefu is, it was originally meant to crasser.
“Originally, the title was going to be abcde f*ck u,” she reveals. “But any time I posted about [my single dumbass] or put it out there in any way, it always got flagged or taken down because it’s considered a curse word. And so in the title we kind of just decided as like a group, as the writers, to censor it.” But if you want to know how the original would have sounded like, GAYLE dropped an abcdefu (angrier) version where she doesn’t censor the f part.
FROM SINGLE TO CHART TOPPING HIT
When abcdefu first dropped in August 2021, whose cover art is her an actual X-Ray of her broken middle finger, it made a splash in the music industry. It went relatively ignored for a while until in late November when the song started gaining attention, especially on TikTok. It subsequently went viral with over 2.3 million uses as of this writing. The song started climbing charts and even topped a few such as earning a coveted number one on the UK charts. So far, the track has accumulated 313 million streams on Spotify alone and even topped the Top 50 Global chart.
For GAYLE, she first realized that the song was trending when she was on tour. “At first, as an opening slot, most of time, people don’t know who you are, you’re kind of there to be like, ‘Hi, this is who I am. Please don’t boo me off stage.’ And that was basically it. Nobody knew who I was, which I get it like I knew my place. But [later on tour] I’d be like ‘this song’s called abcdefu‘ and they literally started cheering. Or sometimes people would miss my show. But then they’d see my merch and they’d see abcdefu, they’re like, ‘Wait, you’re that alphabet chick?’ And I was like, ‘Yeah, that’s me.’”
GAYLE has so far been enjoying the moment, promoting the song and even getting to perform at The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, making her late night debut. But with abcdefu doing so well and with more eyes now on GAYLE, does she feel that the pressure is on? Not necessarily. “I don’t particularly want to write another song that’s like abcdefu. I don’t particularly want to repeat abcdefu in what happened with it over and over and over again, I want to continuously be doing different things and be pushing my sound. And so that’s really what I’m focusing on is really just making the best music that I possibly can. And that has been there before abcdefu was in my head.”
As she expounds, “Since the second I started making music was to make the best thing that I possibly could. So, I don’t particularly feel pressure. I feel like I definitely could, and I probably will, in some moments, and it might get overwhelming. But overall, I’ve just kind of set kept the same goals and intentions with my music.”
WHAT’S NEXT AND GETTING OVER A BAD BREAKUP
As for what’s next for GAYLE, she did tease new projects in the pipeline, including a new album. “I will be coming out with the body work. And then I will be doing some shows. My goal is to leave the States [to tour] but you know, everything is such a question mark right now. But I want to be able to do that as soon and safely as possible. I’ll be writing for my project. And yeah, I mean, I’m just really excited to get the opportunity to perform and just release more music.”
And when it comes to moving on from a traumatic relationship like the one GAYLE went through, this is what she had to share. “My parents got divorced when I was at a young age and I never really got to see a good example of what love was. And so it really was just a guessing game. I think it’s one of those things of being lenient with yourself without always knowing the right decisions to make about love and people. And just understanding the fact that like, you’re going to make mistakes, you’re not going to do everything right. You just have to continue to see love and relationships as a learning process and figuring out what you do. Just let yourself take lessons and take the good with the bad.”
Andrea Brillantes (aka Blythe) may be one of the most outspoken females of her generation. Who’s to say there’s anything wrong with speaking your mind? Despite being in the business for as long as she has, it doesn’t always equate to developing thick skin. Even if bashers are part and parcel of being in the public eye, Andrea Brillantes admits that it still stings at times. However, she’s no longer afraid to face them all. Heck, she even made videos of herself reading hate comments and assumptions about her. How can you not stan? At the end of the day, she still wins and knows when to keep her head up. Scroll down below for our favorite clapbacks from Andrea Brillantes.
1. WHEN A BASHER CALLED HER OUT FOR WEARING A BABY BRA
Whether it was a music festival or not, who are we to have an opinion about what girls wear? In a past tweet, Andrea shared that she was supposed to apologize for wearing an attire that others saw as inappropriate, but then realized, why should she? It’s perfectly normal.
