Love, Love, Love...Love is all you need

Okay, since I have continued to neglect the dark little corner I occupy of the big bad blogospehere, I must do some back-posting. I shall being with my trip to the Island of Negros...

The friends I have met here have been unbelievably hospitable. Sadly, I must admit that in Toronto people would not be so quick to invite foreigners on amazing weekend vacations. To escort them across islands to beautiful sandy shores, to the quaint little places that they themselves call home. A young girl who interned at my office did just that. She not only took us to the island of Negros where we swam, sang and ate the cleanest, most amazing food I have ever experienced. But she took us in to her home where her beautiful mother made us an absolute feast fit for kings.



On another note. We also went to a gay talent show. Yes, I say this with not a note of sarcasm or exaggeration. All year round communities throw local fiestas and events. This one in particular was for a charity, so it was quite small compared to the annual fiestas. As we arrived, everyone greeted us. It was night fall so I could see nothing more than the glow of cell phone lights peering in our direction. They were all looking to see the local politician; I forgot to mention that she is also a youth political delegate, so she’s well known in her community. And of course, they were once again examining the exotic faces of the foreigners. A few of the older community members (one very stern old man in particular) began shooing the children away with a bamboo stick so that the others could begin placing chairs upfront for us all to sit. Yes, we got front row seats :). The infrastructure was minimal, and the audio a little unreliable. But the stage was ready to receive its contestants. The women were wild, and wow were they beautiful. Not only do they ‘pass’ for women, but superficially speaking, most of us women don’t even hold a candle to them. Basically, the show was spectacular, hilarious, and very, very thought provoking.

In a country that must be over 90 percent catholic, they have a very open and progressive perspective towards sexuality. Homosexuality and trans-gendered positions are, for the most part, accepted. I have had many conversations with locals about this. Many have said that Filipino’s are able to separate their religious traditions from their social consciousness. This may be due to the strength of their social relationships. In this sense, if your friend, child, brother or sister is sexually ‘non-traditional’ (whether it be GQTB...I forget the abbreviation :s), the strength of your personal connection may make you reconsider your perspective towards sexuality. Maybe ideological barriers can be broken when the one you hold so dear is given the time and the space to show you that their sexuality is just that, their sexuality. It is not an all encompassing definition of their being.
That is how I have come to understand the way they’ve formed their perspective. But, of course, I may be way off.