Manila Gay Guy

Recently dubbed “the closest thing to a living saint” by the Australian media, Louise L. Hay is also known as one of the founders of the self-help movement. Her first book, Heal Your Body, was published in 1976, long before it was fashionable to discuss the connection between the mind and body. Revised and expanded in 1988, this best-selling book introduced Louise’s concepts to people in 33 different countries and has been translated into 25 languages throughout the world.

Through Louise’s healing techniques and positive philosophy, millions have learned how to create more of what they want in their lives, including more wellness in their bodies, minds, and spirits. Her own personal philosophy was forged from her tormented upbringing. Her childhood was unstable and impoverished, and her teen years were marked by abuse. Louise ran away from home and ended up in New York City, where she became a model and married a prosperous businessman. Although it appeared that her life had turned around, it was not until the marriage ended 14 years later that her healing really began. [source]

Hay moved to Los Angeles around 1980 and began seeing private clients for spiritual counseling. “I had several gay men in my practice,” Hay told me. “One day, one of them called me up and said, ‘Louise, do you think you could start a group for gay men with AIDS?’ A few men came for dinner one night, and I said: ‘I have no idea what we’re doing, but I know what we’re not going to do. We’re not going to play ‘Ain’t it awful.’ So we talked and did affirmations and ended with a song. The next day, one of them called me and said, ‘Last night was the first time I slept in three weeks.’ The next week we had 90 men, and soon someone gave us a space in a gym in West Hollywood. For two years we met, but we outgrew the gymnasium in a month and a half.” The city of West Hollywood gave the Hay Rides, as they were soon known, a bigger space. “Soon we had 850 people every Wednesday night. We had mothers who came, and whenever a mother came we gave them a standing ovation, because so many mothers weren’t speaking to their sons.” Her eyes teared up noticeably. “The fathers almost never came — they couldn’t forgive.” Hay often presided at the men’s funerals. “Who else was going to do it?” she asked me. “Religions wouldn’t touch them.” [Source]

Louise is a truly remarkable woman. Listen to her here, a snippet from a recording of her powerful affirmations. In this particular snippet she talks about accepting and embracing our sexuality, being at peace with it. Go, listen (4 minutes only).

Download the MP3 here (right click and save) 1.8 MB

I read the following article by Cholo Hidalgo Laurel at Brian Gorrell’s blog, and I was deeply struck. In the early part of his article he says, “Twelve years of tiptoeing around people’s egos, witnessing the most evil power plays known to man, often compromising standards and never really feeling creatively fulfilled was just eating my soul up. Ergo, This happy man was not a very contented man. This man wanted to start doing things that meant something.” As I read through it, I felt so drawn to his passion to live a relevant, significant life, something much larger than himself. I so admire this kind of courage and high-mindedness. (more…)

Here’s a short indie film (less than 10min) from Giraldi Media. Another reference to that book, “Now That You Know.” If your parents are fond of reading books, this might just be useful.

If the coming out process is difficult for gay people, it is often equally difficult for their parents. Confusion, anger, and fear frequently cause fathers and mothers of gay men and lesbians to disavow, strike out against, and even resent their children. For many parents, a child’s coming out feels like the ultimate rejection–not only of their dreams and hopes but of their own heterosexuality. In Now That You Know: A Parent’s Guide to Understanding Their Gay and Lesbian Children, Betty Fairchild and Nancy Hayward–the mothers of, respectively, a gay man and a lesbian–have charted the rough seas that almost every parent of a gay person travels.

Fairchild and Hayward presume that homosexuality is a positive good, and that it is willful ignorance and homophobia that are moral wrongs. They also believe that families can and should love all members and that it is distraught or confused parents (not their gay offspring) who must change. Mixing common sense with a firm sense of social justice and love, the authors systematically address almost all of the problems faced by parents of gay people. Answering questions on religion, AIDS, health, children, alternative families, and sex, they make the complicated gay world–often a nightmare vision for “just out” parents of gays–not only manageable but happy and nurturing. –Michael Bronski (Amazon.com Review)

Video after the jump.
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If there’s one thing this past week that made me stop and think, ponder and reflect, it was Charlie’s letter.

