GUTIERREZ M. MANGANSAKAN III
Gay Moro Filmmaker
Helping Educate
the Community

How would you rate the status of the GLBT community in the Philippines (are we better off now, or just as problematic)?

There are a lot of changes in the past 10 years. For one, companies are now realizing the great market potentials of GLBT. Before, it was hard to get sponsors for GLBT activities. Now, niche markets, including GLBT, are carefully being considered by companies to sell their products and services.

In the grassroots level, a lot of things still need to be done. The stereotyping of GLBT is still prevalent, and to some extent GLBT still confine themselves to the traditional "box" in which they are bound to move freely, and going beyond that "box" is unimaginable.
For GLBT in Moro communities, it remains an uphill struggle. For some communities, legal bounds have been set limiting the freedoms and privileges of GLBT. For example, in Marawi City and Buluan in Maguindanao, cross-dressing is a big no-no. Cross-dressing, or being openly gay for that matter, opens the risk of dousing with paint and torture.

What, for you, remain as the challenges that the community faces?  How, do you think, should the community face these challenges?

I think we must first level the playing field. What I don't get is this fixation with providing legal assistance to GLBT members who have been harassed, legislative agendas, et cetera. What the GLBT members need, especially ‘yung nasa provinces, are steady jobs and livelihoods, access to education, basic social services, et cetera, at ito dapat ‘yung concern. Being GLBT is just incidental, you know. But I am not saying that legislative agendas, legal assistance, et cetera are bad, pero 'yun ‘yung prominent eh. It's so bourgeoisie.

The biggest challenge is organizing at the same time education of the real issues of the day. When you say organizing, dapat maintindihan ng pinaka-simpleng bading ang mga bagay na gusto mong ipahiwatig. Enough of the highfaluting goals. Then you can convince these people that you are aiming for a noble goal.

There are already plans to form a partylist for the next elections – do you think the community, at this point in time, is united enough to make this happen?  Why/Why not?  If any, what efforts have you been taking to unify the members of the community?

A partylist for GLBT concerns is a welcome initiative. I believe that a lot of GLBT issues are legitimate and pressing. Members of the GLBT have pledged support. I myself will pledge my support in any way I can. But would I vote for a GLBT party in the next elections? Remember that aside from my issues as a (distinguished) member of the GLBT community, I also have issues as a Moro, a worker/professional, et cetera. I think that among the hats that I wear, the more pressing concern involves my being Moro. I think I will push for more representation in that sector.

As you know, there is an impasse in the GRP-MILF peace talks. My people are also asking themselves if they are better off after the signing of the 1996 GRP-MNLF peace agreement. The majority remains poor, with no or little livelihood to support themselves and their families. The children need education. There is lack of basic social services. I think these are more pressing issues.

Another issue that I want to raise regarding the GLBT partylist is its readiness to join the dirty world of politics. I come from a big political family and I know that the electoral process is not an easy one. To bank on the ready statistics that ten percent of every population is GLBT is also an overestimation. It takes more that statistics to win a partylist election. It takes more than good platform. You got to have machineries and people working on the ground, ‘yung nasa grassroots level, hindi ‘yung nasa air-conditioned offices discussing gender politics over latté and diet sodas. You have to be assured that the people on the ground will vote for you. At hindi natatapos doon, kailangan mo rin makisama sa mga local government heads. Sila naman kasi minsan ‘yung decisive kung sino ang partylist na gusto nilang manalo.

The Anti-Discrimination Bill is pending in both Houses of Congress – but, aside from the more politically aware GLBTQs, other members of the community couldn’t seem to care less, with, among others, partying, picking up (online, especially), et cetera their more pronounced activities (instead of lobbying, or at least helping).  Do you think that, generally, Filipino GLBTQs are apathetic to the bigger cause/s of the community?  Why do you say so?

They are only apathetic because they do not understand. A great deal of effort should be done to educate members of the GLBT. Educate not in a classroom setting but making them realize the real issues surrounding not only GLBTs but also the bigger population as well.

Where do you want to see our community headed?

I want our community to be educated, to have an awareness of our specific concerns then the bigger issue of the community. I want a united community because it is in unity that we take greater pride in ourselves.