Inamin ng volleyball star na si Deanna Wong na nahirapan siyang magpakatotoo tungkol sa kanyang sexual orientation.
Ito ang ibinunyag ni Deanna sa vlog ng broadcaster na si Karen Davila na lumabas sa YouTube noong June 11, 2022.
Tanong ng TV Patrol anchor kay Deanna: “You’re also admired for your courage, for the authenticity of being you. So, does that mean Deanna you've come out?”
Tugon ni Deanna, “In a way, it says that I haven’t really being straight to the point with it [sexuality], being direct with it.
"But siyempre, siguro I think it says na something na parang, ‘Ito ako, so this is who I am.’
"So, sila na lang ang bahala mag-interpret kung ano yun.”
Paano niya ide-describe ang kanyang sarili? Maituturing ba niya ang sarili na miyembro ng LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) community?
Sagot ni Deanna: “Puwede. Yeah, I think, I am naman, kasi LGB... so I can say that I am.”
Kasunod nito ang pagsisiwalat niyang isa itong malaking isyu sa kanyang mga magulang.
Lahad ng volleyball superstar, “Yes, it was, very, very, very much.
"So, yun nga, na-mention ko kanina, lalo na, them, coming from a different generation, they have their own personal beliefs, opinions, perspectives.
"Hindi kami nagkasundo when it came to that point."
Ang tatay raw niya ang labis na nahirapang tanggapin ang kanyang sexual identity lalo’t siya ay “daddy’s girl.”
Saad ni Deanna, “Si Dad. Si Dad. He didn’t go for it kasi, yun nga, his beliefs nga, we’re saying something different.
"Sa isip ko kasi, you live your own life and your life means doing things that make you happy."
"I'M NOT STEPPING ON ANYONE'S TOES"
Paano niya natanggap sa sarili na siya ay miyembro ng LGBTQ+?
Paliwanag ni Deanna, “It was me kasi believing na nagustuhan ko lang naman yung tao, e, parang minamahal ko lang naman siya.
"And if I’m not stepping on anyone’s toes, or anything like that, if hindi naman siya mali.
"So, it wasn’t really because na I was like who I am right now or dahil nga naglalaro ako ng volleyball.
"It was just really because of how I really felt."
Ang huling nakarelasyon ni Deanna ay ang volleyball player ding si Jema Galanza. Naghiwalay sila noong 2020.
On a lighter note, tinanong siya ni Karen kung puwede ba siyang ligawan ng lalake. Naririnig daw kasi ng broadcaster na maraming male suitors si Deanna.
Natatawang tugon ni Deanna, “Nothing is impossible naman. We’ll see.
“Kasi, for me kasi, I really don’t have a type. So, if I like the person, I like the person.
"If I love the person, I love the person as long as that person... if I know that person, will treat me right, is kind, is God-fearing, and then go, why not?”
Ngayon ay tanggap na raw ng mga magulang niya ang kanyang buong pagkatao.
Aniya, “Kasi siyempre wala silang magagawa nga kasi it’s my life naman we’re talking about nga.
"Siguro they’ve seen na it wasn’t a hindrance, for example, to my career or something else, di ba? Pero siyempre, they’re still have hopes [for me to have kids].”
Gusto ba niyang magkaron ng anak balang-araw?
Sabi ni Deanna, “Honestly, no. I don’t know.
"I’m good already with having a pet, with having my pet.
"So siguro now, di ko makikita, di ko nakikita yung sarili ko.
"Kasi career yung pinu-focus ko talaga and yung business, and my dog also and the people around me.”
WHO IS DEANNA WONG?
Tubong Cebu ang 23-year-old volleyball player na si Maria Deanna Izabella Alvizo Wong.
Nagtapos siya ng elementarya sa Saint Theresa’s College at high school naman sa University of San Jose-Recoletos sa Cebu.
Kumuha siya ng AB Interdisciplinary Studies sa Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) at dito na umalagwa nang todo ang career niya sa volleyball.
Noong March 2015, napili si Deanna bilang bahagi ng collegiate varsity senior women’s volleyball team ng Ateneo, at opisyal na naglaro bilang rookie noong 2016.
Nagsimula siya bilang libero ng Ateneo Lady Eagles sa University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) women’s volleyball tournament Season 79.
Naging setter siya noong UAAP Season 80, kung saan itinanghal siyang Best Setter sa pagtatapos ng tournament.
Nagtapos siya sa kolehiyo noong 2020.
Ang husay niya sa UAAP ang naging daan para kunin siya ng Choco Mucho para maglaro sa Premier Volleyball League, na lalong nagpa-level up ng kanyang popularity.