2. ANDREA’S RESPONSE TO BEING CALLED A “RETOKADA”
We’re pretty sure this isn’t the first time Andrea’s been pressed about this question. But when she answered people’s assumptions of her in a vlog, she finally addressed this misconception in the sassiest way. “Hindi po ako retokada pero thanks for thinking that. Ibig sabihin may maganda sa mukha ko para isipin niyo na retokada ako.” Tell ’em!
3. WHEN SOMEONE JUST DIDN’T KNOW HOW TO MIND THEIR OWN BUSINESS
When you’re young, it’s no secret that other folks will poke fun at you no matter how you try to be yourself. When Andrea posted this gorgeous photo of her wearing a 70s-inspired ‘fit (as she should!), someone just couldn’t help but share their two cents about it. Even she was as confused as we are.
4. WHEN SHE WAS A VICTIM OF CANCEL CULTURE AT THE AGE OF 12
Growing up in the spotlight is never easy. At the age of 12, Andrea already experienced being bashed, being called a “bandwagon fan” for liking artists like BTS, Ariana Grande, and 1D. She also shared in a media con that she was being sent death threats as well. She recounted the experience and felt scared to even admire her idols afterwards, but realized and said, “Ngayon, wala na akong pake actually. Na-realize ko na lahat ng mamahalin ko, lahat ng magiging fan ako ng something, ihe-hate nila ako, so hamu na lang, wala na akong pake.” Period.
5. ANDREA BRILLANTES CLAPS BACK AT A BASHER WHO CALLED HER A “SQUATTER”
Andrea’s response? “First of all thank you for calling me rich. That was the goal.” She further explains in her mukbang vlog that she’s not ashamed of her upbringing, admitting that she wasn’t born with a silver spoon. Unbothered queen.
7. WHEN SHE RESPONDED TO A BASHER WHO SHAMED HER FOR MAKING THE FIRST MOVE
Very recently, her and real life BF Ricci Rivero trended on social media for her romantic promposal with the help of no other than the girls of Blackpink during their Born Pink world tour. Despite the sweet gesture, she was met with mixed reactions especially from K-Pop fans and casuals alike, calling her “papansin” or “epal” for being noticed. But one basher in particular couldn’t stop her from responding to a non-sensical comment. The person left a comment on her Facebook page and said, “baliktad na pala ngayon, babae na ang nagyaya.” Best believe Andrea wasn’t too fond of this and said, “it’s high time we stop shaming girls for making the first move even on other instances,” and she’s right. Nothing else makes a woman more beautiful than going after what she wants.
All good things must come to and end and that includes Our Beloved Summer. We’re going to miss the wholesome love story of Choi Ung and Kook Yeon-soo.
As much as we like our fast-paced, action-packed shows, we also want to enjoy shows that are a bit more grounded and tell a heartwarming tale. Especially in this time that we are in now, we could all use a break and enjoy entertainment that makes us feel good, this is why Our Beloved Summer has become a hit among many fans and viewers. The SBS drama, which is also streaming on Netflix, charmed many with its sweet tale of ex-lovers finding that spark once more.
The healing series is a coming of age story following Choi Ung (Choi Woo-shik) and Kook Yeon-soo (Kim Da-mi), ex-lovers whose documentary they filmed in high school suddenly goes viral. The two must now reunite and face the cameras together again by their producer friend. Along the way, they explore their complicated feelings and how their love for each other has evolved over time.
For 16 episodes, viewers tuned in to see how this lovely tale unfolded. But sadly, not everything can last forever and Our Beloved Summer aired its season finale on January 25 and fans are understandably in their feelings seeing Ung and Yeonsoo’s story come to a satisfying close. As we cross our fingers and hope for a second season to this movie-referencing series, here are just some of the fan reactions to the finale. (WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD).
A SHOW TO BE MISSED
#OurBelovedSummer has finally come to an end. If the goal was to make us cry and fall in love over and over again then they succeeded amazingly.
Thank you for the beautiful stories of love, friendship and family. ?
