"Sa totoo lang, kung bakit maraming kabitan-serye kasi nagre-rate siya, pinapanuod niyo kasi! Tapos magrereklamo kayo!"
GMA creative writer Suzette Doctolero said this with a laugh when she discussed the origin of her hit infidelity-themed series, My Husband's Lover. This project was touted as the first gay-themed drama series in the Philippines.
Aired in 2013, My Husband's Lover featured Carla Abellana as Lally, Tom Rodriguez as Vincent, and Dennis Trillo as Eric.
The show got the attention of the TV audience because of its provocative story about a wife who discovered that her husband has a male lover.
In GMA-7 creative manager RJ Nuevas' scriptwriting lesson vlog on YouTube, Suzette discussed how she came up with the story of My Husband's Lover.
She said the idea came to her while they were in a drama pitching summit with other GMA writers.
Suzette wished to give a new flavor to infidelity-themed shows, especially since these types of shows are known to be winners in the ratings game.
These shows were usually aired in the afternoon slot, which is why she pitched it to Roy Iglesias who was then the creative consultant for GMA Afternoon Prime shows.
She recalled, "Nag iisip ako ng… kinukulit ko si Sir Roy. Kinukulit ko siya, sabi ko, kasi wala ako actually pitch, kaya lang at that time na nagpipitch yung maraming writers, pumasok na lang, kaya ang ibinigay ko lang title, e, di ba?
"'Sir Roy, may ipi-pitch ako na concept sa 'yo sa panghapon. Bagong bihis ng kabitan.
"Kasi laging nagrerate ang… sa totoo lang kung bakit maraming kabitan serye kasi nagrerate siya, pinapanuod niyo kasi! Tapos magrereklamo kayo," she said in jest.
Suzette continued, "Pero natatakot ako kay Jun Lana [former creative head of GMA-7] kasi wala ako sa listahan, doon ko lang naisip at that time.
"So noong nailagay ako sa listahan nang magpipitch, ang kwento ko lang, may isang babae na perfect siya, tapos may asawa siya, perpekto rin akala niya, and then kinukutuban siya na may kabit.
"Sinundan-sundan niya, tapos pagdating niya sa Room 1710, pagbukas niya ng pinto, natuklasan niya na may kabit nga pero hindi babae, lalaki.
"Yun ang pinaka premise niya, at kung paano siya binuo, nilagyan ng kaluluwa siyempre ang kwento."
Apart from doing a TV show that can deliver in the ratings game, Suzette also wanted My Husband's Lover to educate viewers.
She told RJ, "Di ba, may anak ako at nagtatanong siya.
"Kasi siyempre, at that time, 9 years old siya, karamihan nang kaibigan ko ay bading.
"Kapag nakikita ka niya, nagtataka siya, 'Is ninong a girl or a boy?'
"So sabi ko, 'Ah, boy siya pero gusto niya rin ng boy.'
"Doon ko ipinaliwanag na hindi lang babae o lalaki, meron pang ibang gender. So crineate siya, ang My Husband's Lover, para maipaliwanag ang boses."
RJ then said, "I think kaya rin siya nagwork kasi it touched a lot of nerves sa audience, dahil ikaw na mismo nagsasabi ang daming tumatawag sa 'yo, nag out!'
Suzette answered, "Oo! Ang daming nag P-PM [personal message] sa akin, ang daming nagbigay ng messages, at sila mismo nagsasabi na nakakarelate sila, dahil kwento nila 'yan, sila 'yan, at nag a-out.
"Merong sila yung babae, merong sila yung Vincent, merong sila yung Eric."
MY HUSBAND'S LOVER AND MTRCB
However, it was not all popularity and accolades for My Husband's Lover.
Since its theme is provocative and sensitive, some sectors also showed their concern regarding its sensitive theme.
For this reason, the production and creative teams of My Husband's Lover went to the Movie and Television Review Classification Board to have their episodes approved.
RJ asked Suzette if she enjoyed the popularity of the show.
She answered, "Hindi ko siya masyadong na-enjoy kasi halos araw araw may nagrereklamo sa MTRCB!
"May ultra conservative religious ek ek chu chu na sulat ng sulat at gustong putulin kami sa ere.
"So halos araw-araw din, nagpupunta kami sa MTRCB para magpa-approve ng episode, lalo na may mga episode kasi doon na sensitibo.
"For example, yung nag-out si Vincent sa kanyang mga anak, mga bata yung involved so sensitive yung mga ganung topic.
"So wala kaming ginawa kundi magpaliwanag ng magpaliwanag at magdepensa."
Still, Suzette is very proud of the impact of the show.
"Kapag maggo-grocery ako, maririnig ko yung mga sales staff ng grocery na nag-uusap-usap na, 'Huy, napanood niyo yung episode kagabi? Si Lally ganyan ganyan.'
"Nakakatuwa naman na pinag-uusapan nila yung soap ko."
RJ said that even though he was not part of the show, he also received messages from viewers raving about the show.
"Maski sa akin na hindi ako involved doon sa show. Ang mga tao kasi pag nalamang taga GMA ka at writer ka ng GMA, iniisip nila na lahat ng shows sa GMA sinusulat mo.
"Kino-congratulate ako. Hindi, ang nagsulat niyan kaibigan ko, di ako involved sa show na yun.
"Pero dedma pa rin sila, para sa kanila taga GMA ka, writer ka, ikaw nagsulat non."
He then asked Suzette, "Na-experience mo ba yun?"
Suzette replied with a laugh, "Oo! Diyos ko, di ba nga naaway pa nga ako, hindi ko po show yun, bakit ako inaaway!"
The most recent experience Suzette had was when a medical practitioner pointed out an error in Asawa Ko, Karibal Ko, and tagged her on Twitter.
Suzette then responded by saying that it is not her show.
Going back to My Husband's Lover, both writers believe that the good comments also came from those who appreciated that the LGBT community was given representation on television.
Suzette said, "Masaya rin siya in a way, because I think, siya yung unang gay-themed series. At that time, ito yung series na ang bida, dalawa sa bida ay bading."
RJ then added, "Dati, isa rin sa nirereklamo, ang representation ng bading sa teleserye na laging comedy, laging best friend, tagapagbigay lang ng katatawanan.
"Up to now naman, ginagawa yun. Kaya rin siguro nag hit ang My Husband's Lover because of the representation ng mga bading."
Here is the full video of Suzette and RJ: