M4MPhilippines.ning.com
Group Celebrations
By Kiki Tan
PUBLISHED: AUGUST 2010
PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF M4MPHILIPPINES

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"We were part of a different community before,” recalls Zico Manzano, “(but) there came a time when clamors arose (regarding some internal issues), and – despite efforts to resolve the issues – we felt (we’d be better off) breaking away from the group.”

Thus, founded on the notion of cooperation for strengthened group existence, MSM online social network M4MPhilippines was established (officially) on February 16, 2010 by collaborators Pablo, Vash, Calvin and, yes, Zico.

Understandably, initially, the site was put up as a new avenue to continue what we had, i.e. strengthening the bonds of friendship formed, albeit in a different environment. “Then it dawned on us that what we have here is not merely a group anymore that has a collective agreement to stay together – it was, instead, one that (was) looking at a bigger picture: we (were aiming) to be the leading community in bringing together individuals in a friendship strengthened by fun.  (This way, we) provide an environment of realness, wherein any GLBTQIAs can be him/herself without prejudice from others,” Zico says.

The Web site, therefore, is more than a portal to visit – it has been turned into a “One-Stop-Website wherein features are comprehensively interactive and comprehensive (a perk that can only be found in M4MPhilippines), so that (the member GLBTQIAs) can exist to excel.”

FACING CHALLENGES

Existing with value is not easy.

When M4MPhilippines was formed, “the foremost challenge that we faced during the forming stages was the question of why (people should opt for) this new group,” Zico recalls. This challenge was particularly bi for the group because of its origin, and “there were some who still questioned (our) move.  The hurdle was to stand firm in our conviction (to form) this new group.”

The group was eager to face the doubters head-on, nonetheless.

“Member-wise, we had a substantial number of followers already who readily signed up – it was (thus) just like transferring to another boarding house with the same characters,” Zico says.   But for “those who still questioned (our move for independence), we took (their reaction as a challenge), and (I’d like to believe) we have triumphed over them.”

All the same, Zico would like to see the challenges as being there, “but we look at them as vehicles to push us to do better and be better.”

GROWING RANKS

“Now that the group is getting bigger, more challenges comes our way and we are thankful that there are certain individuals who are standing up and are willing to take responsibility and share their expertise in the different areas in the running of the Web site and help achieve towards the group’s goals,” Zico says.

M4MPhilippines believes that it is in a position to help advocate for GLBTQIA issues. 

“Being in a community like M4MPhilippines is a great opportunity to air and address GLBTQIA concerns – it can serve as a platform for us to speak about our choices, our opinions that, in turn, make us strong and better individuals; it can be a (channel) where people can converge and talk about issues that concern the community. M4MPhilippines’ presence is a vehicle for many GLBTQIA individuals in which they could learn about issues, take this knowledge and apply it as an individual and share it to others. This is how we see (the good that M4Mphilippines can do),” Zico says.

Serving as a channel for GLBTQIA discourses is important since there are numerous issues that continue to affect GLBTQIA Filipinos – e.g. promotion of safer sex to curb STIs (including HIV and AIDS), provision of social group, et cetera. 

Understandably, “we at M4MPhilippines reach (out to people at) a personal level (seeing this as a way) to foster an environment wherein all members maintains respect for one another as they learn acceptance and tolerance towards each other,” Zico says.

The push, nonetheless, remains empowering the GLBTQIAs, “to make them aware of their responsibilities (in safer sex, for example) because being responsible (will dictate) everything that a person will do in all aspects of his/her life. If one learns to be a responsible individual, then he/she learns to respect him/herself, and that respect will be reflected towards others, too.  So always start from within.”

LOOKING FORWARD

Zico believes that the Filipino GLBTQIA community still has a lot tofocus on.
“First, everybody wants to be a diva which, we think, divides our community; it doesn’t matter who is or isn’t (GLBTQI), but what matters is who we really are as a person and what can we do to make a difference,” Zico says.

This is exasperating, Zico adds, because “nobody really stands up for what they believe they are fighting for.  Many are clamouring, but who really works and moves? We tend to point fingers at one another and nothing is resolved.”  Thus, “as a community, we need to focus on areas that we are assigned to do – same as we do at M4MPhilippines, where we focus on the needs and wants of our members for them to be better and be productive.”

A focus is also in order – in the case of M4MPhilippines, “we don’t go beyond our means just to be famous. Learn to focus on what you have now, because at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter who is more famous or what, what’s important is what have you done to keep this community alive.”

Aligned with doing what one is able to, a focus on one’s expertise, is M4MPhilippines’ being inspired by simple movers – “individuals who find their way into joining communities like M4MPhilippines and are relieved to find that there are communities like ours where they can be themselves and meet new friends and acquaintances, even romances, inspire us to thrive to go on and be better,” Zico says.  “To know that this little gesture we are doing is a way for people to find themselves, growing as a responsible GLBTQI individual, and take part and share in our community, is one thing to smile and be excited about.”

M4MPhilippines plans to introduce more innovations in its Web site, even as it also plans to have frequent events wherein the group can meet personally and be comfortable with one another, “events wherein we incorporate themes that are current and needs attention,” Zico says, adding that “we have also lined up plans (for activities to) help the community.”

And with this, M4MPhilippines becomes more than just the usual social networking site.

For information, visit http://men4menphilippines.ning.com.