Ganap na ang pagiging U.S. citizen at naninirahan na sa Los Angeles, California ang trans woman at fashion designer na si Veejay Floresca.
Pero pinili niyang maging kinatawan ng Pilipinas sa Miss Trans Star International 2022, ang beauty pageant para sa transgender woman na magaganap sa March 6 hanggang March 12, 2022 sa Barcelona, Spain.
“I am currently living in the United States and I’m also an American citizen, and I was able to get my citizenship just this year,” pahayag ni Veejay sa audio-recorded interview sa kanya ng PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) ngayong Miyerkules, March 2.
Minabuti ni Veejay na sagutin ang mga katanungan namin sa pamamagitan ng audio recording dahil sa kagustuhan niyang mahasa sa pagsagot sa Question and Answer segment ng international beauty pageant na kanyang sasalihan.
Pahayag niya, “The reason why I moved here because, unfortunately, the benefits and the life of being a trans woman here in the United States, it’s really painful for me to say, is so much better than being a trans person in the Philippines, and that’s also why I am joining the pageant.
“I want to engage in conversations. I want to share my stories. I want to talk to transgender people, both in the Philippines and anywhere they are.
“That it is important to be surrounded with the people you love and also to live in a place where you feel safe.
“I hope the Philippines will take the best steps to create laws that would protect the trans community because we are human beings who deserve equal rights.
“We’re not begging for special rights. We’re just asking for equal rights.”
THE VALKYRIE INCIDENT
May pinanggagalingan ang sentimyento ni Veejay dahil naging biktima siya ng diskriminasyon sa Pilipinas.
Malaking kontrobersiya noong June 2015 ang hindi pagpapapasok kay Veejay ng security personnel ng Valkyrie Club sa Taguig City dahil transwoman siya, kahit “female” ang nakasulat sa ID na ipinakita niya.
“Lalake pa rin ‘yan,” reaksiyon ng security personnel.
Pero nang maging pambansang usapin ang insidente, humingi ng paumanhin kay Veejay ang management ng Valkyrie.
Read: Fashion designer Veejay Floresca cries foul over alleged discrimination at Valkyrie
Masakit para kay Veejay ang nangyari, pero may aral siyang natutunan mula sa kanyang karanasan.
Saad niya sa panayam ng PEP.ph: “The discrimination that I experienced ago when I was denied entry at The Valkyrie actually opened a lot of doors for the transgender community.
“It became a very hot topic before, and now, people are more aware about our rights. People are more aware about who we are and I’m just very happy that it happened to me.
“It’s a blessing in disguise because if it didn’t happen to me, we won’t be able to talk about this anymore.
“People amended their rules to come up with policies that does not discriminate.”
FROM FASHION DESIGNER TO Beauty queen
Handang-handa na si Veejay sa pagpunta nito sa Spain para sa Miss Trans Star International.
Napakinabangan niya ang pagiging fashion designer dahil siya ang personal na tumahi sa mga gown na kanyang gagamitin.
“All my gowns and my costume, I did it myself. I’m very blessed to be able to be creative and at the same time, skilled, to execute my own vision.
“This time, it’s all about me showing the people that aside from designing, I can also become a beauty queen because beauty queens today is not just about having the most beautiful face or gorgeous body, it’s about being successful in the things that you do.
“And as a fashion designer based in the Philippines, and who is now an immigrant in the United States, I think people need to hear my story because if they’re going to listen to my story, I hope I can inspire them in my own simple ways,” saad niya.
Ang edukasyon at creativity ang mga advocacy ni Veejay at isusulong niya sa Miss Trans Star International.
Naniniwala si Veejay na importante ang edukasyon at creativity dahil ito ang mga dahilan kaya narating niya ang kanyang kinaroroonan sa kasalukuyan.
Pahayag niya: “I think my creativity has put me in the position where I am today, and education is a very, very important tool for us to fight proverty and for us to gain respect from other people, especially if you are member of the LGBTQ community.
“If you’re educated, people will respect you. I don’t believe that education is a key to success, but I strongly believe that it helps a lot for you to be able to cement yourself into what career that you want.
"And also, information is power. If you’re educated, you have the power to achieve your dreams in life.”
THE COMPETITION
Mula sa California, lilipad si Veejay sa Barcelona para sa Miss Trans Star International. Nangako siyang gagawin ang buong makakaya para makapagbigay ng karangalan sa ating bansa.
“I will leave on March 4 and the competition is going to be in Barcelona, Spain.
“It will start on March 6 and the coronation is on March 12. It’s a week-long event.
“I think there’s 30 contestants competing for Miss Trans Star International and if I’m not mistaken, we have more candidates than Miss International Queen," banggit niya sa equally popular international beauty pageant para sa trans women sa Pattaya, Thailand.
Dagdag ni Veejay, “It’s gonna be very, very hard to win but I promise I will give my best to represent the Philippines.
“Miss Trans Star International and Miss International Queen are the top two most prestigious beauty pageant for the transgender community and I’m really excited.
“This is my first international pageant and it’s a dream come true. I’ve been telling my friends that to be able to wear the Philippine sash across my ches, I already feel I am a winner.”