A Different Kind of Pinoy Pride

In this age of the Internet, the term “LGBTQIA”  is no longer an unfamiliar term × unfamiliar term
Tagalog - hindi pamilyar na tema; Ilocano - haan nga pamilyar; Cebuano - dili pamilyar nga termino
worldwide. With June being Pride Month and the Philippines celebrating Independence Day × day
Tagalog - araw;  Ilocano - aldaw
on the 12th, Filipino LGBTQIA celebrates two different × different
Tagalog - magkakaiba;  Ilocano - panagsasabali
kinds of pride. This leads to the question × question
Tagalog - tanong;  Ilocano - saludsod
, what is it like being a part of the LGBTQIA in the Philippines?

The Philippines is a very religious nation × religious nation
Tagalog - bansang relihiyoso; Ilocano - relihiyoso nga nasyon; Cebuano - nasod nga relihiyoso
. It is probably one of the few countries × countries
Tagalog - mga bansa;  Ilocano - ballasiw taaw
where there are religious national holidays and where a huge portion of the population identifies themselves as Roman Catholic. Although the Philippine Constitution states that there is a separation between the church × church
Tagalog - simbahan;  Ilocano - simbaan
and state, the Catholic Church × church
Tagalog - simbahan;  Ilocano - simbaan
remains influential × remains influential
Tagalog - nananatiling maimpluwensya; Ilocano - agnanayon nga agimpluwensiya; Cebuano - nagpabilin nga impluwensyado
in the decision-making of many matters. While there are many LGBTQIA’s who have a religion, their identities aren’t easily accepted by many religions and remain controversial when discussed in sermons. However, that’s not to say that being part of the LGBTQIA community is illegal in the Philippines and is not a crime × not a crime
Tagalog - hindi isang krimen; Ilocano - haan nga krimen; Cebuano - dili usang krimen
of any kind. 

‘”Coming out” for many LGBTQIA’s all over the world × world
Tagalog - mundo;  Ilocano - lubong
can usually be a challenging and taxing process × process
Tagalog - paraan;  Ilocano - proseso
especially since it comes off as a pivotal moment × pivotal moment
Tagalog - mahalagang sandali; Ilocano - importante nga kanito; Cebuano - hinungdanon nga gutlo
in building × building
Tagalog - gusali;  Ilocano - pasdek
their identity. However, in the Philippines, it is probably a thousand times harder since many Filipinos × many Filipinos
Tagalog - maraming Pilipino; Ilocano - kaaduan a Pilipino
have very traditional, religious families × families
Tagalog - mga pamilya ("mga" denotes plural form);  Ilocano - dagiti pamilya
. In fact, some of them don’t × don't
Tagalog - huwag; Ilocano - madi
come out at all and live secret lives × secret lives
Tagalog - lihim na buhay; Ilocano - sekreto nga biag; Cebuano - kinabuhi nga sikreto
hidden away × hidden away
Tagalog - nakatago; Ilocano - nakalemmeng; Cebuano - gitago
from their families × families
Tagalog - mga pamilya ("mga" denotes plural form);  Ilocano - dagiti pamilya
. Most usually end up ‘coming out’ unintentionally when their parents × parents
Tagalog - mga magulang;  Ilocano - nagannak
or relatives × relatives
Tagalog - mga kamag-anak;  Ilocano - dagiti kabagian
catch them in the act. Worst-case scenarios usually end up with the child getting disowned or in a big × big
Tagalog - malaki;  Ilocano - dakkel
fight in the family × family
Tagalog - sambahayan, pamilya;  Ilocano - pamilya
while the best-case scenarios are usually when the parents × parents
Tagalog - mga magulang;  Ilocano - nagannak
accept their child × accept their child
Tagalog - tanggap nila ang kanilang anak; Ilocano - akseptaren iti anak; Cebuano - dawat sa ilang anak
without hesitation. Either can happen × happen
Tagalog - mangyari;  Ilocano - maaramid
when someone comes out but the most common one is somewhere in the middle. Usually, the parents × parents
Tagalog - mga magulang;  Ilocano - nagannak
themselves either accept or simply tolerate it but tell their child not to be too open about it with older relatives × relatives
Tagalog - mga kamag-anak;  Ilocano - dagiti kabagian
probably to protect them from prejudice × protect them from prejudice
Tagalog - protektahan sila mula sa pagtatangi; Ilocano - protektaran ti haan nga nasayaat nga keddeng; Cebuano - panalipdi sila gikan sa pagpihig
. 

