Manila Gay Guy

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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Thank you, thank you, thank you to all who have sent in their messages to my mobile (+63-915-869-2229). I apologize for not being able to reply via text — I hope you understand. Rest assured I’m reading all your text messages. In fact I’m publishing some of those I received so far. Again thank you, nakatataba ng puso ang mga messages ninyo. Keep `em coming! Mwah! World Peace!

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Not all gay movies need to have skin and sex. Here’s a gay movie that attempts to bust the stereotype — watch its premier on Thursday, 28 August 2008 at the UP Cine Adarna (formerly UP Film Center), 6:30 pm. Written and Directed by Charliebebs Gohetia.

“The ‘Thank You’ Girls” is a Visayan film with a gay lingo twist.

Tired of losing in all the beauty competitions in Davao City, five dysfunctional gay beauty pageant veterans decide to travel north to Cagayan de Oro City, in the island of Mindanao.

Their mission: to conquer the grandest competition of beauty, personality and brains in the whole province.

They believe that being city dwellers, gays in the province will never stand a chance against them.

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Migs,

I want to give my reaction to your podcast entitled Homosexuality and Religion. I am a person struggling with same-sex attraction (SSA) but I don’t consider myself gay in the sense that I’m not into the gay lifestyle now. I may have been before but that was a totally different story. And oh yes I still struggle with chastity issues right now and that’s how real it can get.

I just want to reiterate that the Catholic Church does not condemn me or you for being “gay”. In fact, the Catholic Church has an apostolate catering to people with SSA and it is called Courage. You can visit www.couragerc.net for more details. And yes I am a member of that organization.

Our group is a support group and we help each other live a chaste life. We don’t claim that sooner or later we will all become heterosexuals, etc. Nothing of that sort. Instead, we are responding to God’s call to live a life of chastity and that means for many of us turning away from the gay lifestyle and confronting our deepest issues as courageously as we can be.

Honestly that is the most difficult part for us – renouncing our sinful ways and letting the Lord take control. It’s hard and it’s real. It’s not easy but it is possible Migs.
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Hey Migs!

It’s only recently that I discovered your site, but I’m now an avid reader of your blogs/posts. Some are encouraging, others are very, very stimulating. Anyway, I wanna share something that may arise some curiosity to our readers.

As we all know, we are in a country that is pre-dominantly catholic. Most often than not, we follow all catholic practices, from our very colorful fiestas, to our mournful holy week, and of course, circumcision (or pagtutuli, in our filipino linggo). Most of the filipino men are circumcised at an average age of 10-12 years old. Aside from it being a religious practice and hygienic practice, it’s usually a “right of passage” for the boys. If you’re circumcised, it’s as if you’re already a full-fledge man and you can do whatever you want. Boys begin to explore how to masturbate, watch porn with their friends (or even older bros), and even compare how one’s circumcised penis is different from the other boys. The deepness of a boy’s voice is often connected if he is already circumcised. The growth spurt is also connected of the boy being circumcised. But how what about an uncircumcised boy? Does he still experience what a circumcised boy is going through? Or does he stay being a “boy” if he stays being uncircumcised?
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Since the “Closet Badet” podcast, I’ve been receiving lots of “thank you” emails from dear MGG readers. I am overwhelmed by the expression of love and appreciation. In this world where criticism is the default, it is refreshing and encouraging to receive such gestures of thankfulness. I give it all back to you dear friends — THANK YOU for being here in MGG! And while I sometimes feel exhausted from blogging, I resolve to continue being here and hosting this wonderful community that has grown around MGG. Here are some excerpts from the emails of dear grateful readers…
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A letter from Lex Bonife — my idol screenplay writer. Go watch Kambyo on July 5!

Hi Migs,

I am Lex Bonife, the writer of “Ang Lihim ni Antonio” and “Ang Lalake sa Parola”. Thank you for our support in our previous movies.

I am sending you some pictures and details of our next film “Kambyo” should you decide to post some of these in your very popular blog.
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[This is the continuation of the previous post entitled Agent Boytoy and The Rendezvous with Agent Boytoy. Click here to read the first part, here for the second part, and then proceed to reading the post below.]

In a few moments, ayun na. Just like what happens in the movies. There he was. Approaching yours truly, like a phantom in glowing white long-sleeved polo. Agent Boytoy, Pinoy blogosphere’s ultimate mystery boytoy, the desire of his every gay reader, my secret crush, my dream date — now in the flesh. Half-smiling, right in front of me.

I asked, “Agent?”

He answered, “Yes. Migs?”

I can’t remember how I responded. I was starstruck. The song echoed in my ears.

Anything your heart desires,
Will come to you.

Indeed, he did.

Next thing I knew, we were seated, face-to-face, just the two of us — the phenomenal Agent Boytoy and Migs the Manila Gay Guy — in a dinner date I will never, ever forget.
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The first quarter of 2008 has just ended. Wow, cliche na kung cliche, but see how time flies. Grabe. Napapa-emote na naman tuloy ako. Hehehe. Seriously though, in passing such milestones, I am usually inspired to stop and reflect a while. Sabi nga ni Manong Socrates “An unexamined life is not worth living.” I’ve taken this to heart, sometimes too much, that I tend to mull things over every so often — sometimes too much, that my friends ding me for over-analyzing things. (Those who are faulted the same way, over-analytical folks, please raise your hands! He-he-he!)

There are three things that I always do in such milestones. First, I think of all the things I am thankful for, and given the chance, I actually thank those people worthy of the appreciation. Second, I ponder upon the things I did wrong, and given the chance, I actually apologize to those people who I’ve offended. Third and lastly, I think of the things I can improve or do more of; and this time, I try to encourage myself to really strive to be better, and to do more of the good things I did that have made the lives of people around me even just a bit better.

So in such milestones, I say, Gracias! (THANK YOU!), Perdon! (I’M SORRY!), and Mas! (MORE!) — Gracias, Perdon, Mas!

Very much honored to see ManilaGayGuy.com among the most read and visited Pinoy blogs! Loyal MGG readers, thank you! Mabuhay kayo!

Screenshot of the ranking below: