Issa Pressman has been freely sharing her love story with partner, Marga Bermudez, on social media.
Even before Issa and Marga joined Close Up Free To Love campaign, the couple have been open about their love for each other.
Issa remarked, "We just naturally wanted to be ourselves. Nothing pushed us, not even the campaign.
"It was a personal decision that we just wanted to do it. You can post whatever you want naman in social media, so we did that."
Their openness online has drawn positive reactions, which encouraged Issa and Marga to participate in the campaign.
Issa continued, "We might as well actually get to inspire people and join a movement that have that same aim."
ACCEPTANCE
For Marga, she was happy to meet Issa at a carefree point in her life.
"It was very relaxed. No drama," the young events producer told PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal).
"We met each other at a time when we had no baggage basically...
"Honestly, it wasn't very hard because my personal struggle came before she was in the picture, you know?
"So, when I was already in the process of being accepted by my family and everything, when she came along, they just loved her and kind of accepted the whole thing."
Issa added, "We became friends, our friends became friends. We all went out as a group na, and then we started talking, going out on our own dates."
How did their respective families react to the relationship?
Marga recounted, "We didn't really have a hard time trying to explain to our parents.
"It just really came out naturally, and I think it's because they saw how positive we were towards each other and how we kind of help each other as individuals."
Meanwhile, Issa worried about coming out to her family for nothing.
"Mine was very—I wouldn’t say difficult, but then it wasn’t as if they just knew," the younger sister of Yassi Pressman briefly recalled.
"I had to introduce myself to them, introduce that side to me. But then it was amazingly easy because they just accepted it. Whatever makes you happy, that's it for them."
LOVE IS LOVE
Marga and Issa were both grateful to be living in this time when people's concept of love has become more flexible.
Marga said, "I would say, even if a lot of people think that it is hard to come out now, it is way easier to come out now because people are more open. That's why we believe so strongly on this campaign.
"It's 2018, almost 2019, we don't live in that kind of era anymore. We shouldn't be living in that kind of era any longer."
Issa then underscored that LGBTQ+ relationships should not be seen as out of the ordinary.
The fashion blogger remarked, "I'd say the more kasi that you think that your relationship is different, the harder it really is to just blend.
"If you believe that your relationship is just the same as everyone else, who naturally loves each other, then it's going to easier for you personally.
"How come a boy and a girl relationship is normal? I mean, you know in religious context, it is written and stuff like that.
"But then, personally, if you break that and just think, 'I'm happy with the person I love, I’m proud to be with the person I love,' then it becomes so much better. You become comfortable."
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