Despite the disapproving titos, titas, lolos and lolas (uncles, aunties, grandpas, and grandmas), Filipinos, especially the younger ones, are growing × growing
Tagalog - lumalago;  Ilocano - dumakdakkel
more accepting of pride in the country × country
Tagalog - bansa
. While the government doesn’t host pride parades or special events to celebrate pride, some small groups have started doing their own × own
Tagalog - sarili;  Ilocano - bagik
pride initiatives such as mini parades. There are organized activities for people × people
Tagalog - mga tao;  Ilocano - dagiti tattao
in the community for setting up infographics and events that encourage openness and acceptance especially to those struggling with their identity. Although not as open as other countries × countries
Tagalog - mga bansa;  Ilocano - ballasiw taaw
, same-sex couples and transgenders are now coming out in the open public with their true identities. It is truly a brave act × brave act
Tagalog - matapang na kilos; Ilocano - natured nga aramid; Cebuano - maisug nga buhat
for them to do that in the judgmental Filipino society where discrimination may not be blatant × discrimination may not be blatant
Tagalog - ang diskriminasyon ay maaring hindi lantaran; Ilocano - iti diskriminasyon ket haan unay; Cebuano - dili mahimong dayag ang diskriminasyon
but is very much felt. In fact, most of them head online where they can be more candid and accepted for who they are.

Late in 2020, many citizens pushed for the refiling of the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Expression (SOGIE) Equality Bill, also known as the Anti-Discrimination Bill (ADB) in light of President Duterte giving absolute pardon to a former US Marine × marine
Tagalog - pandagat;  Ilocano - dagiti makita ti baybay
who was convicted of homicide in the killing of a Filipina transwoman Jennifer Laude. For a little overview, this bill does not legalize same-sex marriage × marriage
Tagalog - kasal;  Ilocano - kasar
, alteration of religious or academic teachings, or allow changing the sex on a person × person
Tagalo / Ilocano - tao
’s birth certificate but it does protect LGBTQIA’s from discrimination especially in schools, workplaces, and in receiving services. It merely recognizes them as the individuals they are and encourages others to accept them as human beings without prejudice. However, many traditional people × people
Tagalog - mga tao;  Ilocano - dagiti tattao
oppose the passing of this bill because they say that it goes against their religious beliefs. The bill was first filed in 2000 and up to now still hasn’t been passed. 

Despite the bill not being approved × approved
Tagalog - pinagtibay;  Ilocano - aprobado
, Filipino LGBTQIA’s continue × continue
Tagalog - patuloy;  Ilocano - panag-lay-layon
to fight for their rights × fight for their rights
Tagalog - ipaglaban ang kanilang mga karapatan; Ilocano - ilaban mo iti kalintegam; Cebuano - pakigbisog alang sa ilang mga katungod
to live freely × live freely
Tagalog - mabuhay ng malaya; Ilocano - agbiyag nga siwawaya; Cebuano - makabuhi nga lawasnon
and openly as possible. Although it might be a long shot for them at this point in time, they know × know
Tagalog - know;  Ilocano - ammo
that it will take baby steps for society today to be more accepting of their existence. It was not their choice to be who they are and they should not be condemned for it. We are all human and no matter who we are, we all deserve love × love
Tagalog - mahal;  Ilocano - ayat
and respect. 

Learn × learn
Tagalog - matutuhan ;  Ilocano -  masursuro
Tagalog

Learn × learn
Tagalog - matutuhan ;  Ilocano -  masursuro
Cebuano

Learn × learn
Tagalog - matutuhan ;  Ilocano -  masursuro
Ilocano