Can T Buy Me Love

Words: 981
Pages: 4

The first two episodes of “Can’t Buy Me Love” focused on introducing the main characters—Ling Tiu played by Belle Mariano and Andre “Bingo” Mariano played by Donny Pangilinan—and providing their backstories. The juxtaposition of visual, verbal, and symbolic elements unveiled a tale of resilience, cultural identity, and socioeconomic contrasts hidden in everyday life. Visual elements displayed the difference between Ling’s and Bingo’s socioeconomic status, as well as their internal struggles. Ling grows up in a big house, drives a fancy car, and wears designer clothes, whereas Bingo lives in a tenement, rides public transportation, and wears simple clothes like sando, shorts, and slippers, sometimes with a towel draped over his shoulder. Donny Pangilinan, who plays Bingo, …show more content…
This also served as our introduction to the protagonists, setting the stage for the challenges they would later confront. Family pictures were also prominent in these episodes, symbolizing the legacy, history, and complexity of the familial relationships of both protagonists. Bingo's pictures with Lola Nene, Monching, and other residents of the tenement showed how unrelated connections could turn into a family. Meanwhile, the absence of Ling from Tiu's family photos upon her arrival symbolizes her outsider status, while later inclusion reflects attempted integration; yet, Ling continues to experience a sense of estrangement. These pictures further illustrated the differences between the show’s protagonists—Ling was related to her family by blood but was still treated like an outsider, while Bingo was treated like family by strangers. Ling’s iPod, given by her mother, signifies escapism amidst the turmoil surrounding her, transforming into her primary coping mechanism and providing comfort whenever she needs