Ripples: Sharing Stories, Empowering Communities (March 2021 Issue)

March 2021 Issue

MARCH 2021

#BreakFreePH: Empowering Women of the 21st Century written by Denver Castrodes

Miss World 2013 Megan Young (left) and Miss Trans Global 2020 Mela Habijan (right).

Photo by OwlRight Studios

In time for the celebration of women’s month, TRANScend by LoveYourself, in partnership with SKPA Philippines, launched its first-ever transgender-focused online campaign dubbed as "#BreakFreePH". Besides celebrating women empowerment, the campaign aimed to promote transgender and sexual health among trans and ciswomen and Victoria by LoveYourself that offers gender-affirming and sexual health services. continue to page 3...

What’s inside?

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Community in Action: BUDJANG: The blossoming of LGBT in a Muslim Barangay

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Community Spotlight: BAGANI Community Center celebrates its first anniversary

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Community in Action: LoveYourself holds News and Feature Writing Workshp for Champion Community Centers Community Spotlight: We need more than just visibility

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Freedom Wall: How does it feel to be a woman What is it like to be a girl Self-love: Bittersweet

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EDITORIAL

March 2021 Issue

EDITORIAL BOARD A message from LoveYourself’s Executive Director, Dr. Ronivin Pagtakhan

March marks the celebration of Women's Month. It's a time where we honor women of all experiences. We recognize the very existence of our mothers, sisters, and "girl" friends – needless to say if they identify themselves as cis or trans. What matters is we love them because of the woman they are in our lives.

As an opening salvo in honoring women, the Transcend by LoveYourself launched the #BreakFreePH campaign, which tackles women empowerment for both cis and trans journeys. The campaign also promotes gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT), sexual health, and safe spaces like Victoria and Lily by LoveYourself.

In breaking free from the norms, Mujer-LGBT Organization Incorporated in Zamboanga showcased a film about a transgender person in a Muslim community. It's also timely as we amplify the call for representations of transgender people in the community during the Transgender Day of Visibility last March 31. Reminding us all that they are valid and that trans women are women and trans men are men.

This month also comes with more revels as we commemorate Bagani Community Center's first anniversary in Bacolod City. This community center gave birth to Negrenses' renewed hope for delivering better sexual health services in the region.

I am especially aware that many of us endure the feeling of hopelessness as we caught the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic. Even when faced with adversities, we remain responsive to our community's needs, like a mother's unconditional act of love to her own family. Amelia Earhart once said, "The most difficult thing is the decision to act; the rest is merely tenacity."

Despite the dark situation we are in, we still endeavor to see the light to move forward with our mission. In doing so, we carry in our hearts the lessons we've learned from every woman and man in our community. For one, we cannot overemphasize that we have to commit ourselves to remain safe and protected at all times.

Diego Rozul Editor-in-Chief News Editor Edgar Bagasol Jr. Managing Editor Layout Artist Nadim Lumubos Features Editor Literary Editor Queenie Mauhay TJ Monzon Illustrator for Combi Nation Contributors Asha Gutierrez Jas Santos Abasolo, RN Jesse Castelano Rayd Espeja Raven

Raybert Domingo Adviser

Not too long from now, our strong resolve to beat the twin pandemic of HIV and COVID-19 will soon be paid off. By then, the celebration of all womanhood will be relished by everyone with much joy, love, and compassion for all.

Happy Women's Month to all!

SHARE YOUR STORY! Create more Ripples by sharing stories of your own communities. This may include your events, activities, research, innovations, or any human interest stories that you think could inspire others in forwarding our cause.

To contribute, you may contact us at ripplespub@loveyourself.ph

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March 2021 Issue

Continuation: #BreakFreePH-Women of the...

Themed “Breaking the Gender Norms and Empowering Transgender People and Cisgender Women,” #BreakFreePH premiered on March 1 by releasing feature campaign videos and online posters on Transcend’s social media pages that focus on cisgender and transgender women empowerment as part of the celebration for the International Women’s Month.

