“ANG PAGGAWA ng eksena (creating a buzz)” is newly-elected Queen Mother Patch Buenaventura’s goal for the Dollhouse.

Initially comprised of homosexuals, the Dollhouse has become a flamboyant mix of lesbians, homosexuals, and straight males and females. Their popular hangout, which Buenaventura dubs the “Dollhouse Arena,” is the group of benches beside the Rizal Mini Theater, across Kostka Hall.

The Dollhouse held their annual Miting de Avance and elections on August 7.

A tribute to Barbie

Buenaventura said that the Dollhouse Elections is their biggest event. The Dollhouse combined their three major events—the State of the Dollhouse Address (SODA) led by outgoing Queen Mother Erwin Aquino, Miting de Avance and elections, and their 9th anniversary to form one event called “The Ultimate Event.”

SODA, ideally held every second semester, and the elections, ideally held on the first month of the school year, were postponed because of undisclosed “political turmoil.”

“We like the saying ‘it’s better late than never,’” said Buenaventura, on the delay.

Partido Balur (Baklang ang Layunin ay Unawain at Respetuhin) was composed of Mico Suba for Secretary-General (Sex-Gen), Pao Buenviaje for Finance Buddy (FBuddy), and Janlee Dungca for Queen Mother. Josh Lao, Renchie Veracruz, and Buenaventura ran independently for FBuddy, Vice Ganda, and Queen Mother, respectively.

Buenaventura created his own party which was Partido Inang Yaya Tayo (Innovating Ateneans, Nourishing Goodness, Yahoo Yayabong Tayo!).

This year, in line with the Barbie doll’s 50th anniversary, the Dollhouse celebrated with a Barbie theme. Candidates and Dollhousers wore bright colors and a lot of hot pink. They also portrayed different types of Barbie such as Office Rocker Barbie, Ballerina Barbie, and Industrial Barbie.

Promoting attention

Buenaventura’s main purpose is to make the Dollhouse more popular. He ran with the political platform “Triple Flying V—visibility, vitality, and vision.”

“My main purpose is to make dollhouse more popular—na gumawa ng eksena (to create a buzz),” said Buenaventura. “I [want] to use my being an attention whore to something more substantive, to the glory of the Dollhouse.”

He plans for his love of attention to be translated to the whole Dollhouse.

Like last year, Buenaventura wants to tap the Company of Ateneo Dancers to let them perform in their annual Rhythm in Blue concert. He also plans to have monthly bonding events like field trips to ukay-ukay and dinners. “We plan to make a buzz physically and online.” Their online campaign began when they promoted their elections.

He also wants to reclaim the Blue Roast Best Bench award, which Dollhouse won two years ago.

FBuddy Buenviaje is all for Buenaventura’s plans. “The buzz that Patch plans for Dollhouse will bring joy to the people of Ateneo,” he said. “It also makes us happy that we’re noticed as well,” he added, laughing.

‘Okrayan’

Initially surprised at the Dollhouse, freshman Sarah Jaye Oliva said, “It’s my first time to see so many people who are openly gay….But it’s a good thing because it’s their way of self-expression.”

Not everyone, however, is as open as Oliva. To the group’s critics, Buenviaje joked, “Pakialam namin (We don’t care)!”

“Sa mga nagsasabing maingay kami, kasi ang mga bakla talaga mahilig sa eksena (To those who say we’re noisy, it’s because gays really like making scenes),” he added.

For Buenviaje, this “noise” creates awareness for the gay community. “It’s a shout out that there are really gays in the world and close-minded people should get used to it.”

Buenaventura said that Dollhousers mostly hang out and talk. “Puro okrayan pero (It’s full of criticizing but) behind those hurtful words and painful slaps, our objective is to make them strong physically, mentally, and emotionally.”

Their constant critiquing serves as their bond. “They become comfortable with their flaws.”

Gays and lesbians, said Buenaventura, have always been subject to prejudice and discrimination. “This way, when we send them out, they’re strong, they could speak up and defend themselves.” He added that the Dollhouse makes its members more assertive. “They have an emotional investment here.”

In his SODA, Aquino also mentioned that Dollhousers have drawn positive light on the Dollhouse through their achievements in the student government, hosting, orgs, and fashion. “[They have proven] that the Dollhouse is not merely a group of individuals who are apathetic, cheap, and unfashionable. We also promote academic excellence and spiritual growth.”

A Queen’s King

The Dollhouse also opened a new position, the King Father, for the lesbian faction of the group.

“Every queen needs her partner,” said Buenaventura. “Actually, it’s just a pseudo-position that we made because we have two lesbians this year.”

“‘Di rin namin siya papansinin. Wala kaming pakialam sa kanila (We won’t notice her. We’ll just ignore them),” said Buenaventura. “Pero ang self-proclaimed partner ko ay ang Sanggunian President na si Gio Tingson (But my self-proclaimed partner is the Sanggunian President Gio Tingson),” he added with a laugh.

This year’s King Father is Cindy Burdette. Suba, Buenviaje, and VeraCruz completed Buenaventura’s court.