Keann Johnson, Adrian Lindayag at Romnick Sarmenta
PINAGDUDAHAN din pala noon ang sexual preference ng veteran actor at businessman na si Romnick Sarmenta.
Naikuwento niya ang tungkol dito sa virtual mediacon ng iWantTFC original boys’ love (BL) series na “Love Beneath The Stars” na pinagbibidahan nina Adrian Lindayag at Keann Johnson.
Ito ang sequel ng pelikulang “The Boy Foretold By The Stars” na naging official entry sa nakaraang Metro Manila Film Festival kung saan unang nasubaybayan ang kuwento ng gay couple na sina Dominic at Luke.
Sa pagpapatuloy ng kanilang journey, gaganap na tatay ng karakter ni Adrian si Romnick. Sey ng aktor, hindi siya nagsisisi na tinanggap niya ang nasabing project.
“I’ll be honest, the first time they asked me to join in, I wasn’t able to see the film. Pero the moment I read the script, I wanted to be part of this. I want to do this role.
“I wanted to be a part of this awesome project. I think it’s about time that people understand that you can’t discuss a subject singularly. Hindi puwedeng isa lang yung approach.
“Hindi puwedeng hindi nagbabago ang pagtingin natin at paniniwala sa mga sitwasyon and I think this project gave me the opportunity to share that,” pahayag ni Romnick.
Sa isang bahagi ng presscon natanong ang aktor kung ano ang magiging reaksyon niya kung sa anim niyang anak ay may umaming miyembro sila ng LGBTQIA+ community.
“I have two boys and four girls. Yung boys bookends sila. One is the eldest and the other one is the youngest. If my children will always be open to me, they will understand that I will always be there to support them.
“It doesn’t matter what their choices are for as long as they’re not hurting themselves or others in the process, as long as they’re being true to what they feel.
“I want them to know that I am proud of them no matter what. Because my children are my children no matter what happens,” tugon ng aktor.
Kasunod nga nito, inamin ni Romnick na may pagkakataon na pinagdudahan din noon ang kanyang pagkalalaki.
“Dumating sa point na even in my family I was asked by one of my uncles if I was a member (ng LGBT community) and I got offended. Not because I wasn’t or was, it was because parang it’s the way you use your words, it’s the way you talk and it’s the way your voice sounds that is offensive.
“Parang there is something ultimately wrong with this kind of personality and I don’t want to feel like that and I don’t want to be like that and so I told myself I just won’t do it.
“I have to admit, I did not agree with him when I was young pero it wasn’t reason enough for me to bully anyone and I’m just happy that I never had to do that,” lahad ng dating matinee idol.
Sabi pa niya, naniniwala siya na karapatan ng bawat isa sa atin ang magmahal kung sino ang gusto niyang mahalin hangga’t walang nasasaktan o tinatapakang ibang tao.
Ang “Love Beneath the Stars” ay sa direksyon pa rin Dolly Dulu. Ka-join din sa cast ng serye sina Nikki Valdez, Agot Isidro, Victor Silayan at Iyah Mina. Mapapanood na ito sa iWantTFC simula sa Aug. 16 with six episodes.