For more ANC Interviews, click the link below: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLm34qRgqWBU4AT2G3LWF27_RErcz0GVd9 For more Headstart videos, click the link below: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLm34qRgqWBU4jxZ_zzeH5rlxy__1WMTjs For more ANC Highlights videos, click the link below: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLm34qRgqWBU47Fx6tz3VSp1qqVVvkoj-8 Subscribe to the ANC YouTube channel! https://www.youtube.com/user/ANCalerts Visit our website at https://news.abs-cbn.com/anc Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ancalerts Twitter: https://twitter.com/ancalerts #ANCNews #ANCHighlights #Headstart

Video Transcript / Subtitles:( AI generated. About AI subtitles » )

* AI ("Artificial Intelligence") subtitles on Tagalog.com are generated using "Whisper" by OpenAI (the same company that created ChatGPT and DallE2). Results and accuracy may vary.
* The subtitles do include errors occasionally and should only be used as a tool to help with your listening practice.
* You can request this website to create a transcript for a video if one doesn't already exist by clicking the "Request AI Subtitles" button below a video. Transcribing usually takes 30-40% of the length of a video to complete if there are no other videos in the queue. For example, a 21 minute video will take 7-8 minutes to transcribe.
* Running a super fast cloud GPU server to do these transcriptions does cost money. If you have the desire and financial ability, consider becoming a patron to support these video transcriptions, and the other tools and apps built by Tagalog.com

Ngayon di Duterte, pero hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin tapos ang pagkikialam ng mga banyaga na yan dito sa ating bansa.

This is where headlines are made.

The country must be free, must be free.

And if we do follow the health protocols, the ability of people to move around will likely contribute better to growth.

We are Ngayon.

Hello everyone, it's Friday, June 9 here in Manila.

I'm Karen Davila giving you the head start for the day.

Our guests for Hot Copy today.

We start off with PHIVOX Director, Dr. Teresito Bacolcol.

As we monitor rumbling volcanoes in the Philippines,

is an eruption of the Mayon Volcano imminent after the alert level was raised to three?

How should the public prepare for this?

And later on, we have Queen Melo Esguerra and Marisa Summers of Drag Race Philippines.

They'll be joining us as we mark Pride Month.

But first, the headlines.

Today's big stories.

Evacuations for around 10,000 Albay residents begin today as the Mayon Volcano rumbles.

The ASEAN bloc said to conduct its first ever joint military drills in the South China Sea.

And suspected Chinese rocket debris recovered in the waters of Bataan.

Bright orange lava flow seen on the Mayon Volcano in the Philippine province of Albay Thursday night.

The latest unrest comes after authorities raised the volcano's alert level to three,

signaling an increased likelihood of a hazardous eruption.

Irene Perol reports.

Bayan patroller Meriam Binlayo Boholano witnessed thick smoke coming from the crater of Mayon early Thursday morning.

This video was taken from their house in Barangay San Roque in Malilipot, Albay.

On the same day, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology raised Mayon's alert status to level three

after consecutively recording rockfall events and pre-volcanic earthquake for the past few days.

From June 5 to June 8, PHIVOX recorded a total of 267 rockfall events, which usually indicate an eruption is imminent.

Pyroclastic density currents were also recorded in Bongagali, located in the southeast, and Basudgali, in the eastern part of the volcano.

Alert level three means the volcano is at the critical stage and that magma is close to the crater or its mouth.

Pag meron natin tayong ganitong klaseng volcanic hazard,

ibig sabihin nito ay meron na tayong mainit na magma or lava na pumapalit doon sa mga lumang bato,

sa ibabaw ng Mayon. May bahagyang pagbilis ng extrusion rate, yung paglabas ng naninigas na lava mula sa bungangan ng vulkan.

Because of this, PHIVOX has recommended the immediate evacuation for those inside the six-kilometer permanent danger zone.

Residents living within the seven-kilometer permanent danger zone are advised to evacuate immediately.

Albay's cluster team conducted an emergency meeting Thursday to discuss and prepare for the possible eruption of Mayon Volcano.

Approximately 2,400 families, or around 10,000 individuals, will be forced to evacuate starting Friday morning.

All government agencies are advised to evacuate immediately.