Miss World 2013 Megan Young and Miss Trans Global 2020 Mela Habijan headline the first part of the campaign, which aims to debunk gender stereotypes and promote self-worth and empowerment among women. This consequently aimed to level off views and equal opportunities in all genders. It also discusses gender-related socio-political issues concerning all women like physical abuse, verbal assault, rape, hate crimes, psychological violence, and killings.

The #BreakFreePH campaign also focuses on major transgender issues and aims to provide correct information on Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy (GAHT), especially to transgender people. It highlights the importance of medically supervised transitioning and GAHT, the prioritization of sexual health among transgender people and cisgender women, It also promotes Victoria by LoveYourself, a community center that offers holistic services for

NEWS

transgender people and cisgender women. but definitely, all genders are still welcome.

Several transgender champions including HIV awareness and transgender advocate Janlee Dungca, Cebuana vlogger actress Alem Garcia, Fitness enthusiast and Trans man advocate Nick Escalderon were featured in the campaign as well.

Transcend by LoveYourself was formally established in 2020 to address the barriers and lack of services catered for the transgender community. This first started with the establishment of Victoria by LoveYourself, the first community center that offers holistic services for the transgender community. Then it extendned to Paranaque City when Lily by LoveYourself was built, which is currently being run by transgender community leaders under the Decent Image of South Signal Association (DIOSSA).

The #BreakFreePH campaign is supported

by LoveYourself, AHF Philippines, Pilipinas Shell Foundation Inc., SKPA Philippines, PhilHealth, Faberco Life Sciences Inc., Macare, World Health Organization, UNAIDS Philippines and Durex.

Like and follow Transcend by LoveYourself on its Facebook (transcend.ly), Twitter (@ transcend_ly) and Instagram (@transcend_ ly) pages to access our campaign materials.

APRIL from Square 07 Restarting One: Adapting After a Fall (Flourish Online Webinar) LoveYourselfxJCI Cebu

15 Mactan Channel Webinar: HIV Law and Workplace (Online Webinar)

17 Bagani Community 18

Center's 4th volunteer orientation program (Volunteer Orientation)

23 Day of Silence 26 Lesbian Visibility Day Safe Spaces launch in

30 Bacolod City (Online launch)

Miss World 2013 Megan Young and Miss Trans Global 2020 Mela Habijan stand at the campaign's front lines to highlight that - now more than ever - trans and cis women need to be united in addressing discrimination and violence experienced by many women, especially in the Philippines. Layout by Owl Right Studios

LoveYourself's meeting with the local government unit (LGU) of Quezon Province aimed to harmonize efforts in eradicating HIV/AIDS and STI in the province. After the meeting, the LGU pledged to upscale prevention efforts by working with private and public community partners in the province. Photo from Quezon Public Information Office

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FEATURES NEWS

March 2021 Issue

“BUDJANG”: The blossoming of LGBT in a Muslim Barangay written by Jas Santos Abasolo, RN

claims, reimagines, and insists on LGBTQ belonging in the region. It features over 30 films, performances, and events by more than 40 queer activities and artists from all over Southeast Asia. Due to the pandemic, the festival was held on various online platforms. The SEAQFC is organized by ASEAN SOGIE Caucus (ASC) with the support of Voice Global, a network of human rights activists from Southeast Asia. The ASC works for the inclusion of Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Gender Expression, and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) in the mandate of human rights duty bearers in the ASEAN region.

“BUDJANG”: The blossoming of LGBT in a Muslim Barangay is the official documentary film of Mujer LGBT Organization Incorporated in the recently concluded Southeast Asian Queer Cultural Festival (SEAQCF) 2021 held on February 13 to March 13, 2021. The film was produced by Alvin Toni Gee Fernandez and was directed by Rhadem Camlian Morados.

the life of every person with diverse SOGIE,” shared Fernandez.

While this community has exercised tolerance towards LGBT people, there is still much that needs to be done in order to achieve acceptance and inclusion. Through education about human rights and SOGIE, the community has the potential of becoming a model barangay for tolerance and acceptance of LGBT people in Mindanao.

“Budjang” came from the Samal word meaning “Lady”. Budjang tells us the story of the blossoming of LGBT people in a conservative Muslim barangay (community) in Mindanao, and highlights their customs.

