I was lucky to have met two persons who have decided to connect their rainbows together. Here's the story of Patricia Gascon (left) and Jomelle Era (right).
Original Text | English Translation
Patricia: 20 years old. Year 2013.
Jomelle: 15.
2. When did you come out to your family and friends?
Patricia: Sa friends, ever since 2013 alam na nila. Dedma lang... feeling naman nila tomboy talaga ako eh haha! Sa family, May 2015. Syempre nung una yung nanay ko na-shookt siya pero di naman naging mahirap for them yung pagtanggap. Basically, naging madali lang ang transition (or maybe naging mahirap for them but they never showed it to me, they never questioned me weird stuff haha!)
(To my friends, they already knew ever since 2013. They didn't care... they already have a feeling that I was haha! To my family, May 2015. At first my mother was shocked but accepting me wasn't hard. Basically, the transition was easy (or maybe it was not but they never showed it to me, they never questioned me weird stuff haha!)
Jomelle: I came out because I was triggered by the show "OUT" sa GMA7 yata yun. I wrote a letter to my mom telling her that I have a girlfriend chururut. Of course nagalit sya, lumayas ako. That moment I became Dora x Moana x Wonder Woman. Struggle to the max. To prove her (my mom) wrong, (ginawa ko) hanap murang bahay, kain pancit canton, yes sa lahat ng raket, inom - survival.
(I came out because I was triggered by the show "OUT" from GMA7 I think. I wrote a letter to my mom telling her that I have a girlfriend blah blah. Of course she got mad, I moved out. That moment I became Dora x Moana x Wonder Woman. Struggle to the max. To prove her wrong, I searched for cheap house, ate pancit canton, said yes to all sidelines, got wasted - survival.)
3. When did the two of you first meet?
Jomelle: We met at Fringe Manila Arts Festival 2015 opening sa Benilde. We will perform an excerpt of our show then sya stage manager sya ng isa pang prod. During blocking ng segment nila, late yung lead artist nila so bilang stage manager nagstand in sya, eh tapos na blocking namin so nasa audience area na ako. Ayun, nasilayan ko sya, I was blown away by her aura. Lakas!!!
(We met at the opening of Fringe Manila Arts Festival 2015 at Benilde. We will perform an excerpt of our show and she was the stage manager of another production. During the blocking of their segment, the lead artist was late so she had to stand in as stage manager, we were already done so I was at the audience area. I saw her and I was blown away by her aura. Damn!)
4. Was it a "love at first sight"?
Patricia: Hmmmm parang hindi? But it was magical the first time we met in person.
(Hmmmm I think not? But it was magical the first time we met in person.)
Jomelle: Not a believer eh. What we felt was "magic at first sight". Love came after magic!
(Hmmmm I think not? But it was magical the first time we met in person.)
Jomelle: Not a believer eh. What we felt was "magic at first sight". Love came after magic!
5. How long have you been together now as a couple?
Jomelle: We are 27 months as friends/couple. To be specific, day 2 we're already a couple, day 12 I proposed, day 36 we had our union. We barely know each other. We let our souls do the magic. Unstoppable force guided by the universe.
6. What is the most important thing to have in a relationship?
Jomelle: Most important thing is to respect each other's individuality.
Patricia: For me maayos na communication. Maayos - not just communication. Love/relationships in general is a two way street. Kailangan niyo magusap, magkwentuhan, magkamustahan. Dahil lahat ng bagay, as cliche as it may sound, napaguusapan.
(For me good communication. Good - not just communication. Love/relationships in general is a two way street. You need to talk, share stories, ask how she's doing. Because everything, as cliche as it may sound, can be talked out.)
Patricia: For me maayos na communication. Maayos - not just communication. Love/relationships in general is a two way street. Kailangan niyo magusap, magkwentuhan, magkamustahan. Dahil lahat ng bagay, as cliche as it may sound, napaguusapan.
(For me good communication. Good - not just communication. Love/relationships in general is a two way street. You need to talk, share stories, ask how she's doing. Because everything, as cliche as it may sound, can be talked out.)
7. You claim that you guys are married, can you tell us the story?
Patricia: Well basically, it was an old type of ritual. Kumbaga, think of it this way, dati namin, as in dati stone age ganyan, wala namang "formal" kasal eh, everything was done under the stars...It was a union bound by the love and acceptance of everyone close to us that were there during the ceremony and a union that we both agreed to undergo. It was a decision. It was a state of mind. It was more than love.
(Well basically, it was an old type of ritual. Like, think of it this way, back then, during the stone age, there's no "formal" wedding, everything was done under the stars... It was a union bound by the love and acceptance of everyone close to us that were there during the ceremony and a union that we both agreed to undergo. It was a decision. It was a state of mind. It was more than love.)
8. How did your family react to this?
Jomelle: Sa reaction ng people around us, di na namin masyado naramdaman. Mas nandun yung urge to make our souls rest together. As human bodies, we became a tool for our souls to finally have their union after long cycles of searching.