Right now, any area inside the permanent danger zone is dangerous.

Pero right now, ang preferred direction ng mga volcanic materials kung saan sila pumunta ay

dito sa bandang south and southeast ng volcano.

Yung mga barangay sa upper slopes ng Malid, Daraga, Gasping, etc.

The authorities say no people should be inside the 6-kilometre permanent

danger zone since the volcano's alert level could be raised further.

In the meantime, the Provincial Government of Albay has allocated 30 million pesos

in calamity fund as part of its preparations.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development is also

preparing relief packs that will be distributed to affected families.

The agency says it has 52,000 relief packs on hand

and an additional 50,000 food packs are expected to arrive to feed evacuees.

Irene Perol, ABS-CBN News, Albay.

Alright, joining us now this morning is the Director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology

and Seismology or PHIVOLCS, Dr. Teresito Bacolcol.

Dr. Bacolcol, good morning to you, sir.

Good morning to you, Ma'am Karen.

Alright, I know that Mayon is now under alert level 3

and it is exhibiting what's described as magmatic eruption of a summit lava dome.

Can you please give us an overview as of this morning?

What is and where is Mayon right now?

Okay, so between 5 a.m. yesterday and 5 a.m. today,

we recorded 199 rockfall events,

much higher than the 98 rockfall events that we detected between June 7 to June 8.

And yesterday, we recorded 6 pyroplastic density current events.

The pyroplastic density currents lasted for 4 to 5 minutes,

it's based on our seismic record,

and in place within 2 kilometers from the summit crater.

And so this would imply that there is a continuous supply of magma to the surface,

dislodging old and new portions of the lava dome.

And last night also, we observed a crater glow,

meaning there is a superheated gas coming out of the crater which produced this glow.

Okay, so is it correct that a total that's been recorded is 267 rockfall events?

That's right.

And between 4 p.m. to 4 a.m. last night to today,

we recorded 116 rockfall events.

So that's quite a lot.

All right.

So other than this data, we already have thousands of people being evacuated.

But based on your, in other words, based on the 2014 event, the 2018 event of Mayon,

I wanted to ask you, what can we expect?

Okay.

So again, the difference right now is that we are not seeing a high emission of sulfur dioxide.

So it's only around 300 tons per day.

And in fact, it's lower than the normal background level of Mayon volcano,

which is 500 tons per day.

So we are actually waiting.

There are several parameters that we are trying to look at before we can raise it to alert level 4.

One would be the increase in sulfur dioxide, as I mentioned earlier.

We only have 300 tons per day.

If there's an increase in sulfur dioxide, it would imply new magma is being intruded to the shallow part of the edifice.

And then we're also looking at the increase in seismicity.

In fact, yesterday, zero volcanic earthquake was recorded.

Between June 5 to June 8, we only recorded two volcanic earthquakes.

We're also looking at the edifice.

Hold that thought because you are giving a lot of scientific information.

Let's put it down in layman's terms.

The fact that you said that you're not detecting sulfur dioxide, right?

Did I hear that correctly?

So what does that exactly mean?

Does this mean that if you don't detect a large amount of sulfur dioxide,

you said only right now at 300 tons per day,

does this mean that there's a possibility that Mayon may not erupt?

That's right.

Again, the difference right now is that we don't see a high amount of sulfur dioxide.

So we are actually hoping for a 2014 scenario,

which is just rockfall events followed by a short lava flow and then it stops.

Hopefully, it will not go the way of the 2018 activity.

Where in the 2018 is a full eruption.

That's right.

Okay.

So other than that, you said you did not record.

Can you repeat that again?

Did you say volcanic?

Earthquake.

Earthquake.

Yes.

What does that mean in layman's terms?

Again, a volcanic earthquake, if you have magma going up,

it would produce low or if you have magmatic fluids or volcanic gases going up,

it would produce low frequency volcanic earthquakes.

But we're not seeing it here.

In fact, again, as I mentioned yesterday, we did not record any volcanic earthquake.

And since June 5, we only recorded two volcanic earthquakes.

Okay.

So to some degree, this is good news when it comes to residents living in the area.

And you were pointing out at another third description.

What was that?

The edifice is inflating.

Okay.