The documentary film was launched on March 19, 2021 at the KCC Mall de Zamboanga Cinema. In collaboration with Wilfredo Aporongao, Gender and Development Head in the City of Zamboanga the documentary was able to have a private “When we conceptualized the documen- screening in the cinema in celebration of tary film together with the ASEAN SOGIE Women’s Month.

CAUCUS and fil activist Rhadem Morados, we felt that it’s time for us to mainstream The SEAQCF is a virtual festival that re-

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Official poster of "Budjang".

Produced by Mujer LGBT+Inc.

March 2021 Issue

FEATURES

BAGANI Community Center celebrates The AYAT of Ilocanos its first year anniversary written by Edgar Bagasol Jr.

written by Rayd Espeja

Bagani Community Center celebrated its first anniversary on March 17.

Despite the pandemic, the staff and volunteers were able to commemorate the milestones of the commun ity center while being mindful of COVID-19 safety protocols. Bagani is proud to become the face of HIV and AIDS awareness in Bacolod City and the rest of the Negros island with the help of its zealous volunteers.

Transcending its efforts In 2020, Bagani Community Center, in cooperation with the local government units of Negros Occidental, hospitals, and the provincial HIV/AIDS Core Team (HACT), was able to reach 215 newly diagnosed people living with HIV. In addition, the The challenge community center was able to administer What would have been a grand annual a total of 369 clients in its first year alone, celebration turned into an exclusive in- and with a total of 39 reactive cases which vite-only event to honor the people behind yielded a total of 10.51% reactivity rate. the community center’s success. Diverse sets of activities were put in place to lift As a growing community center in the city, the spirits of the volunteers, clients, and Bagani aims to double its number in its secguests alike. Tarot card reading and Bay- ond year by conducting more community bayin workshops gave spice to the com- outreaches. The community center was munity center’s diverse activities and were also able to build an alliance with few ordone weeks preceding the big day. All at- ganizations in Bacolod City that share the tendees were encouraged to get tested same values and advocacies. With comand though the client turn-out was not as munity empowerment, the center aims to much as the center hoped, the community mobilize not just its volunteers but also its center still considers this a huge success. allied organizations.

LoveYourself Founder and Executive Director Ronivin G. Pagtakhan graced Bagani's first anniversary during the community center blessing.

In compliance with safety protocols, the community center provided face masks and ensured that social distancing among the visitors were observed. The biggest hurdle in implementing the directive of the city was received without much resistance.

Overall, the challenges became a blessing in disguise and serve as a reminder that safety is the center’s top priority.

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This mural which represents Bacaolod City's Maskara festival is painted on the walls of Bagani Community Center. Other paintings of local artists in the cities are also exhibited in the community center. Photo by Ronivin Pagtakhan

HIV/AIDS but throigh community-based screening to reach untested key populations.

This coming April 17 and 18, Bagani Community Center will also welcome its fourth batch of volunteers. They aim to add at least 100 people this year to their roster of volunteers who will help them in reaching their targets.

BAGANI version 2.0

Bagani Community Center capped its first year with great achievements and aims to do better in its second year. As its volunteers keep growing, the center is no longer a champion of awareness but evolved to be a multi-faceted torchbearers of change in the region. catalyst of change. The comGrowing numbers, visibility munity center will continue on moving forward and thrive in its campaign on HIV Currently, Bagani Community Center has a and AIDS awareness, LGBTQ+ causes and total of 39 volunteers from different parts rights, and trans visibility. of Negros Occidental province. The community center prides itself with the com- To get the latest update from Bagani Commitment and dedication of its volunteers. munity Center, you can follow its social The center believes that by growing the media (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook), @ number of its volunteers, it will allow them BaganiBCD. to reach their target demographic not just 5 by raising awareness and education about

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NEWS

March 2021 Issue

LoveYourself holds News and Feature Writing Workshop for Champion Community Centers written by Diego Rozul

Ms. Trans Global and CALABARZON Campus Journalist mentor, Mela Habijan lead the workshop for features writing on March 22, 2021. Habijan gave emphasis on the unique characteristics of news, editorial, and features writing as well as the importance of research before writing.

