Netflix adapted Komik Trese, written by Budjette Tan & illustrated by Kajo Baldisimo
I really really admire Tan’s & Baldisimo’s effort into this much loved Komik and how their supernatural characters pay homage to the folklore of historical antiquity in the Philippines region. And the Netflix adaptation may be the start of an interesting interlude into the animistic and mystic world of the Philippines to draw inspiration from for many years to come.
I love it when there is more representation of folklore that parallels to that of my home country and people.[I am Malay] Because in that I feel more represented. Although there is much contention that exists between the identity of Filipino people as Malay, that I will save for another history post about how the term Malay came to mean those who identify with the Muslim faith, even though there are indigenous Malays who have diverse beliefs and practices, but I digress.
I binged watched the episodes in one night and there is so many topics that it hits right on the nail, like the fact that in some countries organ trafficking exists, as a result of the lack of employment opportunities wrought upon by an unstable or inegalitarian economic system, or having a child out of wedlock for a women as being such a strong stigma that she resorts to murdering her child in pursuit of the status quo. The show does not fall flat on its commentary of social issues and instead bring it to light with eloquence and justice that is expanded upon characters that wield political power who have machiavellian tendencies, that include supporting the criminal underworld to extort funds or to achieve a certain agenda.
Although I am not familiar with the politics in the Philippines, Trese depicts the sad reality of organ harvesting, and the criminal industrial complex that perhaps some people in power have an invisible hand in.
Overall I really highly recommend watching TRESE.
Although some people may not like that the main character itself is fair or not representative of the diversity that exists in the Philippines, of skin colour. It is still an exciting testament to what more is to come in the Philippines media industry.
In this upcoming post, I want to highlight some parallels between the Philippines and the Malaya folklore, through the Netflix adapted Trese Komik, which was originally written by Budjette Tan & illustrated by Kajo Baldisimo.
I hope that you enjoy it
OCCIDENTAL LOTUS 