It's inflating because if you have volcanic material that's pushing upwards,

the edifice of the volcano, the sides would inflate.

And we are only seeing localized inflation, not the whole edifice.

Oh.

And when you say localized inflation, what's inflated in Mayon?

It's only a certain part of Mayon volcano, not the whole edifice.

Okay.

So right now, the action the government is taking, it's essentially evacuating residents.

Is it necessary?

I wanted to ask you.

Yes, it's necessary because, again, with Alert Level 3,

we recommend people inside the six-kilometer permanent danger zone.

Well, they're not supposed to be there because it's a permanent danger zone.

Exactly.

But since, you know, like, we have no choice.

I mean, people have no choice because they have to leave and probably do their farming.

We recommend that they should be evacuated because there might be a danger of pyroclastic density currents,

lava flows, rockfalls, and other volcanic hazards, and there might be sudden eruption.

Okay.

All right.

So, Doctor, can you describe the characteristics of Mayon?

Why from 2014, 2018, and now 2023?

I'm noticing there's a three- to four-year gap of activity, right?

Well, 2018, right now 2023, put it to roughly five years.

But we're seeing a few years, and there's, I would describe activity, not minor activity, but major activity in Mayon.

What is the cause?

Again, we have the magmites being replenished.

Mayon volcano is actually, the earliest would be three years after the last eruption,

and the latest would be ten years after the last eruption.

So, the last time it erupted was 2018, and it's been five years now.

So, again, we're on the range, as I've said, between three to ten years from the last eruption.

Okay.

But can you describe to those watching who may not understand the science of this, which is already including myself,

why is there a predictability of five years, ten years?

What happens specifically with Mayon?

Because once the volcano would erupt, it would extrude all the materials,

and then, of course, there will be resupply of magmatic materials.

So, that would probably take between three to ten years.

Okay.

And why is it that right now, Taal and Canlaon are also showing activity, but both remain at alert level one?

Am I correct?

Oh, we lost him.

Okay.

We are going to go into a quick break.

We lost Phevox Dr. Teresito Bacolcol.

We'll try to get him back.

Stay with us.

Phevox Dr. Teresito Bacolcol

Phevox Dr. Teresito Bacolcol

Mobility will be key to recovery because we have relaxed some of our quarantine methods

and we have allowed more transportation to come out.

That's going to prove to be better for demand.

If we do follow the health protocols, the ability of people to move around will likely contribute better to growth.

Mobility will be key to recovery because we have relaxed some of our quarantine methods

and we have allowed more transportation to come out.

That's going to prove to be better for demand.

If we do follow the health protocols, the ability of people to move around will likely contribute better to growth.

That's going to prove to be better for demand.

If we do follow the health protocols, the ability of people to move around will likely contribute better to growth.

Mobility will be key to recovery because we have relaxed some of our quarantine methods

and we have allowed more transportation to come out.

That's going to prove to be better for demand.

If we do follow the health protocols, the ability of people to move around will likely contribute better to growth.

That's going to prove to be better for demand.

If we do follow the health protocols, the ability of people to move around will likely contribute better to growth.

The greatest disruptor of all time is actually COVID-19.

Because of limited mobility, people are also not being able to go to physical branches, etc.

It further accelerated the adoption of consumers of digital channels.

We are now being able to provide the services needed by our citizens, by our consumers.

Alright, welcome back to Head Start.

Aside from the Mayon Volcano, state volcanologists are also monitoring Taal as it continues to emit smog.

Watch this report from Dennis Datu.

This is a mass disaster scenario as part of the nationwide earthquake drill.

Emergency responders and other participants were told that a magnitude 8.2 earthquake hit the town of Laurel, Batangas and caused severe damage.

Some people are trapped inside buildings and fire has broken out.

Authorities showed how they will respond to this kind of catastrophe.

The Office of the Civil Defense in Calabasas said while the drills were meant for earthquake preparedness,

the actions and protocols of participating government agencies will be relevant in dealing with a worst-case scenario concerning the Taal Volcano.

In the past few days, the Taal Volcano has been continuously showing abnormal activity.

It has been releasing tons of volcanic smog or VAG which is posing a health hazard to nearby communities.

Mag-iiba lang po siguro dahil yung paggamit ng mask, yung evacuation site at the same time.

