YSAGE Power

Last year, I was invited by a friend to attend a seminar about Gender at Batangas. I was hesitant to join at first because I was then elected as the External Vice President of ADNU-SSG, I'm planning for a trip somewhere, I'm busy with a project... basta, a lot of excuses, my own way of saying that I'm not ready to discuss the science of gender. HAHAHA. Para namang hindi ako sana'y. I guess, hindi lang ako ready na i-advocate ang gender since that I'm into Child's Rights and Education. Sa hindi ko malamang chance, I found myself inside a room full of future gender advocates.

The "seminar" was a camp pala. We were housed in a very nice resort at Mataas na Kahoy, Batangas. The camp was participated by promising student leaders from Manila, ako lang yung probinsyano at si Kate. 

Just like any other camps, sabi ko, sige go-with-the-flow na lang. While hours pass, I realized that this camp is one of its kind. Mali ako sa unang akala ko. Talks were moving and heartfelt. Sharing were intense and memorable. 

New friendships were formed. Aside from building relationships with sabi ko nga, promising student leaders (NAKS!), lifetime companionship was also embraced. Dumadrama! Seryoso, ibang klase talaga silang kasama. 

In the end, the three-day camp seems to be KULANG - if only I could spend more time with them - with YOU. HAHAHA. (Issue?) Pero hindi naman pwedeng ganon. HEHEHE. After the camp, we all went home (Oooops. Kumain pala somewhere, then nag-meet uli) and tried our best to share what we've learned, experienced and felt in the camp.  

YSAGE power continues to touch and move us - to be more sensitive, to be more open. Dahil sa YSAGE mas nakilala ko pa ang sarili ko at ang iba.

Now, I'm with ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc. - Save Palawan Movement. This is my contribution to tell the world that we should stop exploiting women - kasama na dun si Mother Earth. Nakakalungkot isipin that even Mother Earth is being raped by a lot of people - miners, illegal loggers, etc. (Siningit ko talaga) HEHE. Seriously, I hope everyone is doing their own share as well. YSAGE is a very promising organization. We were even named as one of the groups that shine in 2011. Yun, we should not stop there, we still have 2012 to conquer and a lot of prostituted and exploited women to save. 

Let's all be one in this fight! Missing everyone and YOU. <3 (Kung sino si YOU - 

hindi ko rin alam) HEHEHE. :)

Gender Week - Ateneo

Mom and I were invited to share our thoughts and feelings on LGBT. At first I was hesitant to give the letter of invitation to Mom because we never really discussed my gender when we're together. (Hindi na rin naman kasi siguro kailangan. Alam na ng buong mundo kung ano ang sexual preference kom imposibleng hindi yun alam ng nanay ko). Some facts that she knew: I had a partner (same sex) before and that I once had a girlfriend when I was in Ateneo high (she's now an instructor here at Ateneo). Since that this is my last second semester in school, I finally decided to give the letter to Mom. She said yes instantaneously. PAK! 

Mom and I before the talk.

The questions revolved around the joys and pains of being a bisexual, lovelife, etc. 

Mom on stage. OHA! Mom is also into training. Before I would usually watch her talk or she would join me as I give talk, now, join na kaming dalawa! Diba masaya?  :) On a serious note, I'm really touched and moved by the fact that Mom is openly sharing her thoughts and feelings on me being a bisexual. I never imagined nor dreamed that this day would come. I consider this one extra big bonus from God. I hope a lot of parents and kids were inspired. I guess we should do this often. I think Mom and I have good chemistry on stage. Isama ko kaya siya sa talks ko madalas? (Scary!) :))

After a week, I was once again invited to share my thoughts about being part of the LGBT community. The focused group discussion was dubbed: It's Beautiful Outside: Stories Outside the Closet. Mr. Adrian Remodo, Chairperson of Philosophy Department opened the afternoon with a lecture on storytelling. The FGD was participated by invited students and teachers of Ateneo. 

It's an awesome privilege to share my life to this group. Indeed, it's beautiful outside. We pray that more and more LGBT would share their stories outside the 

closet! ♥

Let's all paint the world with LOVE. 

Hugs,

TagaPinta (@raffymagno)