Kontrabida Academy: Between Twists and Turns
In a world where morality seems hypocritical and imbalanced, would you choose to be modest, honest, and patient as the bida (protagonist) or just be the deceitful villain, and worst anti-hero, like the kontrabida (antagonist) of every story? Would you choose the role you have to play, or the role assigned to you?
Upon its release, Netflix film “Kontrabida Academy” by Chris Martinez continuously gained support and applause from the people, especially Filipinos, due to its substantial plot for those who desire to witness theatrical experience and feel some comedic relief.
The ‘Kontrabida Academy’
Starring Barbie Forteza as Gia and Eugene Domingo as Mauricia, along with several veteran actors known for their unmatched and spectacular bida, kontrabida acts. Watch as they attest into the infamous inside-the-classroom comedy-drama film, Kontrabida Academy.
The story revolves around Gigi, an exhausted assistant manager of a restaurant, the girlfriend who got cheated on, and the family’s eldest daughter, and Mauricia, a teleserye’s antagonist, who helps her channel her unexpressed rage boiling inside her body through the school of soon-to-be-villains, namely, Kontrabida Academy.
Inside the academy, Gigi learns unordinary lessons from unordinary teachers. These teachers, composed of the renowned primera kontrabidas of Philippine entertainment, which makes the film even more iconic. This includes Celia Rodriguez, Gladys Reyes, Jean Garcia, Pinky Amador, and more.
The film also paid tribute to the kontrabida icons, such as Cherie Gil, as no one dares to forget the one who delivered the most iconic line in entertainment history: “You’re nothing but a second-rate, trying-hard copycat.”
Creative, Camp, Cinema!
In Philippine entertainment, protagonists effortlessly stand out through their monotonous-themed clothes than the antagonists in their vibrant dresses.
While Kontrabida Academy presents a common personality for bida as modest and gentle, and kontrabida as wicked and strident, the film still managed to present the main characters of the story through its wardrobes.
Additionally, the film never missed the opportunity to insert the creativity of Philippine entertainment, such as building a personality and creating a name of a kontrabida—names that end with “-ah”
Overall, Kontrabida Academy is truly a masterpiece. From the storyline, sound design, and composition of casts, this film majestically brings nostalgia to Filipino teleserye enjoyers, only that it is better.
Getting the ‘act’ together
From time to time, when Gigi uses every knowledge she learned from the teachers of the Kontrabida Academy, the question remains: When she’s got her revenge, what’s the next part of the story?
Just like other humans, not necessarily the people inside the teleseryes, Gia learned to forgive those people who used her and personally benefitted from her kindness. She stopped being the kontrabida, she came back to being Gigi from Gia. She walks away from the television, a concept box where the roles are limited into two: bida and kontrabida (at least except the extras who literally are the outcasts of every story).
After all, in the real world, all people are always capable of doing good and bad, being bida and kontrabida. So, when the time has come when we tend to ask ourselves what roles do we need to play, just like what Arnaldo said to Gigi, only you can answer that.