Pero kung maita niyo po yung pagtaas ng alerto mula ng munisipyo, pag-activate ng kanilang contingency plan,

kita natin yung si Mayor nag-activate yung bases sa worst-case scenario.

Ganun din po yung mangyayari kapag nagkaroon ng pagputok ang Volcano Taal.

According to Batangas PDRRMO, even though there's no recommendation to relocate yet under Alert Level 1,

they are worried about the health risk brought by exposure to the VAG,

which is why the Provincial Disaster Office is studying the merits of a pre-emptive evacuation.

Batangas disaster officials have toured the towns of Talisay, Laurel, Agoncillo, and San Nicolas to assess the effects of VAG.

They also distributed about 10,095 face masks.

The OCDC also says it is reviewing their contingency plans in case the Taal Volcano erupts again.

Mabibisitahin din natin yung laguna ni Cavite kung paano naman natin matutulungan yung sa Batangas.

Sa tulad doon ang nangyari ng huling pagputok na naging apektado dahil marami rin napunta sa Cavite, Laguna.

Sisiguraduhin natin na handa rin at mabibigyan natin ng augmentation kung kinakailangan.

Around 80 police personnel are also on standby for quick deployment to Batangas if the situation worsens.

Maaga yung preparations natin so that if the situation worsens, mabilis yung response ng ating kapulisan.

We are more than ready dahil may mga experience na kami before, yung Bulusan, Mount Mayon.

Batangas residents, particularly those near Taal Volcano, are reminded to stay alert and constantly monitor the news and announcements of local officials.

That is Datu ABS-CBN News, Laudal, Batangas.

Now the province of Albay seeking additional aid for evacuees.

The Albay Public Safety and Emergency Manage Office says based on past evacuations due to Mayon Volcano's restiveness, their current stock of relief goods won't last for long.

We are expecting at least a minimum of three months.

The last time, the longest that we had was around five months of evacuation.

Again, the resources of the government is finite.

So while we have currently resources available to provide relief commodities, food and non-food items, but this will only run for so much.

Current resources from the local government units and the provincial government will only last for around 14 to 15 days.

Okay, we have with us this morning, Feedbox Director Dr. Teresito Bacolcol.

Dr. Bacolcol, we lost you there.

Yes.

Okay, you're back.

I apologize for that.

They say that technology is good only if it works.

All right.

So I wanted to ask you as we close, Taal and Canlaon are also showing activity now both at alert level one.

Yes, that's right.

That's right.

Taal Volcano is still on alert level one.

And Canlaon Volcano has always, well, is on alert level one since 2020.

Okay.

All right.

So Canlaon's been on alert level one since 2020.

But is there any cause for alarm for those watching that it seems we have three volcanoes that's reported to be active at the moment with Mayon being the most?

Well, there's always, we have 24 active volcanoes and there's always this possibility that, you know, one or two volcanoes would be restive and would show some activity simultaneously.

So this is not surprising.

And for Canlaon Volcano, it, again, as I've said, it has always been active on alert level one since 2020.

And yesterday, we only record one low-frequency volcanic earthquake, which is lower than the nine volcanic earthquakes that we saw the day before.

Okay.

All right.

So back to Mayon, is it possible then that Mayon may not erupt to levels like 2018?

It may not undergo or experience a full eruption?

Yes, there is always this possibility because, as I've said, the big difference now is that we don't see a high emission of sulfur dioxide.

But, again, anything can happen.

That's why we're closely monitoring Mayon Volcano.

And if there are changes in the parameters, monitor parameters, then we will inform the public immediately.

On that note, I want to thank you for joining me today, FIVOX Director Dr. Teresito Bacolco.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you, ma'am, for having me here.

All right.

Moving on, as the world celebrates Pride Month this June, Philippine Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva recently drew flak over his anti-SOGI bill remark.

He said the proposal, which aims to prohibit discrimination against the LGBTQ community, is not a priority of the Senate when it resumes session next month.

That statement quickly earned the ire of SOGI bill's main champion, Senator Risa Ontiveros.

The SOGI Equality Bill na inihain ko ay nagahangad na pangalagaan ang mismong mga pundasyon ng isang marangal na buhay at kaligtasan.