(With the reaction of the people around us, we didn't feel it. The urge to make our souls rest together was stronger. As human bodies, we became a tool for our souls to finally have their union after long cycles of searching.)
Patricia: Well, di naman nila alam na we undergo such ritual. But to our relationship in general, they're very welcoming and supportive with all our endeavors as a couple. As in they're the best family ever an LGBTQIA+ person could ever ask for!
(Well, they didn't know that we underwent such ritual. But to our relationship in general, they're the best family an LGBTQIA+ person could ever ask for!)
(With the reaction of the people around us, we didn't feel it. The urge to make our souls rest together was stronger. As human bodies, we became a tool for our souls to finally have their union after long cycles of searching.)
Patricia: Well, di naman nila alam na we undergo such ritual. But to our relationship in general, they're very welcoming and supportive with all our endeavors as a couple. As in they're the best family ever an LGBTQIA+ person could ever ask for!
(Well, they didn't know that we underwent such ritual. But to our relationship in general, they're the best family an LGBTQIA+ person could ever ask for!)
9. What is the best part and the worst part of being in a homosexual relationship?
Patricia: Best part is, dahil pareho kayo ng gender, you can already assume the needs of each other. It's as simple as, pag nagp-PMS siya, di ka na mabibwiset kase you know the feeling eh. Worst part? Pag pareho kayong mataas, pareho talaga kayong mataas! Extremes vs. extremes!
(Best part is, because we're from the same gender, you can already assume the needs of each other. It's as simple as, when she PMS, you won't be annoyed because you know the feeling. Worst part? When both of you feel high. Extremes vs extremes!)
Jomelle: Labels are just labels. We dont see it as a homosexual relationship, we see it as a "relationship". Tuldok. (Period).
10. On LGBT discrimination: How do you handle homophobic people?
Patricia: To be honest, di pa naman ako nakaka-encounter ng closed minded people... or baka wala lang akong pake sakanila.
(To be honest, I still haven't encountered closed minded people... or maybe I just don't care what they think.)
Jomelle: I personally handle homophobic people with respect. Same as with all other individuals - respeto sa beliefs. Dont ask for respect and equality if you cannot give it to all other individuals. We are not even special, pare-pareho lang tayong tao.
(I personally handle homophobic people with respect. Same as with all other individuals - respecting beliefs. Don't ask for respect and equality if you cannot give it to all other individuals. We are not even special, we're all humans.)
(To be honest, I still haven't encountered closed minded people... or maybe I just don't care what they think.)
Jomelle: I personally handle homophobic people with respect. Same as with all other individuals - respeto sa beliefs. Dont ask for respect and equality if you cannot give it to all other individuals. We are not even special, pare-pareho lang tayong tao.
(I personally handle homophobic people with respect. Same as with all other individuals - respecting beliefs. Don't ask for respect and equality if you cannot give it to all other individuals. We are not even special, we're all humans.)
11. What is your message to people who do not accept homosexual love?
Jomelle: "Homosexual love" Is there such thing? This question is invalid. NEXT!
Patricia: Hmmmm may ganun ba? Well, if there is, love is love. Pakyu all.
(Hmmmmm is there such thing? Well, if there is, love is love. Fuck you all.)
Patricia: Hmmmm may ganun ba? Well, if there is, love is love. Pakyu all.
(Hmmmmm is there such thing? Well, if there is, love is love. Fuck you all.)
12. What is your message or advice to the LGBT community?
Patricia: Let it go. Let it go. I would like to believe that Philippines is a safe country to be out, loud and proud. So go and conquer the world. Love, love, love, but be safe. Hahaha
Jomelle: We are all born with our own personal super powers. Gamitin natin ito to create a more harmonious community. Ang pag-ibig ay pag-ibig. Walang label. Love is love is love. Discrimination happens if you allow it to enter your system. Stay happy, proud, beautiful, so be yourself, love yourself and the universe will love you back.
(We are all born with our own personal super powers. Let's use it to create a more harmonious community. Love is love. No label. Love is love is love. Discrimination happens if you allow it to enter your system. Stay happy, proud, beautiful, so be yourself, love yourself and the universe will love you back.)
Jomelle: We are all born with our own personal super powers. Gamitin natin ito to create a more harmonious community. Ang pag-ibig ay pag-ibig. Walang label. Love is love is love. Discrimination happens if you allow it to enter your system. Stay happy, proud, beautiful, so be yourself, love yourself and the universe will love you back.
(We are all born with our own personal super powers. Let's use it to create a more harmonious community. Love is love. No label. Love is love is love. Discrimination happens if you allow it to enter your system. Stay happy, proud, beautiful, so be yourself, love yourself and the universe will love you back.)
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-END-
(Special thanks to Matel Patayon and Mikey Dionora)
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