Thank u, Our Beloved Summer for these amazing past 2 months. All crew, writer-nim, all actors and everyone who included to this great drama. 수고했아요, you guys did a great job!!! Will be miss my beloved monday-tuesday vibes?❤ #OurBelovedSummerEp16#OurBelovedSummerpic.twitter.com/WTm6LuVeLH
Woong drew a person for the first time, that was the first time he saw yeonsoo. And the title of the book written was “the early summer that i like” the book that yeonsoo borrowed 10 years ago. THE DETAILS✨#OurBelovedSummerEp16#OurBelovedSummerpic.twitter.com/AOB96pCMRZ
I just love the development in yeonsu and ung’s relationship, the fact that they started from having lack of communication to finally being courageous enough to open up with each other ??
Representation in media, especially about race and gender, has always been important, but now so more than ever. People are no longer okay with inaccurate, stereotypical, or patronizing portrayals in movies, films, and other forms of entertainment. This holds true whether it be a small production or a major motion picture. And speaking of, the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) just made a major step in representation with the casting of its historic transgender character. And she’s going to be played Ivory Aquino, a Filipina-American trans actress.
THE DCEU’S FIRST TRANS CHARACTER
As confirmed by Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter, Ivory Aquino was cast to play Alysia Yeoh in the Batgirl movie. Speculation initially ran when Leslie Grace, the actress playing Barbara Gordon/Batgirl, posted a picture on IG stories of her and Ivory together on set and even tagged her. Twitter account Batgirl Film News then shared images on set, which showed Leslie and Ivory filming scenes together.
The character of Alysia Yeoh is groundbreaking in her own right. The first trans character to be ever featured in a mainstream comic, she first appeared in Gail Simone’s Batgirl Vol 4#1 in 2011. In the comics, Alysia is a bartender and Barbara Gordon’s roommate and best friend. Her inclusion in the Batgirl film will be the first time a transgender character has appeared in the DCEU, as well as have a pivotal role in a major comic book movie.
Nicole Maine as Nia Nal in the Supergirl TV Show
Alysia though isn’t the first time a trans character has appeared in a DC property. In 2018, actress Nicole Maines played Nia Nal, aka the superhero Dreamer, in the Supergirl TV show. On the MCU side, trans actor Zach Barack had a role as one of Peter Parker’s classmates in Spider-Man: Far From Home.
WHO IS IVORY AQUINO?
Ivory Aquino has appeared in her fair share of Hollywood productions. She is most known for playing trans activist Cecilia Chu in 2017’s When We Rise. It was during the press tour for the project that she publicly came out as trans. Her other works include appearances in the Netflix shows When They See Us and Tales of the City, and series like New Amsterdam and Blue Bloods. Ivory also starred in Lingua Franca, which was directed by Filipina trans actress and director, Isabel Sandoval, where she played the role of Trixie. Clearly though, her appearance in the upcoming Batgirl film will be one of, if not her biggest role to date.
According to an interview with People Magazine, Ivory first realized that she was trans when she was five years old. She was born and raised in the Philippines before moving to America when she was in high school as an exchange student. Eventually, she started her journey of transitioning when she was a teenager, fully living out her identity and truth.
AN EXCITING TIME FOR DC FANS
After a tepid 2021, the DCEU is set to make 2022 a banner year with major films like The Batman, Aquaman 2, and The Flash all set for release this year. So, the inclusion of the DCEU’s first trans character in the Batgirl film has us even more excited for what’s to come from DC. With this milestone of inclusion and representation, there is a lot more to relate to and celebrate in the LGBTQIA+ community. And the best part is that a Filipina trans actress is getting her much-deserved time in the spotlight.
Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah are directing the film with Christina Hodson (Birds of Prey), writing the script. Other cast members include Brendan Fraser who will play the villain Firefly, Michael Keaton who will suit up once again as Batman, and J.K. Simmons who returns to his role as Commissioner Gordon, the head of the Gotham PD and Barbara’s dad. Plot details are currently under wraps though we do know what Batgirl’s costume will look like. The movie is currently in production in London and is set for a release exclusively on HBO Max this 2022.