The most basic way we return humanity to each other, beyond labels, beyond biases, beyond prejudice, there is real power in the movement of the LGBTQIA plus community

to bridge people once more in the deeply divided society we've created.

Now, the SOGI bill is currently pending under Villanueva's Committee on Rules, this after the Senate vetoed to revert the measure back to first reading following opposition from religious groups.

Now, while gains have been made in the fight for equality for the LGBTQ plus community, many things are yet to be accomplished.

Discrimination continues and in some cases it can turn into violence.

How can we make the Philippines a safer and a more accepting place for the LGBTQ community?

I'm joined by two of its advocates who have become successful in their own fields of advocacy.

We're now joined by Queen Melo Esguerra, an advocate of the SOGI bill, a staunch one,

and Marisa Summers, who recently was felt in New York City after her billboard, after her face landed in the billboard on New York Times in Pride Month.

Good morning to both of you, Melo and Marina.

Good morning, Karen.

Happy Pride.

Hello, Happy Pride.

So, you both know each other. Let's start off with that.

We just met, actually, at the Pride celebration of the U.S. Embassy.

Okay. Marina?

Yeah, we actually met a couple of days ago at the U.S. Embassy's Pride reception.

It was my first time meeting Queen Melo, but I've been seeing them on social media even before.

So, it's very, very nice to see them finally celebrate Pride on a high note.

Okay. I'll start with you first, Marina, because you landed in the New York Times Square billboard,

and frankly speaking, that's no easy feat, and that's not just luck.

But how did that happen?

You know, after Drag Race Philippines Season 1, the lives of drag queens here in the Philippines has drastically changed.

You know, the respect towards drag queens have become more and more seen now.

You know, we have become more and more mainstream the past year,

many thanks to shows like Drag Race Philippines and other media outlets that's been really out there

supporting drag queens, local drag queens, Filipino drag queens from across the world.

And the art form is now more widely recognized and has created an economy for it on its own.

And, you know, giving queer people opportunities as well.

And one of which is, you know, we've been seeing a lot of drag queens not only in the entertainment industry,

not only in the nightlife industry.

We've been seeing them penetrate other industries through their art, like fashion, beauty, business, and also music.

And because of music, I was able to land in the iconic New York Times Square billboard thanks to Spotify and my label, Tarsier Records and ABS-CBN.

So it's a big win, not only for the drag queen community here in the Philippines, but across the world.

And for Filipino queer artists to be finally seen on this height and to be pioneering drag music as well is amazing for me.

All right. I'm curious. So you were actually chosen because of your, other than Drag Queen Philippines, you said drag music in Spotify.

So how were you just informed? You didn't lobby for that?

Yeah, actually, I was in L.A. when I got the news. I was attending RuPaul's Drag Con L.A.

It was, I think it was 2 a.m. there. They called me and gave me the news that,

Okay, Marina, Spotify chose you to represent the Philippines and Southeast Asia for the pride campaign of Spotify worldwide.

And that's just it. Like, combining my music and my experience as a drag queen outside my music is, I think, has become the ultimate decision making for Spotify.

That is an achievement. And congratulations to you. So I want to go to Melo now.

Melo, I was just reading an article. The opposite side of all this success, right, and Marina is a prime example, is what's now called pink capitalism.

It's the commercialization of, for example, everything LGBTQ, drag. And in that article that I read, it's failing to actually address the deeper issues of the LGBTQ community.

And the SOGI bill would be one of them. Can you talk about that, Melo? Because you have been in the Senate, you have been in Congress, you are lobbying for this legislation.

Yes. Karen, the pink economy, there's nothing new about the pink economy that's been discussed early on in early 2000.

And for critics to say that it has been neglecting the deeper issues, I don't think so.

In fact, we have to celebrate this robust pink economy because, like, for example, the case of Marina, the case of the drag queens that are creating a huge industry and creating big business opportunities for the queer, for the LGBT community as a whole globally.

We have to celebrate these little wins. But what is important, it's very difficult from what I see, is when you are up against an institution like Christianity, Roman Catholic Church, the faith-based groups, it is really, really tough.

I was in the lower house during the committee hearing and I was listening to the argument of the opposition of the SOGI equality bill and it is so disheartening to hear that they don't see us as humans, they don't see us as one with everyone, they don't see us as an equal.

