JERRY OLEA
Pinaka-memorable na yakap para kay Markki Stroem ang first hug niya sa kanyang first girlfriend noong 16-anyos siya.
"In high school, I had my first girlfriend and that’s what we used to do. We used to hug a lot," lahad ng 34-anyos na actor-model sa virtual chikahan noong Disyembre 10, Biyernes.
"And I realized then na 'yan ang gusto kong gawin. I love to hug."
Kailan ang first sexual experience niya?
Natatawang pag-amin ni Markki, "Dun din. Ha! Ha! Ha! Nangyari na lahat sa first!"
Nang usisain tungkol sa kanyang love life, ikinuwento ni Markki na tatlong taon ang lumipas mula nang mag-break sila ng huli niyang karelasyon.
"The last relationship, I don’t want to talk too much. Kasi, it’s not my story to tell," seryosong tugon ni Markki.
"That was three years ago. But the thing is, it’s not really my story to tell. So, I cannot expound too much.
"But it was a good one because it involved love. Real love. And it just didn’t work out.
"And we’re still friends, and I’m just happy na we were friends."
Ayaw nang idetalye ni Markki kung sino ang kanyang karelasyon dahil nakaraan na raw iyon.
"It’s one of those things na minsan, if you’re comfortable, you’re comfortable," napapakibit-balikat na pagmumuwestra ni Markki.
"Pero hindi komportable yung ex mo, yung partner mo, why are you going to reveal it, to revisit them?
"You have your life, and they have their life. If they want to talk about it, they can talk about it. If they’re not ready, you have to be quiet na lang.
"But me, personally, I was raised not to."
Personal na decision din niyang panatilihing pribado ang love life. Ang mahalaga sa kanya ay baon daw niya ang natutunan sa breakup.
"And what’s good is, the past three years, I have been able to really understand myself more.
"I’ve realized a lot of things about who I am as a person.
"Realizing na gusto ko lang ng relationship paminsan-minsan 'coz of the hugging, as opposed to the sex."
Sapat na sa kanya ang yakap ngayon?
"Yeah, I mean essentially... because I’ve had a lot of sex! I’m going to be honest!” bulalas ni Markki.
"I went to school in Switzerland. Andami kong na-sex. But I realized na… I realized na there are some times na it’s good."
Gaano karami na ang naka-sex niya?
Napailing si Markki, "I don’t know anymore. Hindi ko na alam. I have no idea kung ilan, hindi na ako nagka-count.
"But it was in my 20s, early 20s. And then suddenly, [nagkaroon ako ng] relationship. Monogamous three-year relationship. Monogamous two-year relationship...
"And now, I’m 34. And I was 31 when I had my last relationship."
Bukas sa pagsasabi si Mark na siya ay bahagi ng "plus" sa LGBTQIA+ community.
Humigit-kumulang two years ang itinagal ng huling relasyon ni Markki.
Isa si Markki sa mga bida ng Pinoy BL series na Love At The End Of The World, kung saan katambal niya ang baguhang aktor na si Khalid Ruiz.
Mag-i-streaming ang palabas na iyon umpisa Disyembre 30, Huwebes, sa GagaOOLala.
GORGY RULA
Ayon kay Khalid, hindi lalagpas sa 20 ang babaeng nakatalik niya.
"Hindi ko alam kung marami na yun o hindi," napapangiting pakli ni Khalid.
Sumingit si Markki para ipunto ang kahalagahan ng regular medical checkup para sa mga aktibo ang sex life.
Ani Markki: "But it is also important to note—kasi, wala tayong Sex Education dito sa Pilipinas—it’s very important to get tested on a regular basis.
"Kasi, recently, pumunta ako sa Medical City to just get myself a test. I just wanted to have a test, to see how I am.
"And then sabi nila…"
Sa puntong ito, iminuwestra ni Markki ang sinabi ng hospital staff member. Bulong daw ng employee, "Ah, HIV."
Patuloy na kuwento ni Markki: "Sabi ko, 'Why are you whispering to me this HIV? You have to say that out loud. It has to be spoken out loud.
"'We need to know that it is a problem. And to be able to fix it, it needs to be readily available for everyone. And people should not be scared to get these tests.'
"Because they’re very important. We can die from that in the future. From Herpes.
"We have to understand that these are treatable.
"Even HIV, you can live with HIV your entire life. You just have to take the right medication."
Naniniwala si Markki na karampatang medical care ang katapat para sa may mga active sex life.
"So, just letting everyone know, that even if you have a lot of sex, there is nothing wrong with that.
"You just have to be tested. So you don’t hurt anyone else. Be safe! Use a condom!" pagdidiin pa ni Markki.
Si Khalid ba, gumagamit ng condom?
Napapangiting pagtango ni Khalid, “Oo naman po. Oo naman.”
NOEL FERRER
I admire Markki for his bravery, lalo na ngayon in exploring roles and jobs na hindi papasukin at aakuin ng mga taong nagtatago pa at may takot!
Sana lang, umangat pa ang artistry ni Markki sa pelikula at TV. Kasi sa teatro, nandun na ang kanyang kredibilidad!
Basta, sana magsilbi rin siyang inspirasyon sa ibang gustong lumantad at magpakatotoo.
At sana rin, sa susunod niyang relasyon, magtatagal na para hindi na maging pattern ang pag-move on after two to three years.