With this cycle of giving back, we create ripples of positive change in the community which member of the communities can use to build their capacities and ultimately empower them to do the same, said Domingo As the Ripples community publication grows with the leadership of the PROTECTS project, it looks forward to telling the stories of grassroot efforts of more communities in the Philippines. Read our stories at https://issuu.com/ripplescommunitypub.

Over 50 representatives from the Champion Community Centers participated in the News and Features writing workshop organized by LoveYourself. This workshop is part of LoveYourself's sustainability plan for Ripples by enhancing the capacities of CBOs so they can manage the publication on their own in the future. Photo by Russel So.

The LoveYourself Integrated Communications (iCOMM) Committee organized a news and features writing workshop for its and Ripples’ writers on March 20 and 22, 2021. Held via Zoom, the writers were able to listen to informative lectures and participate in engaging writing activities.

Since the inception of Ripples in June 2020, its writers have been oriented on the basics of news and features writing in HIV advocacy. As part of the continual development of its writers, LoveYourself iCOMM held the news and features writing workshop to build upon the foundations and orient the new community contributors.

Some of our passionate volunteers don’t even have a background in writing but they dedicate themselves to do their tasks effectively for the advocacy, and this inspires me to empower them with the knowledge that they can use even outside of the Ripples family, shared Bet Domingo, Ripples Adviser and LoveYourself iCOMM Head.

Conducting the workshops are two experienced writers from different journeys.

On March 20, 2021 PTV Senior Correspondent and news anchor Sweeden Velado-Ramirez steered the news writing workshop. The session culminated in a paired activity where they developed and critiqued their peers’ news stories.

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Life doesn’t make any sense without interdependence.

We need each other, and the sooner we learn that, the better for us all.

Erik Erikson

March 2021 Issue

FEATURES NEWS

We Need More Than Just Visibility written by Jesse Castelano

Celebrated on March 31, Transgender Day of Visibility is an international day of raising awareness, honoring, and uplifting the voices of people within the transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse groups. Its history dates back to 2009, where Rachel Crandall-Crocker, the executive director of Transgender Michigan, initiated the said international observance. During that period, the only annual event the community commemorates was the Transgender Day of Remembrance. A day to pay tribute to the lives of our fallen brothers and sisters who we have lost in the accounts of hate crimes and transphobia. Hence, Crandall-Crocker's idea of Transgender Day of Visibility came from wanting to "celebrate the living."

The community's visibility is flourishing progressively year by year. In the Philippines, just last year witnessed the crowning of Mela Habijan as Miss Trans Global 2020. Leyna Bloom, a Black and Filipina American model, made history as the first transgender woman of color in Sports Illustrated’s acclaimed Swimsuit Issue. Dominique Castelano, the first openly Transpinay to take part in an advertisement for Maybelline. Isabel Sandoval, who won the best actress at the Pacific Meridian International Film Festival for her act in “Lingua Franca.” Our community has also continued to make political history. Primarily, the passing of the SOGIE Equality Bill working draft during the 17th Congress after being pending for nineteen years.

Nevertheless, we cannot truly celebrate the transgender community without recognizing the work that still needs to be realized. Transgender people are still subjected to multiple facets of discrimination, harassment, violence, and denial of basic human rights, among other things.

We know this day that visibility in itself is not enough. We must come together to end discrimination against gender diversity. We need to strengthen our allyship in promoting transgender rights. Let us continue to nurture a society where people like me are celebrated and not looked down upon. Today, I challenge you to take one step for trans liberation and equality.

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LITERARY

March 2021 Issue

How does it feel to be a woman written by Queenie Mauhay

As I’ve navigated through my life, I’ve witnessed different events that commemorated a girl’s transition into womanhood. From sweet sixteens and debuts to marriage and childbirth, I’ve seen my family come together and celebrate these life-changing experiences. Through it all, I’ve asked myself - is this what it means to be a woman?