That is the toughest thing to really, really address when it comes to pushing and lobbying for the SOGI equality bill to become a law. When you ask every Filipino about the beginning of life, it's always Adam and Eve, right?

Even the most logical people fail to go into science. And to me, that's the beginning of discrimination there. Because, you know, it's not scientific, but people don't look at science. They don't see psychology when it comes to gender identity. They deny it as scientific. But in fact, it is based on science.

So it's a long, long fight, but we are encouraged every time there's an obstacle that hinders the progress of the SOGI equality bill in both houses.

It can be under a whole anti-discrimination bill. In other words, what they're saying is no separate law is needed for the LGBTQ, it's anti-discrimination as a whole. So Melo, let's start with that. Why not just be part of the whole anti-discrimination law?

You know, that's very tricky, Karen, because they're pushing for an encompassing anti-discrimination law or bill, but they only use the term sex. They delete SOGI. So it means, again, it will only be male and female. So when discrimination is done against your SOGI, then it will not be part of that law.

I am willing to talk with the authors of the more encompassing anti-discrimination bill, but we want SOGI to be specified in that law, in that bill.

All right. Marina, your take. Your mic, Marina, go ahead.

I want to echo what Melo said. That whole idea defeats the purpose of SOGI bill, including gender identity, sexual orientation, and gender expression in this legislation.

And the main purpose of SOGI bill is to really represent the marginalized community, which is the LGBTQIA plus community. But more rights for the LGBTQIA plus community doesn't mean less rights for everyone else.

So I think, like what Melo said, it's very tricky to just focus on sex for a bigger bill.

A little bit of your personal history, Marina, because I think I need to be transparent. I know Melo quite well. So Melo and I have been friends for over 20 years now. So with you, how did you go into this journey? When did you come out, for example?

The good thing about my family is I didn't have to come out. And I wish that for everyone else. And you see, when you are surrounded by a family, by friends who support you in any possible way, eto yung magiging resulta.

And I wish that for every household here in the Philippines. Bata pa lang ako, I was like really gay already. I was very flamboyant. And I didn't see any wrong with that because I was raised that way. And then I started working as a TV producer for ABS-CBN.

And then I found the art form of drag and I started doing drag and just completely immersing myself. And sabi ko, okay, I'm going to make a career out of drag because I love expressing the extension of myself through this art form. Kasi sabi ko, bakla na ako before, pero may mas iba bakla pa pala ako. And ang sarap sa feeling na you get to reach your full potential through drag.

Okay. Marina, now, some legislators may ask you, what difference would it make to you? You've been out early, you're not discriminated, you're even flourishing. The Philippines is known to be tolerant, accepting of the gay community. What if legislators say, what difference would this law make to you?

It's hard to really ingest to them what this bill means to the LGBTQIA plus community because they are not the ones who are experiencing discrimination. It's very glamorous to see that a lot of kids now are being accepted by their families, by the community, but there's still a lot of things to be done.

Even for someone who's very confident as me, someone who's successfully doing well in their craft, I still get discriminated. For example, access to public spaces, I get denied because of the way I dress.

Are you serious? Like a winner? Really?

Yes. In the Philippines. There's still a lot of things to be done.

Would you want to save that public space? I'm curious.

I'd rather not because it's already resolved before and I hope they're doing really well in making sure that they have a training for gender sensitivity within their establishment.

Melo, I'll move on to you because you know the bill, frankly speaking. Someone may ask, what difference would it make? What is in that bill? What isn't in the bill? What are the myths? What are the truths?

Karen, there is a UN study that specifies that 30% of the Filipino workforce is experiencing discrimination based on their SOGIE and that's a reality.

So, it's a myth when you see people like Boy Abunda, Vice Ganda, Marina, everywhere. There are very successful LGBT people but these are minorities. These are the people who are brave, bold, and probably privileged at some point.

But this bill will protect all. It will give a voice to those who have no voice. For those who are discriminated by their own family, they will be respected to be able to express their true selves. That's all this bill is trying to do.

It's basic human rights and respect us, allow us to be who we are.

Melo, can you be specific? For example, there's a lot of disinformation out there. So, the SOGIE bill, even if I know what the SOGIE bill is, of course, I've read it, but perhaps since you're the advocate, you can explain.

