POPCORN TIME LIVE BLOG RECAP: Maalaala Mo Kaya’s Episode for November 26 is called “Rehas.” In the story, Andrea Brillantes is 25-year-old Gwen Romano, a mestiza who hails from a life of influence, wealth and power. While living with her grandparents, she learns the life of luxury and would always get what she wants. Even in the midst of such status, she longs for acceptance from her mother. Their mother-daughter relationship is torn apart by Gwen’s neglect of her studies and because of her sexuality. As she lives her life day in and day out, she realizes that her family is a corrupt clan. She then decides to stand up for what is right even if it means surrendering herself to the Correction Institution for Women.
WATCH: #MMKFreedomBehindBars Episode Teaser via official YouTube account of ABS-CBN Entertainment
The Romanos And Their Shady Life
The episode opens with a banquet in Mayor Romano’s home. Young Gwen comes in playing with her cars and this is noticed by her mother. She expresses that cars are for boys and not girls like her. Gwen’s grandfather steps in saying that it is perfectly fine to play with cars even as a girl and he promises to buy her more. This scene foreshadows the episode’s tone and theme: Gwen is not secure in who she is because of her estranged relationship with her mom and her family will always get what they want instantly, no matter the cost.
Upon the separation of Gwen’s parents, her mom is forced to go to Saudi to work, leaving Gwen with the care of her parents. Gwen begs her mom to come along and promises to be good. Her mom did not listen and still chose to leave Gwen. To make matters worse, Gwen’s mother did not attend her graduation and Gwen later on finds out that her mom has another daughter in Saudi. A relative told Gwen that her mother left for Saudi to escape, because she knew of her family’s crimes. What is devastating is that she leaves her own daughter in the environment that she herself run away from. This is where Gwen’s life turns shady.
When she was younger, her grandparents would bring her to school guarded by heavily armed men. They would give her P7,500 as her allowance for the month. P3,000 from her mom, P3,000 from her grandfather and P1,500 from her grandmother. Regardless of having so much, she finds difficulty in making friends. She got into a fight because one of her schoolmates said that the Romano family steals and are a family of killers.
When the grandparents fetched her, they told her that she will not be punished and that they are proud at how she fought for their family. Her grandmother explains that people say those things because they are jealous and because they have a lot of enemies. Protecting and defending their family no matter what is the Romano creed.
Gwen Romano Realizes The Truth
Gwen realizes the truth about herself and her family while she grows up. The first truth is that she is more comfortable being a lesbian than being a lady. This confession was taken lightly by the clan, except her mother. She was adamant in saying that Gwen should not behave in that manner and she blames her family for allowing her daughter to embrace such choice. Because they see each other only every three years, Gwen and her mom have an estranged relationship. This may perhaps be the reason why she decided to be the way she is.
The second truth Gwen realizes is that what her elementary classmates were saying was right. The Romano’s commit crimes in order to “protect and defend” their name. She witnesses how her uncle, Pablo Romano, tortures men by shooting darts and knives at them. She also witnesses Carlo shooting a man by the streets point blank. To this, Gwen is shocked.
A day came when her grandfather gave her a car that was picked out by her uncle. Her excitement died down upon realizing this. She tells her grandfather about the crimes her uncle and cousin did. To her unbelief, instead of a reprimand, she hears a rationalization. Once again, these deaths and attacks were all for the “good of the family.” Each crime that happens is worse than the latter incidents.
The worst case of all was when Pablo Romano kidnapped and defiled a student named Sarah. Gwen and her cousin Carlo were forced to be accomplices in fear. This incident was the last straw for Gwen. She managed to talk Carlo out of killing the poor victim. Instead, they brought her home safely but left her life shattered.
Mayor Romano then gets really sick and everyone is worried. It was at that same time when Gwen’s grandmother received a call about the incident with Sarah. She is forced to talk to Pablo, Gwen and Carlo about it telling them to hide from the authorities.
Gwen’s Conscience Can’t Take It Anymore
Nightmares are Gwen’s companions. She is haunted by what happened to Sarah. For six months, this was her food day and night. Things peaked when one of her cousins, Rico, told them that her grandfather, Mayor Romano, passed away due to complications in the lungs. She regrets not being able to say goodbye. She cries out to Rico saying that she couldn’t take it anymore. She is guilty for not being brave enough to help Sarah. She felt responsible just by being there. Even if her life seems to be free, she does not feel this because her conscience holds her captive. She is sick of hearing that everything that is happening is for the “protection of the family.”
She chose to do something to appease her crimes by turning herself in. Her grandmother is not proud of her decision and tells her that because of what she did, she destroyed the life of their family. She stresses that Gwen did not do anything wrong and would go as far as getting her out of jail just to have the Romano name untarnished. But Gwen is firm and stands up against her grandmother. She stresses that the family has embraced so much evil that it distorted what it means to “protect the family.” Gwen decided to fight for what is right. In her decision to go to jail, she is finally able to say that she is free.
As the episode comes to its close, what Charo Santos said is most empowering. “Ang pinakamabisang panlaban sa takot, ay harapin ito.” (The most effective way to combat fear is to face it.)
Andrea Brillantes Takes on Challenging Role
Teen superstar Andrea Brillantes has played one of her most complex roles to date. It is her first time to play the role of a lesbian entangled in a family crisis of crime, deception and pure evil. Starring with her are Faye Alhambra, Rochelle Barrameda, Dante Rivero, Carla Martinez, TJ Trinidad, Hero Angeles, Patrick Sugui, Lui Villaruz and Erin Ocampo. The episode was directed by Frasco Mortiz and written by Joan Habana and Arah Gell G. Badayos.
More about Maalaala Mo Kaya:
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Maalaala Mo Kaya, Oct. 1 Episode Review: JC Devera is ‘Golden Boy’ of Psoriasis Philippines
Featured Photo source: MMKOfficial Twitter Account (screenshot)
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