Mela Habijan, the host of the queer dating show"Sparks Camp" talks about the show’s controversies, intersectional diversity, and why in dating, there are no winners or losers. Photo by JL JAVIER
While the show's tone is fairly light, it has courted some controversy. When its trailer premiered online, Twitter was abuzz with comments about how the casting choices lacked diversity, especially because the show presented itself otherwise. However, according to Habijan and the show's director Theodore Boborol , the show's diversity lies in the campers' social experiences, and that viewers will find them more relatable once they give the show a chance.
The dating show "Sparks Camp" is hosted by LGBTQIA+ advocate and Miss Trans Global 2020 Mela Habijan, who serves as the group's Mother Sparker. Photo by JL JAVIERWhen it was first pitched to me, ang una ko talagang sinabi,"There needs to be diversity." I hope we're able to cast people of different backgrounds, experiences, body types, different profiles. Because that's what we want.
Doon ko nakikita 'yung ganda ng selecting people across ages, across locations, across social experiences, because when they discuss things, you'll see different perspectives. For example, during Episode 1, si Stanley, 'di niya nakuha 'yung L.A. na Lower Antipolo joke ni Aaron. And sinabi niya na,"Sorry ah, 'di ko kasi gets 'yung Manila jokes." And that's totally fine! Because perhaps, they have a different language of what's funny.
First and foremost, don't feel insecure about the things that people have already dictated upon you. Like beauty standards. How to move in a certain space. Your level of femininity and masculinity. Kasi ito 'yung mga unang levels of insecurity. I want you to free yourself from those labels that are set by society. Because now, we're breaking all these stereotypes that we've created, and are forming a diverse definition of what it's like to be queer.
Yes. Hindi ka talo kung wala kang spark. I mean, ang definition ba ng pagkapanalo parati is merong mutual understanding of emotions? Hindi. Actually, panalo ka kahit single ka. So we need to appreciate that there's beauty to being in a relationship, and there's beauty to being single.