Kapamilya singer-actress Janella Salvador performs as thousands attend the LoveLaban2 concert to celebrate the 2024 Pride Month amid a heavy downpour at Quezon Memorial Circle on June 22, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- Kapamilya singer-actress Janella Salvador once again made known her desire to work in a "girls love" (GL) project with "Darna" co-star Jane de Leon -- and she did so at the biggest stage possible.

Salvador performed at a Pride PH festival for the first time on Saturday during the Love Laban 2 Everyone at the Quezon City Memorial Circle, where she sang an old favorite in "Mahal Kita Pero" and her new single, "Hey You."

To make her appearance all the more special, Salvador also debuted the music video for "Hey You" the same afternoon, in what she said was a "gift" to her fans and to the LGBTQIA+ community, particularly for Filipino sapphics.

"I just want to say, you are my inspiration. You inspired my vision to give a gift for the community. I hope you enjoy my gift," she said.

The video reunites the "JaneNella" tandem that developed thanks to the actresses' chemistry in "Darna." 

In the "Hey You" video, they give their fans who waited for two years a sweet love story -- one that traces the start of a relationship from their school days and showcases scenes of sapphic yearning, the highs and lows of being girlfriends. It ends in a scene of normalcy and domesticity -- a couple resting together at night, their lips meeting in an almost-kiss. The video concludes with the message: "Love is love, regardless of who it finds."

READ: Jane, Janella reunite in 'Hey You' music video

Salvador told ABS-CBN News that they overcame "obstacles" just to get the music video done, and that she is grateful that de Leon was "on board with everything." 

"It's actually my concept talaga," she said of the music video. "I wanna cry, I'm so happy it actually happened."

But she is also hopeful that "Hey You" will lead to even more opportunities for her and de Leon to portray sapphic stories on screen.

"Alam kong maraming naiinis na hindi natuloy 'yung kiss sa video," said Salvador. "Pero there's a reason behind that."

"Bigyan niyo muna kami ng GL, para mag-kiss kami. I hope this opens doors for us," she stressed.

FROM JANUARY 2023: Jane de Leon, Janella Salvador welcome possible 'GL' project

It's a message that Salvador also said on stage, in front of thousands of fans at the Quezon City Memorial Circle and more watching via livestream. "Bigyan niyo na kasi kami ng GL," she said emphatically; a day later, the singer-actress  posted on her X [formerly Twitter] account that "It's been 2 years and I haven't shut up about this."

"It's been a long time coming talaga," she later told ABS-CBN News of a GL project featuring her and de Leon. "Ever since Jane and I had this bond, we've always … Lalo na ako, I don't know. Pero I've always wanted us to … Sana matuloy na 'yung GL."

"Sobrang na-excite kami, tapos hindi siya natuloy, we've been crying out loud for it," she said.

The video already has more than 150,000 views on YouTube as of writing, and both Salvador and de Leon have gotten overwhelming praise for their chemistry. "Hey You" looks to be another step forward in terms of positive sapphic representation in mainstream media, building on the progress that has been made in the past couple of years thanks to feature-length and short films, and even music videos from other artists.

Last year, the sapphic volleyball movie "Rookie" won the Audience Award in Cinemalaya, with its star, first-time actress Pat Tingjuy, winning Best Actress honors. Film festivals have also begun to feature more short-form sapphic work, including "Saan Ako Pinaglihi" and "Queng Apag" in the Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival in March. 

READ: Aya Fernandez, Pat Tingjuy in awe of support for 'Rookie'

READ: Why audience award 'matters most' for 'Rookie' director Samantha Lee

Also in March, Filipina R&B singer Denise Julia released the music video to " Sugar n' Spice," which featured a sapphic storyline and was directed by Samantha Lee. 

In "Hey You," Salvador finally gets her long-awaited entry into local sapphic canon. The hope is that her music video -- featuring her high-profile pairing with de Leon -- will inspire more works and further boost the visibility and representation of Filipino sapphics in the mainstream. As Salvador herself said during Pride, "The women loving women community, you deserve better."

In the meantime, Salvador can bask in the satisfaction of finally performing at the Pride PH festival, after her planned appearance last year did not push through due to scheduling issues. 

"Kakatapos lang ng 'Darna,' so I was supposed to perform, pero hindi ako free. So I was so sad. I'm so happy na finally natuloy na siya," she said. 

"It was nice to see everyone in high spirits just celebrating, openly showing each other affection and actively protesting for equal rights. I'm glad I was able to share this moment with you all before the rain poured but I really hope you all kept safe out there!" Salvador posted the next day on  Instagram.

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