A little something to cheer up your morning if you're worried about the price of milk

Published: January 21, 2011 at 10:26am

The Westin Dragonara Resort has a Valentine’s 2011 competition which is currently going viral on Facebook.

People are invited to submit their “most romantic photo” (alarm bells ringing), and then the one which attracts the most Likes wins a night for two at the resort.

Here are some of the photos.




59 Comments Comment

  1. Charles Cassar says:

    I would like to congratulate Jonathan Schembri and Robert Zammit (of the ‘Be Proud’ photo) for bravely sharing their photo with us. In a conservative society such as ours, it is heartwarming to see that at least some people are do not feel shackled by the orthodoxy.

    • Yes, right. They’re so proud that they’ve got their backs to the camera so we can’t see their faces.

      • Charles Cassar says:

        Don’t be silly, they have given their names and anyone can look them up on Facebook. They’ve even posted in the comments thread.

      • clint mizzi says:

        some give their backs to the camera while others comment on a blog anonymously

        [Daphne – Ah, but those who comment on a blog anonymously are not commenting about how they’re proud to be gay, are they?]

    • Hot Mama says:

      Thanks for outing them

      • Because their names are….Charles de Hauteville and Pious Aston-Jones, right? Not Robert Zammit and Jonathan Schembri.

      • Edward Caruana Galizia says:

        I like the Be Proud photo.

        I don’t think that any of the photos are about what sexuality you are. Nor is anyone making it that. I don’t see why a gay couple can’t enter this competition just because some people are going to say ” What a gimmick “. If their sexuality isnt a problem for you, then no need to comment on it, right?

        And yes, I do think it is good to see gay couples being open about their relationships and counting them as equal to heterosexual relationships. That is a good thing to see since one of the main obsticles in coming out is accepting yourself first. But heterosexuals wouldnt really understand that since they have not had such a problem when it comes to the type of person they love or their sexuality.

        Whenever open-minded people complain about gay couples doing these sort of things I always question how open-minded they are. And now we re going to complain about them giving their backs. Its a nice photo. I think it’s quite artistic in a way. Love is universal. No need to put a face to it. But I guess that’s just a question of taste.

        All this apart, my cynical side might vote for the one in the car. Brilliant!

  2. Charles Cassar says:

    In fact, I urge everyone to vote for them:

    http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150388018525548&set=a.10150387873545548.608282.81439760547

    The Maltese people are not as close minded as they are made out to be, I’m sure many will vote for them!

    • Fairy Liquid says:

      You’re supposed to vote for the most romantic photo, not the most romantic GAY photo. Or is this the Pink Mafia at work?

      My choice is the one where that couple (we can’t see whether they are homo or hetero because one of them is submerged on the driver’s seat) are making out in that beat-up green car.

      But it’s a tough call because a really close contender is the one where our hero is firmly smooching our heroine,. with his sweaty paw getting a good grip on his…..packet of Rothmans.

  3. Shaun Abdilla says:

    Respect also goes to Matthew Bonanno and Ivan Borg (picture with the hearts) for showing that love can happen regardless of any situation, whether gender-related or otherwise.

    • I don’t think we needed Matthew Bonanno and Ivan Borg in a picture surrounded with teenage-girl hearts, to show us that, Shaun.

      What they do show us, though, is that contrary to popular belief, gay men don’t necessarily have style and even they can be totally naff.

      I include the ‘two gay men in the sunset’ picture in this assessment, incidentally.

      And no, this is not a debate about gayness, so don’t try to turn it into one, please. It’s about naffness.

    • Matthew Bonanno says:

      Shaun, I’m going to hurt you next time I see you!

  4. Ian says:

    Thanks – this is too funny. I mean, who the hell snapped picture 5? How? Why? What? Hilarious!

  5. Danielle B says:

    Ivan and Matthew – I knew that deep down beyond your chauvinism and your sexist jokes you are softies. I’m really proud of you. So is mummy and sends you her love. Since she didn’t take a free IT-course offered by the state, she asked me to publicly tell you that she loves you no matter what even if the parish priest disapproves and the neighbours gossip when Ivan sneaks out of Bonanno’s house at 6am.

  6. CaMiCasi says:

    You realise, of course, that it’s been hijacked by a few piss-takers, right?

    • Would the gay sunset be one of these piss-takers? Because the rest look deadly serious about it to me, ncluding the bored couple posing on the grass beneath a baboon cage.

      • Hot Mama says:

        @ Cuckoo’s Nest

        Re:

        Because their names are….Charles de Hauteville and Pious Aston-Jones, right? Not Robert Zammit and Jonathan Schembri

        Their names could be as plain as anything but no one has the right to out anybody on a popular site such as this to boot!

  7. xejnsew.com says:

    Picture 5 should win – even though that’s called dogging, not romance.

  8. Anthony Farrugia says:

    The guy with the borsalino and his gal must have been inspired by Bonnie and Clyde.

    These pics are enough to drive one to demon drink possibly coming from north of Hadrian’s Wall. Who said utility bils? What utility bills?

    Daphne, you have made my day and, although I would not touch Facebook with a barge pole, I have got to see the other contenders.

