An Intersectional Textual Analysis of Lesbian Representation in Baka Bukas and Si Chedeng at Si Apple
Document Types
Paper Presentation
School Name
De La Salle University Laguna Campus
Track or Strand
Humanities and Social Science (HUMSS)
Research Advisor (Last Name, First Name, Middle Initial)
Alemania, Bell Beatriex'
Start Date
25-6-2025 10:30 AM
End Date
25-6-2025 12:00 PM
Zoom Link/ Room Assignment
https://zoom.us/j/91208349700?pwd=JhQ0rZs2W818dhB0KzB4iz3GFM82yf.1 / Passcode: GHI25
Abstract/Executive Summary
Media plays a crucial role in shaping public perceptions of gender and sexuality, yet representations of queer female characters in Philippine cinema remain underexplored. While portrayals of bakla characters have been widely studied, lesbian narratives often remain sidelined or framed through limited, stereotypical lenses. This lack of nuanced representation perpetuates narrow understandings of queer identity and reinforces gendered power structures within Philippine society. This research examines lesbian characters in the films Baka Bukas (2016) and Si Chedeng at Si Apple (2017), using Herman’s Narrative Framework and Intersectionality Theory. The study found that both films construct lesbian identities within specific socio-cultural contexts, revealing how queer women navigate visibility, relationships, and societal expectations in different ways. Baka Bukas emphasizes the quiet negotiation of identity within modern urban spaces, portraying queerness as visible yet constrained, while Si Chedeng at Si Apple uses humor and journey motifs to explore queer expression in later life, challenging traditional gender and age norms. Through event sequencing, world-building, and disruption, both films reveal how personal agency, cultural pressures, and intersectional identities shape lesbian experiences in contemporary Filipino cinema. These portrayals reflect both the limitations and possibilities of queer female representation, highlighting the need for broader, more inclusive narratives.
Keywords
queer female character, Herman's narrative framework, intersectionality, portrayal, textual analysis
Research Theme (for Paper Presentation and Poster Presentation submissions only)
Gender, Human Development, and the Individual (GHI)
Initial Consent for Publication
yes
Statement of Originality
yes
An Intersectional Textual Analysis of Lesbian Representation in Baka Bukas and Si Chedeng at Si Apple
Media plays a crucial role in shaping public perceptions of gender and sexuality, yet representations of queer female characters in Philippine cinema remain underexplored. While portrayals of bakla characters have been widely studied, lesbian narratives often remain sidelined or framed through limited, stereotypical lenses. This lack of nuanced representation perpetuates narrow understandings of queer identity and reinforces gendered power structures within Philippine society. This research examines lesbian characters in the films Baka Bukas (2016) and Si Chedeng at Si Apple (2017), using Herman’s Narrative Framework and Intersectionality Theory. The study found that both films construct lesbian identities within specific socio-cultural contexts, revealing how queer women navigate visibility, relationships, and societal expectations in different ways. Baka Bukas emphasizes the quiet negotiation of identity within modern urban spaces, portraying queerness as visible yet constrained, while Si Chedeng at Si Apple uses humor and journey motifs to explore queer expression in later life, challenging traditional gender and age norms. Through event sequencing, world-building, and disruption, both films reveal how personal agency, cultural pressures, and intersectional identities shape lesbian experiences in contemporary Filipino cinema. These portrayals reflect both the limitations and possibilities of queer female representation, highlighting the need for broader, more inclusive narratives.
https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/conf_shsrescon/2025/paper_ghi/15