One of those debated on in the Senate interpolated was the fact that schools, for example, would have no right, let's say, if a child wanted to come in the school as dressed as the gender they identify with. And the debate was the school should be given a right. Is that stated in the bill today?

Yes, it's very clear, the bill, but everything is being debated right now. So, I was in the committee hearing and there were objections about transgender identity for children and the chairwoman, Representative Geraldine Roman, listened to it. So, this will be debated as soon as it will be in the plenary after SONA.

But, you know, there are a lot of myths and misconceptions about the bill, specifically coming from the faith-based groups because there's such a strong fear from their end that it might encroach on their right for religious beliefs. But definitely, it won't. Definitely not. Not in this SOGIE equality bill.

And I think a big clarification is both of you can respond to this. While other countries have already legalized same-sex marriage, that isn't even in the bill.

No, it's not. There is no clause that specifies same-sex union or same-sex marriage in the bill. But again, it has been spread around that we are pushing for it. But we don't. We're not.

Marina, your thoughts?

Yeah, I mean, Melo said it best. It's not included in the bill. And if that's the main scare for the faith-led groups, I think that's the biggest misconception that if we want to pass the SOGIE bill, we want to get married. And that's not in the clause of the legislation.

Okay. Marina, where do you want to take your persona, your advocacy, your fame?

You know, we've always lobbied for Filipino drag excellence, not only here in the Philippines, but also abroad. We are trying to get more and more recognition towards Filipino drag.

But also, I want to use this voice to really help in whatever way I can. Because right now, we are having a huge scare towards the drag scene, not only in the Philippines, but abroad. In the USA, for example, we look up to a lot of American drag queens, especially because of the drag race phenomenon started in America.

And now, they are having a lot of pushbacks and setbacks because of all the anti-drag laws and drag ban laws. And we don't want that to happen here in the Philippines. And this is where SOGIE bill comes in. It will protect all the drag queens here in the Philippines as well, in the workforce.

Okay. But can you explain that? What are you trying to say that right now, there's a pushback on drag specifically, in dressing and expressing yourself in drag?

Yes, because a lot of misconception about drag is that we are grooming children. We are grooming them and that we are bad examples and we are trying to lure them to be part of the LGBTQIA+. And that's the main thing that's setting back a lot of drag communities abroad as well.

So, yeah, I think it's high time that we speak about it, that we show how beautiful drag is and how life-changing it is.

Okay. All right, Melo, I want to take it. Let's not move into the science per se because none of us are scientists in this conversation. But coming from what Marina said, there's also, I think, conservatively, the issue of nurture versus nature.

And some and even some legislators may argue that the sheer exposure, right? So, the sheer exposure to something like drag, mainstream, SOGIE, LGBTQ+, etc., can actually influence children to become gay.

So, I want to take your point on that because this is an argument you've heard yourself, right? From faith-based and also conservative legislators. Melo?

Karen, LGBT people are born LGBT. We are born this way, as Lady Gaga said. And that's a fact. Gender identity is not a notion. It's psychology. So, I don't understand why people are afraid of the exposure.

Kahit itago mo yan sa bundok, a gay person will grow up to be a gay person. A lesbian person will grow up to be a lesbian person. What matters in the environment is whether that child grows in an environment of love or hate.

Children growing in an environment of love almost always become successful and happy in their fields. And that's what we want to stress. Give every child an environment of love and acceptance.

Okay. Now, Melo, do you need the SOGIE bill for this in the Philippines? What if not? They argue and say that DepEd will battle for equal rights in the classroom, regardless of gender identification, etc. The point is equality everywhere, but not specifically SOGIE.

Because it starts off, issues on discrimination start off when you're children, right? They're bullied, they're discriminated.

The discussion of SOGIE is far beyond just the classroom setup or the toilet situation. It's far beyond that. The workplace is included. So, let us not simplify it with just one issue when we discuss SOGIE equality bill.

Because this really is about the lives of the LGBT people, not given the respect, not given the access to an equally nurturing workplace. So, why can't that be given to us? It should be given to us. We don't have to fight for it. It has to be given.

