catatonic_17 . Destined To be Yours Episode 8 #DTBYSinagMeetsEx (Reply)

Since Badong is such a bland third-wheel (I don’t know if it’s the writer’s fault for writing him that way or the actor himself for being too cautious of being linked to Maine offcam; usually you’d root for the underdog loyal guy bestfriend-with-secret-unrequited-feelings-for-the-female-lead character, but in this story, he’s so…meh. His secret glances towards the unsuspecting Sinag have no spark. Even the pambabakod scene from the previous episodes came out as a joke rather than a major turning point in the story), the writers had to bring back the ex that broke Sinag’s heart to thicken the plot. Since Sinag’s walls were too high and formidable for Benjie to breach, she has to be put into an unexpected vulnerable situation so Benjie can sneak his way through. It’s a win-win situation for everyone: we get to see Maichard be as harot as they want without the writers having to deal with the plot holes and character inconsistencies. Also, in this episode, we get to see more of Sinag’s past.

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Recap

Sinag goes through mementos of the past, as she tearfully recalls how and why she fell for Eboy. (Why she holds on to these things despite her heartbreak, I have no clue. And take note, they’re well preserved and neatly stored).

Sinag and Nanay Sally have a heart-to-heart talk. Nanay Sally makes valid point.

DJ Sunshine is back and as bitter as ever (You’d think that she’d use 100% of her radio air time to argue against Rosales Development but noooo). And oh look, Benjie is also not over his ex. (Stalker mode on!)

Ninay delivers the fresh news about Eboy to the outwardly uninterested Sinag. Ninay drags her off to find out for themselves whether or not Eboy had a girlfriend.

At Bahay Pag-ibig, Benjie tells Jason to go on ahead to the company meeting without him, since he was still in the process of getting the Obispo land. Right on timing, he gets a call from Catalina, asking why he still hasn’t gotten the property. She gives him an ultimatum: either he gets the job done soon or she’ll find somebody else to do it.

To be fair to Benjie, he has only been in Pelangi for four days. But Catalina is correct in assuming that he is wasting time and resources (on top of the money for the repair of the radio antenna, his and Jason’s food and lodging fully sponsored by the company). Eboy is actually more effective in convincing townsfolk in selling than him, and he’s only been back for less than a day.

Ninay and Sinag sneak around to follow Eboy, since Ninay is so hung up on the possibility that Eboy wants to rekindle his past with Sinag. Benjie happens to see them and decides to sneak up on them too.

Sinag and Ninay finally got what they came for: they found out that not only was Eboy in a relationship, he was also getting married. (they became unwilling witnesses to Eboy’s proposal at the same chapel that held special memories to the ex-power couple of Pelangi).

While this is happening, Marjorie decides to do some creepy moves of her own. She goes to Bahay Pag-ibig, hoping to catch Benjie (why she hasn’t clung to him the very next day she met him, I also have no idea.) She gets incensed when she found out that Benjie has been courting Sinag so like all kontrabidas, she heads to Bahay Obispo and makes a scene.

She gets angrier when he sees Benjie’s face painted on their wall. She goes, “Benjie will never fall for Sinag because he’s mine.” (Oh, please take him. He’s all yours!)

She demands Sally to erase the mural but when she attempts to throw paint on it herself, she ends up spilling the can of paint over her head.

She complains to daddy dear and like all telesreye kontrabidas, assure his daughter that their enemies will pay. (Enter senseless kontrabida laugh)

Nanay Sally and Tatay Teddy get into a heated discussion over Benjie. Teddy suspects that the reason for Marjorie’s outburst was that Benjie was courting both girls simultaneously. Sally adamantly defends Benjie, saying that he could never do that to Sinag because she’s his soul mate. Teddy can’t help but wonder about Benjie’s background after hearing Marjorie say that he was rich. He decides to have a proper talk with the young man to get the facts straight.

Back to Sinag, the besties try to quietly sneak away but this wouldn’t be a teleserye without the ugly confrontation. The fiancee insults Sinag as the “ex that never got over him.”

Just when Sinag was about to get cornered for stalking Eboy around town, Benjie comes to the rescue and presents himself as Sinag’s boyfriend (another cliché, but it works because Alden and Maine are too cute together).

Looks like there’s a new power couple in town: Sungs and Yabs.

Random thoughts

* Highschool Sinag is so cute and relatable.

* WHY DO THE OBISPOS HAVE A FIREPLACE???? And why did Sinag choose to preserve the frickin scrap book with their pictures if she was angry enough to tear and burn their couple-fie?

* Benjie has so much baggage—losing his father early, being estranged from his father’s family, his mom being the center of his world, and now this ex. Why don’t the writers also add irrational childhood guilt, his mother suddenly becoming critically ill, or other cliché male lead emotional baggage to top the cake? Jusmiyo.

* I don’t get how getting Sinag to be his girlfriend could help Benjie’s plans in acquiring the Obispo property. Did he really think that if he gets Sinag to fall in love with him, he could fool her into selling their land immediately? Even if Sinag did become his girlfriend, it would take more time (months!) to discuss with her and her family about selling their property. It’s preposterous how his mind works.

* Yay! Catalina is here! Her ootd is slaying, as always.

*Even with the paint-spill-scene that was supposed to be gratifying, nope. Still cannot stand watching any scene with this Marjorie girl.

* I totally feel Sinag. It’s so annoying that this Eboy guy just recycle the same script he used with Sinag years ago. And the fact that his fiancee referred to Sinag as someone who never got over her ex means that Eboy has been telling stories about Sinag in front of his girlfriend, painting an unflattering picture that, although accurate, was a major jerk move.

* How adorable is Alden kissing Maine? He always closes his eyes as if savoring the moment, and his lips pucker up, his hands gently cradling Maine. It makes one feel fuzzy inside.

* Benjie's distracting cuteness screen cap gallery

In conclusion

Maine brought her A-game in this episode. She wasn’t “acting;” that’s exactly how a real person in her situation would cry and act (okay, maybe not as pretty). And clap claps for Ms. Janice de Belen’s performance in this episode. Sally is the kind of mom that you do not mess with.

I’m wishing that this series would be available in a DVD box set, because these daily 30-minute episodes are not only bitin, they are too compact that production and story shortcomings become magnified. Whereas getting to watch a week’s worth of episodes allows the viewer to see the bigger picture and not mind the details.

This episode is a relevant turning point in the story. Since it would take years for Benjie to chip away at Sinag’s wall, they are presented with the perfect situation to accelerate their relationship. Sinag is now forced to accept Benjie’s company, giving him the opportunity to worm into her heart. There’s something about proximity that leads to attraction. (Hooray for Maichard skinship!)