Manila Gay Guy

Today, I fly to my new home in California. I am very excited with all the new possibilities this move will afford me, yet I am also overwhelmed by the outpouring of expressions of love from friends who I will be leaving behind here in the Philippines. It is amazing how the human heart can hold opposing emotions at the same time! Rather than harping on the sadness of leaving my beloved friends behind, I am focusing on being totally blown away by their love. Friendship is such a wonderful gift. Thank you, thank you, thank you. May our bonds get stronger, may our friendships be forever.

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Will be out of the country for a month. In the meantime, enjoy some eyecandy from our dear photographer-friend, Ian Alquiros (click!). Be good, people. And if you can’t be good — at least be good at it. Ciao!

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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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The past weeks have been quite exhausting for me, so I decided to spend some time to unwind, relax, and renew myself. Tagaytay was perfect — it was cool and breezy, and not too taxing to travel to. It boasts of great sights as well, and very comfortable accommodations without being too much of a burden to my bank account.

So here I share photos of that refreshing respite I took away from the buzz and bustle of the metropolis, in the arms of cool and comforting Tagaytay.

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[This is a contribution from MGG reader named Red. Posting it here, verbatim.]

I’d like to share my own experience, though too long for the viewers’ eyes. This is something unbelievable and could make for a good script for a movie that it could even rival the story of the Brokeback Mountain. Just to find release, I’d like to see it posted in no less than Migs’ site, so that others may be enlightened or inspired, or of whatever purpose it could serve to the readers. More importantly, my story opposes that of the twink-hungry and abusive PLU (gay) teachers’ usual portrayal by the media. Let me do it by way of using Southborder’s famous songs and the songs I’d love to listen to.

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Been hearing about how Bangkok, Thailand is such a popular destination for the moneyed urban gay folks in Manila… anyone here who may have some tips and tricks that are worthy of sharing?
Shopping?
Adventure?
Night life?
Thai Men?
Caution?
Share, share, share!

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I was listening intently to the workshop facilitator, he was intense and passionate yet almost oblivious to the power his words held. I knew he was about to say something important. And then it hit me, that question, “is there anything in your past that you have intellectually set aside — and yet, emotionally, you know it’s still there, bothering you, blocking you, preventing you from being your best self?” It hit me like electricity zapping into my chest. It zapped to life something I held dormant inside.

I know myself as someone who, if the situation called for it, can be very clinical about things, even with my personal experiences. Given, however, that chance to go back and fetch some unprocessed memories, and the threat that perhaps unconsciously, my blocks come from those I’ve arrogantly intellectually set aside — I was just so ready to admit that yes, there is this one simple emotional memory that is still there lurking, bumping, jiggling inside me. And now it is making its way to my consciousness — and I am just guessing — for a reason.
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Hi Migs,

I bet you might be tired of getting emails about guys being in the closet, but reading some of the letters on your blog I muscled up some strength to ask for just assistance, I’m actually looking for like a support group for people like me, or others like me (confused, troubled, down-low, closet). I’m just a regular working bloke and can’t afford a shrink, I’m living independently both of my parents passed away already, and as for support of my brothers & sisters that’s another story.

I always try to brush away this dilemma of mine and think there are way more serious problems in this world we live in and just be content that I have a place to sleep, food to eat, money in my pocket, stable job. But then..(I know it sounds like a cliche)..for the past 30+ years of my life there’s like a big sack of dirt in my shoulders that I’m trying to lift each and every single day, trying not to drag me down.
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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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