Working Girls

Cable TV has been running Working Girls lately so I found myself enjoying this Bernal film all over again. This is the top caliber director's first stint with Viva films and he got all the talented actress of the time. Each has her own story to tell and interwoven in the Makati setting where they work. Most stories are serious, like Chanda Romero's struggle on how to deal with a husband who is insecure; and Rio Locsin who got pregnant without marriage. Since this is the 80s, it was still an issue in the work place. There are also the fun side provided by Carmi Martin and the returning Pareño. This is sort of Gina Pareño's comeback movie, and she almost steals the whole movie by providing the (still) funny antics. This was eventually followed by Working Girls 2 and Working Boys, but both are forgettable. Another highlight is the theme song, still an apt tune for today's working girl in posh Makati. Look for this classic, you won't regret it!

The version I was watching seems to be an edited version from the Viva Films Youtube website. It is truncated and silences the darker elements of the film.

In the world of finance, working girls are taking a step to take over the world. In Ayala Makati - Philippines Business District, secretaries and emerging managers - all female, try to navigate their life across sexism and sexual assault AND be the best they can be to mixed result.

I did not like this film. This falls under Bernal trying to appease the 'average' Filipino. Initially, I really love how FEMALE forward this is. It is about females AND how the thrust towards the professional fields has pushed them. Unlike the American film of the same name, they are front and center with all shapes and forms whilst still focusing on female issue regardless.

In the end, it was trying too much. It tries to look smart about it BUT fails for its rather backwards leaning. It really feels like it was made in the 80s.

A lot of the sexist plot points were resolved with Women being down. The plot about husbands vs working wives were unanimously negative. Koronel's new Vice President is looked down for her want to work (even ending with her frowning in defeat even with all the success) AND Romero's newly promoted manager deciding to resign to appease her loser husband. The fact that WOMEN who uses their sexuality are the only women who actively had a positive ending is sad in hindsight (Martin, Lopez, Locsin and Pareno).

I also did not like how all the female characters are really forced in rather uncompromising SEXUAL SITUATIONS. One became a prostitute to pay her debts, two are willingly using sex to get what they want (which is good for them BUT not as forward as the movie thinks), one is forced into motherhood another is already mothered-in and uses her sex to get more, even Romero's and Koronel's are forced into just trying to pray that it would not lead to that kind of situation. AND yes you'd count that right - 6 stories already (with one more).

A very soft positive I could give this film is that Professionalism and Female Camaraderie exist yet is not dependent of each other. If you are not being professional, you are rightly called out BUT the female characters also add a layer of understanding to their fellow sister if needed. AND at least, all the bad men here are sanctioned except for Chandra Romero's husband because she is special type of dumb.

Not Recommended. Very Sexist AND actually points towards maybe women should not work. Another weird flop from Bernal.