This is part of #KaraniwangLGBT, which Outrage Magazine officially launched on July 26, 2015 to offer vignettes of LGBT people/living, particularly in the Philippines, to give so-called “everyday people” – in this case, the common LGBT people – that chance to share their stories.
As Outrage Magazine editor Michael David C. Tan says: “All our stories are valid – not just the stories of the ‘big shots’. And it’s high time we start telling all our stories.”
Even at 16, Angel already had six boyfriends. Not that she was “malandi (flirtatious),” she said with a wide smile, but “natuto lang ako magmahal (I just learned to love).”
When she turned 17, and after another breakup, she had a change of heart. That was when she started supporting causes. For instance, after noticing that LGBT people were also affected by the “unfair contractualization na naglalagay sa alanganin ang kabuhayan ng tulad natin (that make the livelihood of people like us uncertain),” Angel joined those who held rallies against Tanduay Distillers Inc. in Cabuyao, Laguna. “Natutong tumingin sa mas makabuluhang issue (I learned to look at more relevant issues),” she said.
Asked if she doesn’t consider falling in love an important issue anymore, Angel smiled. “Hindi na muna (Not for now),” she said. And then when asked what advice she can give other LGBT people, she turned serious: “Huwag na silang umibig, masasaktan lang sila (Don’t fall in love, you’ll just get hurt).”
