Joey de Leon passes ‘Barbi, Wonder Beki’ character to Paolo Ballesteros

The original “Barbi,” Joey de Leon, has handed down ‘her’ crown to the rightful predecessor in the new installment Barbi: D’ Wonder Beki to the star who “died beautifully” but is now “resurrected and more beautiful than ever” – Paolo Ballesteros.

Both the original Barbi and the new Wonder Beki believe what studies reveal: gay people are creative enough to overcome sadness and win over whatever bad situation there is.

True or fake?

Most gay people can make light any sad situation.

Reuters’ published Huffington Post–based scientific study says: “Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people have better self-esteem and less depression as young adults if they were open about their sexual orientations as adolescents, a new study suggests.

“Attempts to hide sexual orientation are generally unsuccessful, and,the result is more abuse and more depression,” the authors say in the American Journal of Orthopsychiatry.

“What’s needed,” said Stephen Russell, the study’s lead author, “are supporting environments so that all kids can figure out and be as true to themselves as they can be.”

Tony Y. Reyes directed the new installment of Barbi: D’ Wonder Beki for Orly Ilacad’s OctoArts Films, MZet Films and T-Rex Entertainment.

In the movie, handsome Billy is imprisoned in  a “macho’ environment with policemen siblings. He is forced to take on a security guard job against his “inner-self and reality.”

Billy is in-charge of the estate of international businessman Jack Bates.

Outwardly, he is a refined handsome macho man who is always the object of  desire of many women in the neighborhood. But his real self has known all along that he is Wonder B, the character he has envisioned and created in his escapist mindset or dreams.

He has patterned it after his favorite superheroine character Wonder Woman.

As a form of entertainment for himself and an escape for his repressed milieu, Billy– before reporting for work duty has frequented Sirkus de Ole’, a drag show theater.

Often times, or coincidence of all coincidences, he and his neighbor-crush, Larry The Bird (who works as the porter of the theater), arrive at the Sirkus de Ole’ at the same time.

But there’s always an antagonist in even the most mundane situation: Mr. B, the proprietor-manager of the theater and also the owner of the salon beside it, the Barbitolome Beauty Salon.

Disastrously, Billy is able to witness a heinous crime—the murder of his boss in the hands of his business partner Bao Kuh Teh.

In a string of unfortunate events, Billy is accused of the murder. The “guilty verdict” by netizens in the social media becomes viral in so short a time. He is now a wanted man. He is forced to hide in a place where he feels safer, in Barbitolome Beauty Salon.

First off, Billy gets to live his dream of being free and beautiful. He learns to love his other self. He even gets closer to his crush Larry. He has to clear his name of the charges but first, he has to defeat the terrorist group who implicated and made him “guilty” in the social media.

A thrilling and truly climactic fight scene ensues.

Ultimately, Barbi Girl as Wonder B and friends defeat the terrorists. He and his friends are hailed as heroes/ heroines?

Fast-forward: Larry is promoted to become the operations manager after finishing his computer science course.

But will his family accept him for what he is?

Barbi: The Wonder Beki hits the cinemas on Nov. 29.