Dressing up is everyone’s right. If men can groom themselves without fear, why are women subject to catcalls and violation of safety? Women don't dress themselves up for men to savour. They wear the clothes they are comfortable with for them to express themselves, expound their beauty, and feel confident to present themselves in front of people. Whether the clothes are revealing, I’m telling you, NO. These things are just the baggy, ragged, too short, too long, covers all events in a woman’s life that only value her or shows all of her skin a woman dresses for for her ability to reproduce. This is just how herself first and foremost. society depicts a woman must turn out to be not what a woman should be. A woman has Having a family, a child and even a relationthe capacity to shape her own path, but it has ship is a choice. If one woman decides to build also been a point of ridicule when one claims a family of her own, but the other decides to her power. pursue her career, it’s OKAY. If one agrees to bear a child to take care of and the other deHaving menstruation is a natural process in cides to adopt dogs and cats to treat as her a woman’s body that reshapes her human own child, it’s OKAY. If you enter a relationanatomy. However, periods have been a sub- ship with someone you love, but the other deject for criticism and instigation to degrade cides to focus on herself and grow individualwomen. These hormonal changes are natu- ly without a partner, it’s OKAY. Women can ral, and affect women differently from acne, think for themselves and others just as a man skin discoloration, stretchmarks and fat gain, can. She is not someone people can manipuyet society tells us these effects are anything late in whatever they want nor in what they but. No one has a perfect body. These scars think. people deem as flaws are marks of our beauty ever changing.

Beyond the grandiose celebrations for women’s milestones, I have also seen how women A woman having sex is okay. When both par- are made to feel unsafe and helpless when ties are able to give consent, it is not a point these celebrations are over. We need to conof shame. Sex is a need that everyone will ex- tinuously fight for a world where a woman perience at some point of their lives. A wom- can freely decide on her path and be whoever an choosing to have sex at any point in her life she wants without the dictation from others. is not reason for ridicule, yet people always She is not just someone’s shadow. She can raise negative opinion about women who do be strong, she can be delicate, and she can instead of the people who violate the rules of be powerful.A woman is a person and no one consent. can take her humanity away.

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LITERARY

What it is like to be a girl written by Asha Gutierrez

I wake up in the mornings, Upon doing so, to look back at the mirror with the affirmation of accepting myself From yesterday, today, and everyday.

Of who I am, who I was, and who I will be.

To be a girl, choosing my dreams sincerely amidst the demands of the society.

A doctor, a lawyer, a writer, a surfer, a homemaker, or in my case--a Beauty Queen.

Being a girl is moving forward with one’s own voice with a caring heart and a giving soul.

March 2021 Issue

LITERARY

Self Love: Bittersweet written by Raven

On the day of our 4th anniversary, you knelt before me--giving me a ring.

I should’ve felt the happiness I long wished for, But the nightmares haunted me.

I remember the day when you asked who's the guy beside me, I told you I don't know.

Your mouth gritted then suddenly, I felt a sting on my cheeks.

You said sorry.

You said you'll never do it again.

I forgave you.

I remember the day when I wore a dress.

I thought you're going to love it.

But you didn't.

I felt a hummering pain in my insides.

I thought I was going to die that time.

You said sorry. You said you'll never do it again.

And Again, I forgave you.

I remember the day when you forced yourself on me.

Your grip is not that tight And yet I felt my body tremble.

You kissed me passionatelyfull of love and lust And yet I felt broken and violated.

I have no bruises on my body but I felt my body in pain.

I remember my undying love for you, For all the ‘Sorry’s’ I held on to, For all the ‘I Love you’s’ I believed to be true, I still decided to let go.

I got up--away from your warmth and left.

The day I left without my ring is the day I decided to give up your love. The day I gave up my ring is the day I learned to choose myself. The day I lost my ring is the day I found my freedom.

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March 2021 Issue

Permission to Reproduce The information in this publication may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes, in part or in whole and by any means, without charge or further permission from the network, provided that due diligence is exercised in ensuring the accuracy of the information reproduced; that the institution is identified as the source of the information; and that the reproduction is not presented as an official version of the information reproduced, nor as having been made in affiliation with or with the endorsement of the Ripples Community Publication.

Sharing STORIES Empowering Communities 10 10

@ChampionCommunityCenters | @skpaPH | @loveyourself.ph