Mela Habijan
IPINAGTANGGOL ng “Sparks Camp” host na si Mela Habijan ang kanilang queer dating show dahil hindi naman daw ito “diverse”.
“Siguro para mapalawig natin ‘yung diskusyon, kasi ang unang reaction ay nakabatay sa physical looks,” say ni Mela.
“But we will always anchor diversity with different characteristics kaya meron tayong tinatawag na intersectionality. At ang intersectionality na ‘yun will always will coincide with different facets of a human being.
“Ito’y physical, ito’y social, ito’y karakter, kung paano siya nakikipag-interact, educational background, the people na kinalakhan niya. So, ‘yun ‘yung dapat nating makita kasi hindi lang siya rooted in the physical aspect of a person,” paliwanag ni Mela.
“Diversity will always come from a person where he, she, they come from, how they interact and how they become people,” pagdidiin pa niya about the 10 campers ng show.
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Itsinika ni Mela na nakipag-usap siya sa mga bashers ng show nila dahil naniniwala siyang dapat niyang marinig ang other side.
“Ang gusto natin ay magkaroon tayo ng isang palabas representing us. So, kung hindi tayo magko-collaborate, hindi magiging matagumpay itong palabas na nagpi-feature ng LGBTQIA+ people, tayo ring lahat ang matatalo.
“So, if we don’t collaborate, a show will not be successful which featured LGBTQIA+ people, we all lose. ‘Yung conversation na iyon, napakahalaga noon. We welcome the comments. We welcome their perspectives and as we welcome it, we learn from them,” say pa niya.
When asked kung challenging ba ang pagiging host ng show, she said, “I don’t find it a challenge, but I find it a blessing because I get to listen to their stories.
“Dahil napakinggan ko yong mga kuwento nila, mas lumalim yong level ng empathy, na mayroon kaming iba’t ibang pinanggagalingan, at doon nabuo yong connection.
“Sa simula, mayroon kang initial reaction and perception of them. But eventually, noong nakilala ko sila sa segment ng ‘Moment of Truth,’ napalitan ng panibagong pagtingin yon sa kanila,”
The show, written by Patrick Valencia, features an outdoor camp where viewers will meet 10 campers Dan, Nick, Gabe, Justin, Stanley, Karl, Aaron, Alex, Bong and Nat, who will go through challenges to test how their personalities match and possibly find someone who will add color to their lives,
“Sparks Camp” is part of the “Made For YouTube” shows of ABS-CBN which started last May 24, 8 p.m. on Black Sheep’s YouTube channel.
Bakit biglang nagalit ang 2 anak nina Melai at Jason kay Jericho Rosales?