The Beki Chronicles: Viewers Accept First Gay Loveteam in New Philippine Soap Opera (VIDEOS & PHOTOS)

Gays and lesbians have long ruled Philippine show business. But they were either behind the cameras as directors, choreographers and make-up artists or cast in comic roles like the multi-awarded actors Dolphy and Roderick Paulate.

However, a new soap opera on GMA-7, one of the largest broadcasting companies in the Philippines, premiered on June 7, Monday, showing a more gender sensitive and realistic portrayal of Filipino gays, a growing number of whom have masculine appearance and behaviour.

The soap opera, titled My Husband's Lover, has beaten competition and earned raves from the international LGBT community for veering away from the stereotypical portrayal of gay men in movies and TV as screaming faggots.

The lead roles, portrayed by straight actors Dennis Trillo and Tom Rodriguez, gave rise to the country's first gay reel love team christened DenTom. The acceptance of Filipino fans of the love team was evident when the two stars sang the soap opera's theme song at the newly launched Sunday noontime show of GMA.

The two were high school best friends who had a relationship that was cut short when Trillo's character, Eric, had to go to the U.S. A few years later when he returned to the Philippines, he was disheartened to discover that Rodriguez's character, Vincent, had married a woman and now have two kids.

Now entering its third week of airing, the show indicates their love affair will resume despite Vincent battling his homosexuality and being married.

In spite of the risky theme of the show, My Husband's Lover handily beat the competition. On its pilot episode on June 10, the programme enjoyed a 22.8 per cent viewer share versus the 16.3 per cent of rival show Apoy sa Dagat in ABS-CBN, according to the overnight ratings of AGB Nielsen.

Ironically, Apoy sa Dagat stars Angelica Panganiban and matinee idol Piolo Pascual who has been hounded by gay rumours, although he denies it.

Outside the Philippines, My Husband's Lover was noticed and praised by GayStarNews, an LGBT global news Web site in a post on June 17. The article gave the show a thumb up for its "mature, nuanced and honest depiction of gay characters."

The show also got good reviews and raves in Twitter, especially from co-workers in show business.

Actress Camille Prats tweeted, "I'm a fan of these 2 brilliant actors and how they portray their role so well."

TV executive Noel Ferrer wrote, "Congratulations to the team behind GMA7's My Husband's Lover for its brace attempt at tackling a taboo."

Singer and composer Jim Paredes added, "I had no idea the teleserye My Husband's Lover on GMA was about a gay relationship. That is a breakthrough."

Talent manager Girlie Rodis found the soap opera, now popularly called bekiserye, interesting. Beki is street lingo for gay.

Lesbian singer Aiza Seguerra tweeted, "Finally, people can really see how amazing you are. Proud of you."

The show's strong following indicates the change in attitude the Philippine society has gone through in relation to the acceptance of gays and lesbians. No doubt, the outing of Aiza Seguerra and former Glee star Charice Pempengco helped members of the LGBT be more acceptable to the general public.

However, Atty Raymond Alikpala, an LGBT advocate and author of the book Of God and Men: A Life in the Closet, pointed out that since the bekiserye is just on its first week, how the plot will run remains to be seen, particularly if Vincent and Eric would live happily ever after which could create a bad impression on gays.

"While the depiction of homosexuality has so far been mature, nuanced and honest, I am also aware that Vincent the husband is attracted to a person other than his wife, and being gay might thus be associated with infidelity, dishonesty and deception," he warned.

Mr Alipala pointed out that past movies and TV shows that had homosexual characters often ended with the gay dead, infected with AIDS, imprisoned or spending the rest of their lives alone and lonely.

"Such unhappy endings for LGBT characters in media are typical because this is consistent with the view of a God who punishes sinners, and that gay characters deserve a fate for going against God's will," he added.

But Mr Alikapala said he remains hopeful the bekiserye will blaze trails for gay characters on TV and remain courageous and sympathetic of LGBTs and their fundamental equality to straights.