I’m Charlie, turning 27 in a couple of months. I’d like to share my story with your readers… I found out about my condition (…) last year. I’m HIV positive.

His was the third I received this August, talking about being HIV-positive. His letter simply rendered me without anything to say, at least temporarily. I didn’t know how to react. It was overwhelming. I thought, if I fire off sweet, encouraging words, will that really help? Will that really make Charlie feel better about his condition? If I start playing the role of a cold jaundiced preacher, lecturing on lessons learned from Charlie’s experience and perhaps advocate “safe sex” till the cows come home, will it really make a difference? I don’t know.
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Hi Migs,

I’m Charlie, turning 27 in a couple of months. I’ve been visiting your site regularly to read on stuffs that I could relate to. I’m also fond of writing, more so when I’m having mood swings. I’d like to share my story with your readers not to gain sympathy or for people to pity me but to have someone I can openly have a conversation with. I found out about my condition when I underwent a routine medical checkup in Singapore for a possible employment last year.

I’m HIV positive.
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I love OFWs. Why not naman, they are our country’s silent heroes. So when I received this letter from Tsinitoboy of the United Arab Emirates, I published it right away! It’s not a typical “I have a problem” letter, rather it is a sincere sharing of thoughts, happenings, and feelings. Pasalubungan natin ng masigabong palakpakan ang liham na ito mula sa isang kapatid na nagta-trabaho sa UAE, at kung maari, aking pakiusap po lamang, na bigyang pugay siya sa pamamagitan ng pagbati at pag-iiwan ng komento sa post na ito. Mabuhay ang mga OFW! Mahal ko kayo! I love you from the bottom of my hypothalamus!

Hi Migs,

I’m an OFW working in the UAE and I’m an avid reader of blog. Ever since I discovered your site, no day seems to past without me checking on your site. It has become a habit of mine to start my daily routine by looking at your site if there are any updates or comments. What I find amusing is actually the comment section on each of your post (I also like the way you tastefully present naked men & other mind tickling topics). Wherein some of your readers engage in a battle of wits through debates (I’ve been into one just lately on the topic of “Gays go to Hell”) or just plainly taunting each other like a bunch of gay kids. I would like to share to you our lives here working in the desert sands.
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This article was originally posted in peyups.com contributed by rapi_74 and edited by arwen.

The Parlorista. The Ms. Gay Barangay X, Y, Z, ∞. The Japayuki with the what-planet-did-your-boobs-come-from. The Pedophile. The Thief. The Incestuous. The Molestor. The Mamasang. The Devil Personified. The AIDS Victim. The Mataray, Malibog, Gossip, Malicious, Nagbabayad-ng-boyfriend, Rapist, Transvestite, Transsexual, Male-to-Female!

The notoriety of faggots has astonished the Philippine society to the point that through the years it has successfully secluded the gays – boxed them into harsh stereotypes. No wonder most gays would rather hide with the facade of straightness. And who could blame them? Look at that Babaylan flaunting his/her false womanhood. Look at that butch rug-muncher sitting at AS Steps grossly kissing her femme partner. Look at you. Look at me. Of course they�re disgusting! They�re deviants for God�s sake! And we don�t want to be deviant; we want to be straight like the rest of them.
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Just as Chris Friel, previously featured here as the Fil-Am Hunk, passed the crown at the end of 2006 to the new Ginoong Filipinas-USA, he won another title this April.
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December 1 was World AIDS Day, and Bed Bar in Malate celebrated it with a big brawny bang! Hefty chunks of hunks parading in their skimpy Bench underwear were the eye candies of the night — all for promoting Safe Sex. Too bad I was not there, but thanks to Doc Tony’s gallery, I can give you some teasers here. Enjoy boys, enjoy the boys!

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Forget what you know about gays always buying the latest fashions. A recent study shows it’s their desire for the latest gadgets that really defines their spending habits. According to Simmons Market Research Bureau, gays and lesbians are more likely than most adults to have the latest gadgets that technology has to offer and will usually buy them regardless of cost. And why Apple? Because they are the only company that produces consistently sleek, cool, and most of all, FABULOUS, gadgets!
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