While her parents Jackie Lou Blanco and Ricky Davao have each spoken about how they reacted to her coming out as a lesbian, Rikki Mae Davao tells the story herself for the very first time.
On Saturday, February 24, 2024, Rikki Mae and Jackie Lou guested together in the GMA-7 morning show Sarap, Di Ba? and sat down for an interview with host Carmina Villarroel.
Read: Jackie Lou Blanco recounts the moment daughter Rikki Mae told her, "Mama, I’m gay."
While Rikki Mae came out in 2015, she confessed knowing she was different much earlier.
“So grade three, mga 9 or 10 years old, nagkaka-crush na ako sa classmates ko,” she recounted.
“Pero di ko pa naintindihan kung, okay, so what is being gay? What is same-sex relationship? It’s just I know na kinikilig ako sa mga classmates ko.”
It was only when she got older that she realized that same-sex relationships weren’t very easily accepted.
But she credits her parents for raising her with an attitude that allows her to simply brush off any criticisms.
“Very important yung role nung mga people in your life talaga,” she said.
Read: Rikki Mae Davao recalls being more nervous coming out to dad Ricky Davao
Looking back at her early experience, she added, “I think it was a unique experience, pero hindi naman siya parang scarring, thank God. Kasi marami talaga na experienced bullying.”
DIFFICULTY IN COMING OUT
When asked why she finally decided to come out in 2015, even Jackie Lou was surprised to learn that the reason was very simple.
Rikki Mae admitted to her mom, “Yung girlfriend ko at that time wanted me to tell you, that’s the only reason.”
She then jested, “Shoutout to you, kaya nandito kami ngayon pinag-uusapan ito!”
But Rikki Mae acknowledged that coming out was actually more difficult than she expected.
Addressing her mom, she said, “I didn’t realize na it would be hard, na it took me 30 minutes to tell you and muster my courage.
“Because I know that you and Dad love me, but I don’t know how you’ll react. I don't know naman talaga how you’ll react.
“I can only hope and bank on our love and relationship, but you never know.”
She also knew of friends whose coming out stories were not well-received. “I had friends that were thrown out, sent to the convent.”
But ultimately, Rikki Mae felt it was something she really needed to say.
“And then I realized, why is it so hard to say a part of who I am? Parang if I can’t say it, then what, am I ashamed?
“So I really said no, I have to say it kasi it means something for me to really put it out there.”
RIKKI MAE’S ADVICE FOR THOSE COMING OUT
Rikki Mae also had advice for those who want to come out.
“If you’re mustering up the courage to say it, I always advise to go muna not to your parents kaagad, but to your friends and to maybe your cousins or someone that you feel comfortable with para you feel that support.
“The support is so important kasi,” she said.
She explained that if you go straight to your parents and are met with a negative reaction, “Iba yung dating sa iyo.
“But if you know na, ‘My parents are not accepting right now, but I have Ate, Kuya, cousins, ganun.’”
“May mga ibang pader ka,” her mom Jackie Lou interjected.
“Kumbaga support group talaga na mapapagkatiwalaan mo,” host Carmina agreed.
Rikki Mae is being managed by Rams David under Artist Circle Management, and hopes to get into acting and hosting.