First Hand

Ponder.

48 million years ago, our super duper great grand gay lolas struggled about their sexuality and existence in our society.

Maswerte tayo ngayon that those existed ahead of us has paved the way and made it easier for us to live our life as gays.

Maybe.

Judging from where we are now, malayo na talaga ang narating natin. We've evolved not just one kind but of many classes, types, looks and even preferences.
Nakibagay na rin sa globalisation trend ang pagiging gay.

True?

Perhaps.

Sadly, in many parts of the world, being gay is still a taboo.

Our gay brothers and sisters do not have the 'freedom' and 'leniency' that we experience from where we are.

Not all countries accept our existence or who we are, especially in the islamic culture. Kawawa pa rin yung mga kapatid natin na nanduon. Hindi lang discrimination but also homophobia.

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During my recent vacation in one of the most beautiful resorts in our country, my friends and I experienced homophobia first hand.

I think 95% of the resort's guests (that time) were Koreans. Pagpasok pa lang namin sa naturang resort ay kami lang ang hindi singkit sa buong lobby, maliban na lang siguro sa staff, kami lang ang 'Pinay' na nanduon.

So why do I say (and certainly sure) that Koreans are homophobic?

Because there were instances that 'they' and 'us' cannot 'be in thesame place'.

First.

When the passenger cart na maghahatid sa amin sa aming room came, we boarded first before a group of 'them', nung hindi sila sumakay, the staff asked them to board but one of them answered 'we'll take the next one'.

Ganun? Oh well, baka 'di nila feel na may kasama silang magaganda. Mas ok nga yun eh, solo namin ang cart pati na ang gwapong driver. Lol

Second.

After a few picture taking here and there, we decided na maligo sa one of the lagoons. Since majority of the lagoons are shallow, kelangan pa namin sadyain ang malalim na part. Unfortunately for us, doon din nakababad ang mga 'friends' natin. When 'they' saw us approaching, dahan-dahan silang nag-alisan.

Ganun? Oh well, baka naggutom lang sila bigla dahil nakita nila ang mga binti namin na mukhang crispy pata. Mas ok nga yun eh, solo namin ang magtampisaw sa buong lagoon.

And finally.

When we checked out from the resort, we decided to wait for our taxi sa may entrance. May isang grupo ng Koreans ang naghihintay din ng service van.

Edz placed his bag beside the waiting bags of 'those' people pero within a distance naman para 'di ito mahalo sa kanila.
Ano pa nga ba ang nangyari, eh 'di nagsiligpitan ng mga bagahe ang mga singkit at nilipat sa kabilang side.

Oh well, baka takot lang silang mabitbit namin ang kanilang Louis Vuitton luggages. Lol. Infairness, bongga din naman ang bags namin. Edz used Fendi, KC and Unique's are Lacoste and mine is Ralph Lauren, kaya hindi naman kami halatang hampaslupa. Lol

Anyway, can you blame us if we felt (a little bit) of homophobia from 'them'? I don't think it's paranoia.

Inenjoy na lang namin ang stay doon. Afterall, we were there to enjoy ourselves and celebrate my natal day. No time to deal with such imperfection.

Baka it's in their culture or something.

I am no psychologist to understand their behaviour towards gays. I'm sure there are Korean gays too. I'm just not sure if what we experienced ay nae-experience din nila sa kanilang mga kababayan. Or it depends upon the skin color? I really don't know.

Nagbago talaga ang pagtingin ko sa kanila. Maybe it's not how the majority of Koreans behave towards gays, malas lang siguro namin at nagbakasyon din dun ang mga homophobic.

I don't hate them for what they 'supposedly did' to us. Maybe they're just 'unconscious'. =p

I still watch koreanovelas. I still love Wu Chun and Daniel Henney.

But one thing's for sure.

Kimchi makes me barf.

photo credit: outtakeonline.com