This work has not been peer reviewed by the University of the Philippines Rainbow Research Hub or its project members. The views expressed are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the Hub or its project members.
2026 Philippine Queer Studies Conference
POSTER PRESENTATION
The bakla and the bl: A thematic analysis of bakla narratives in the Filipino online BL series released during the Covid-19 pandemic
Jose Bryan Nonay
This research draws on the concept of queer worldmaking from Lauren Berlant and Michael Warner’s 1998 work, “”Sex in Public.”” It aims to examine how bakla narratives in Filipino BL series released during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020) created a space for queer worldmaking. The study uses a thematic analysis that combines textual analysis of selected BL series with semi-structured online surveys from young queer participants. The collected data will be analyzed through the lens of queer worldmaking to identify themes connecting BL texts to their audience, potentially fostering queer worlds within the Filipino BL genre.
This research seeks to understand the complexities of Filipino gay representations in local BL drama series and their impact on the Filipino gay community, using the available sample data from the chosen BL series and survey participants.
The research shows that queer worlds are created, experienced, and imagined within Filipino BL series, but with some limitations. However, the study manages to identify common themes present in both the series’ episodes and the responses from semi-structured surveys. These themes, such as Identity and Self-Discovery, Chosen Family, Coming Out, Representation, and Visibility, are then contrasted to show how queer worlds are represented on screen as they are experienced in the respondents’ realities.
Ultimately, the project aims to challenge existing BL narratives and contribute to ongoing local queer media studies that focus specifically on the Filipino BL series produced during the pandemic.