I'm curious, Marina, you're heavily traveled. I mean, you were in the billboard of New York Times. That's such an achievement. Does it change anything for you? Do you feel that after that moment in time, you're moving on to a different level in your own journey with SOGIE and also in your career?

Okay. All right. Okay. I think we lost Marina. Marina's frozen. I'll go back to Mello right now. Okay. Mello, you've talked about—okay, Marina is back. All right. Did you hear me, Marina?

I lost you, I think.

All right. No, because Mello spoke and I wanted to move it to you. Do you feel after the New York Times billboard, I would say 15 minutes of fame, right? I mean, that is iconic. Do you think this changes the journey for you in terms of your SOGIE journey and your career journey?

Okay. We are losing Marina, so I apologize for that. That's how the internet goes. But I'll move to you, Mello. So you said that it's not as simple as the classroom. It's more complex than that. Can you name me some specifics that our LGBTQ plus community in the Philippines is really battling for other than the general of equality acceptance?

Some specifics when it comes to their experiences. That's why they want the bill passed.

I'm so glad that there has been a lot of progress in the diversity, equity, and inclusion policies in workplaces, in different organizations. Because in my time, there was a lot of discrimination, even in the most creative space.

But we just put it under the rug. But it really affects us. But now, I like the fact that a lot of multinational corporations are adopting the global D&I, the inclusion policies that is really empowering the LGBT people within the workplace.

And now in the Philippines, it's also becoming more as a practice. And I'm glad to see it really, really progressing.

In one of the organizations that I am involved with, the PFIP, PFIP just launched a playbook that gives emphasis on local companies, empowering, making sure that the workforce is implementing D&I, diversity and inclusion policies within the company.

That's great news. Because many people are not out. They're so scared and they may not be promoted.

Correct. So see, issues like that. That's why the SOGIE is needed. It's not just about, you're right, it's fear of, let's say, there'll be a bias against me.

Yes. The stigma is still there.

The stigma, you're right. Yeah, yeah. That's a very good point. Marina, you're back. Okay, let me say hello first. Okay, now you're moving. I wanted to ask you, so do you believe after that moment in time, that it has changed your journey?

Yeah, it definitely did change my journey because coming from a very small town in the northern province, I never thought that something like that would happen to a brown Asian gay boy.

And that is a testament that everything is possible, not only for drag queens, but for the whole queer community. And yeah, I think it's shifted a lot of energy towards lobbying for success in terms of Filipino drag excellence and all of that.

And yeah, it made me really proud to be Filipino and queer at the same time.

Okay. And we're proud of you, Marina. I mean, we wish you all the success. Is there anything you'd like to say to close for Pride Month?

Yeah, well, we believe that pride should be celebrated every single month. Celebrations during Pride Month, I think it's a great celebration of the progress that we have made as a community.

But also it is a reminder of how much more there is needs to be done because still many members of the community continues to be marginalized and we should not stop until every single one gets equal opportunities and every single one gets a billboard in New York Times Square.

I love it. All right. Thank you, Marina. Melo, maybe perhaps you should close. Many times you've said before, you've said tolerance is different from equality, right? The Philippines is known to be tolerant, accepting, but that shouldn't be the case. That shouldn't be where it lies. So Melo, for Pride Month, your message.

Karen, to be honest, I just like to appeal to the senators. Please do not delay anymore. It's been 23 years that the SOGIE Equality Bill, since year 2000, it has been pending. It's already the 19th Congress. And I remember very well the Senate President in the 17th Congress, Senator Zubiri articulated his support for the SOGIE Equality Bill.

I want to see that now. Senator Zubiri, please do not delay the SOGIE Equality Bill anymore. Happy Pride.

All right. On that note, thank you so much for this meaningful discussion. Thank you so much, Queen Melo, Esguerra, and Marina Summers. Happy Pride Month, everybody. Let us celebrate who we are. And let's get started today. I'm Karen Davila. Thank you for watching. You can play back this episode on the ANC YouTube channel. Stay informed and stay with ANC.

I think competition is very good for consumers.

It really takes a lot of coordination with not just the government, but also the other industry players that we really hope that we're able to set aside differences, work together as one industry to make sure that you're able to provide the service in a safe fashion.

This week, we're bringing back some of our best.

Thank you.