  9. Captain obvious says:

    Not one gay photo uploaded here is legitimate. At least a few people are trying to take the mickey, just like Daphne is.

    Just can’t understand how some people can upload such atrocious photos to win a night or two in a hotel. Viva Malta.

  10. NGT says:

    Re the 12th photo (‘you call it madness…’). Please tell me that that’s someone taking the piss out of this whole thing. It just cannot be serious.

  11. Ian says:

    Incredible, it takes one “gay” photo to start ruffling feathers. Whether the argument is disguised as one about “naffness” or not, fact remains, as soon as some people see two gay persons expressing affection publicly, some form of inner protest erupts in so many people. A few will express it through “Yuck, how gay”; the more sophisticated bigots will find some other way…what a sad lot!

  12. K Farrugia says:

    Thumbs up for the fourth picture from the top where the girl manages to hit two birds with one stone:
    1) participate in the competition
    2) let the whole world know she’s a bit of a tart

    • S. Azzopardi says:

      Why is she a tart??? Coz she raised her leg? Oh i can so imagine what type of person you are K.

    • Reb says:

      Dear K Farrugia, why can’t the girls participate in the competition, may I ask? and why are you labelling her a “tart”? It’s just a picture for God’s sake. Do you have such a conservative mind? It’s not as if she’s doing anything wrong!

  13. Luke Buttigieg says:

    You kill me, every time! Have you heard of Sarah Camilleri? http://www.youtube.com/user/kawaiisachan#p/u/1/HyMShrf_rRE

  14. KM Vella says:

    I am disappointed that some people did not get the deeper meaning behind John and Rob’s picture. It is not that they’re giving their back to the camera, but them staring outwards at the edge of the coast signifies that the rest of the country is indeed behind them, some in terms of moral support, the rest in terms of backwardness. Such a holistic portrayal of the ins and outs of homosexuality deserves not only a weekend break, but a full-fledged Pulitzer prize.

    • G Refalo says:

      Mr. Vella why are you assuming they’re gay? Thy could be brothers, or priests… nothing is excluded.

      • KM Vella says:

        Dear Mr. Refalo, I am quoting myself when I said that they are indeed gay. Since it has now been written on the internet, it is unequivocally true. Hence my original claim is verified.

        Unless, of course, you want to rewrite the truth of the internet. In which case, I’d be more than glad to rewrite it once more.

  15. pencil.it.in says:

    90% of the photos are extremely unprofessional and it’s supposed to be a photo competition not an “I am proud to be a ____” competition (fill in the blanks with whatever).

  16. Esteve says:

    Interesting to see what people think a romantic photo should look like or else most people skipped the “romantic” part of the title in a competitive frenzy.

  17. Drew says:

    SURELY, most of these photos are attempts at mockery. I hope.

    • Grezz says:

      Hardly! Have you ever seen a “pre-wedding” photo/video shoot? Try going to San Anton on a Saturday or Sunday morning …

  18. Vanni says:

    How sad that some people feel that they have to advertise their lack of taste by uploading the ultimate cringe pics…

  19. Drew says:

    All the gay couples are fake – confirmed.

  20. Interested Bystander says:

    Methinks am laughing for all the wrong reasons

  21. Herman says:

    See photo 3. ‘”Me and you: we could make the world jealous.”

    Wow, how ingenious!

  22. Albert Farrugia says:

    This is so, so, so incredibly crass….btw….all of those in the pictures have been brought up under a PN government…and passed through the education system offered to us by the various PN education ministers.

  23. Macduff says:

    Where are the plastic surgeons when you need them?

  24. Joseph says:

    Typical ‘ouch’ photos – although to be honest, I can’t see what’s wrong with the very last one. I honestly find it kinda cute. You know, a cheeky guy teasing a surprised girl. nothing like the rest.

  25. dery says:

    If I were one to vote for such things I’d pick the ‘be proud’ one for being the least kitsch or generally disgusting.

  26. H.P. Baxxter says:

    CHAVNATION

    One despairs.

  27. NBorg says:

    I must admit that I met the news of the ‘Be Proud’ submission with some trepidation. I’ve known Jon and Robert for some years now, and their interactions have raised an eyebrow or two ever since their days of ‘towel slapping’ in the boys’ locker room at school.

    Whether through denial or downright fear of rejection, they have kept their special relationship mum, and it appears to have taken a great competition for them to come out so openly.

    On one hand, one questions their motives for the timing of their news, conveniently around the time a free night for two is on the table.

    On the other hand, one cannot but commend the socially-conscientious initiative of Westin Dragonara for providing the initiative to free them from the captivity of their nature. Thank you also to DCG for spreading the news.

    Warm wishes, boys!

  28. Lorna saliba says:

    I thought I’d seen everything!

  29. Grezz says:

    I think that the women lurking in the background while “their” man tries to hog the limelight with his best pose (even when supposedly in a lip-lock with his beloved) should just go ahead and ditch him.

  30. Min Weber says:

    It is interesting that there are no lesbians.

  31. Alan says:

    Is the 4th one down Nikita Alamango ?

  32. chrys says:

    Just picked myself off the floor to type this. Why can’t I convince my boyfriend to pose for such a photo session? What do these women have that I don’t?

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