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do not care, which hurts me not because I felt personally attacked but because people like me are not yet accepted.

Coming out of the closet is volatile, as not many can sympathize with what it feels like to be a part of LGBTQIA+ and closeted. It may require a long process to change our societal perception entirely.

I have known that I am not straight since 1st grade but never really recognized or accepted that am gay until 17. Through the years, I experienced discrimination and bullying for being feminine. could not play with the boys because I was not “manly enough” to be playing with them, so mostly hang out with girls, but then got constantly called “bayot” (gay) by people. Growing up knowing that “bayot” has a negative connotation and meaning made me hide who am.

Being this way (gay) put me to the point where I started hating myself, cried to sleep, and had fewer social interactions. I could say that was isolating myself from society. That moment was the darkest phase of my life. do not even want to be back in a situation where sought of taking a lifetime repose to escape from my miseries.

When I turned 17, slowly accepted my identity and sexuality. I became aware of what my romantic and sexual preferences were. I have not dated anyone yet, possibly because of being closeted for quite some time and because of society’s standards within the community. am genuinely scared that my friends, inner circle, and family might not fully accept me.

Though I know that my mom and my closest friends would, there is still that fear within me that my sexuality could change the way they treat me because I know that society is still not as welcoming as hope it would be. Many people around me sometimes unconsciously say homophobic statements. Still, some generally do not want any other LGBTQIA+ youths to experience the same or even worse discrimination that I had to go through. No person, straight or not, should go through any of these. told myself that if I could help at least one queer person go through the phase of identifying themselves without being discriminated against or bullied, I would do it with all could and give them a safe place to be themselves.

Until now, I still experience microaggressions like people saying, “Dili man ka laki, lalaki diay ka?” [You are not a man. Are you?] or the like, which makes me uncomfortable in any conversation or situation. Though some of my friends, especially those am closest to, are conscious of what they say, there are certain instances when someone intentionally utters hurtful words about my sexuality.

This is the reason why am writing about this and why I am advocating for LGBTQIA+ rights. This includes policies and laws safeguarding and protecting LGBTQIA+ youths from discrimination, especially in our schools.

Coming out of the closet is volatile, as not many can sympathize with what it feels like to be a part of LGBTQIA+ and closeted. It may require a long process to change our societal perception entirely. Still, I will never stop working to end the prejudice and stigma among us. I am not going to hide my pride anymore. I will not stay in the closet forever.

Fear and regret.

These are what a mother feels when she cannot protect her children from emotional distress inside their home.

Many women are victims of domestic abuse, physically and emotionally, wherein the man is the perpetrator.

Victims of these acts of violence are viewed as weak in the predator’s eyes, making it easy for them to control their prey. Similar to the notion that women are inferior to men. Women are believed to be physically weak and hence unable to live without a man. This was a typical mentality in the past and, sadly, still exists today, forcing women to continue to dread danger and discrimination.

However, in a program recently held in celebration of 2023 Women’s Month, guest speaker and teacher of Siocon Central School, Elvira Wong, dismissed women’s weakness by surviving deadly challenges in her life.

At 29, Wong was devastated when she was diagnosed with choriocarcinoma, a form of cancer that develops in the uterus when the cells left behind from pregnancy turn deadly (National Health Service). She feared that she would have to leave her child, who was only seven years old, to her unemployed husband with many vices. She was worried about what would become of her family if she disappeared. But fortunately, through prayers and determination, finishing eight chemotherapy sessions, she survived cancer. Fighting cancer is not a simple feat. Thus, Wong managing to defeat this illness is truly an achievement.

Yet, another major event in her life occurred during the peak of the COVID-19 outbreak in Siocon, where she thought her drug-addicted husband would begin to sober up and recover. In 2021, Wong was quarantined for being tested positive for COVID-19. After her isolation, she and her family were delighted as she finally returned home after recovery.

She and her husband had a brief conversation one night before going to bed early. Sleeping peacefully, she was unaware of the tragedy that would occur that evening.

At dawn, she was woken up by her husband, who climbed on top of her and whispered, “Sha, imoha ba kong unungan? [Sha, will you come with me?],” and she answered, “Oo [Yes],” while still half asleep. Suddenly, she felt strong hands wrap around her neck, which caught her off guard, realizing her husband was choking her. In retaliation, Wong kicked him off the bed. She cried for help, and as the authorities arrived at the scene, she already had seven stab wounds caused by her husband.

Women can be capable and strong. They deserve equal respect and support because they also have wars to win.

She received immediate medical attention for her wounds and injuries sustained during that unfaithful night and fully recovered. When Wong was discharged from the hospital, she discovered that her husband had been diagnosed with anxiety disorder and depression.

However, even though she was a victim and had the right to send her husband to prison, she chose to drop the charges against him because she knew what he had gone through all his life. He was still her husband, and she cared for him dearly.

She also did not want her children to endure the agony of witnessing their father’s trial and prison sentence, which would cause them even more distress. Furthermore, to avoid repeating the incident, her husband moved to Lanao with his relatives and lived a new start.

Women are not weak, which was proven by Elvira Wong’s true story, with how she fought her battles and survived. Women can be capable and strong. They deserve equal respect and support because they also have wars to win. Strength is not based only on physical attributes, it can be emotional and mental, and women possess these. Women are not inferior to anyone. They are strong in their own ways.