GORGY RULA
Ibinahagi ng actress/director na si Isabel Sandoval na hindi siya gaanong nahirapan sa kanyang transition para maging isang ganap na babae sa Amerika.
Taong 2005 pumunta ng Amerika si Isabel para i-pursue ang filmmaking. Nakagawa pa ng dalawang pelikula dito si Isabel noong 2011, ang Aparisyon at Senorita gamit ang pangalang Vincent Sandoval.
Bandang 2013 nagsimula ang proseso ng transition para maging babae ang kanyang status sa Amerika.
“They allowed me to underwent my transition and decided to change my name in the documents, which is a straightforward process in the US,” pakli niya nang nakapanayam namin sa tanggapan ni Cong. Arjo Atayde para sa pelikulang Moonglow na pagsasamahan nila.
Nagpapasalamat siyang hindi siya nahirapan sa ganung proseso.
“To be honest, I don’t think I would have transitioned here in the Philippines. Maybe back then, you know, it would have been difficult for me.
“I think because when I was a kid growing up, I was really kinda bookish, geeky, reserved type. I wasn’t really like the big flamboyant, ahmm... character.
“So, it’s hard for me to see myself in, I guess how transwomen were portrayed then? And of course, you know, we can all express ourselves in our unique individual way.
“But after I moved to the US, you know, I was… I came across these YouTube channels of people who were documenting their transition.
“And these are… because the theme of these videos tend to be, you know when they’re taking hormones, either like the transition from male to female or female to male, while they’re taking hormones….”
Hindi naman daw niya sinunod ang iba na kailangang i-document, dahil private person daw siya.
“When I saw those videos, these are the people that were making these videos, either writers or they had families or they’re working for non-profit organizations like regular ordinary people, and for some reason I found myself asking the same questions that they were asking themselves, and that really started, you know, my own journey.
“And I realized ultimately, and the moment I decided to transition was… yeah! It was the realization that I was not transitioning to become a woman. I’m transitioning to become more fully myself which happens to be a woman. And I don’t, you know, by transitioning into who I am now.
“I don’t have to be a Kim Kardashian type or a Barbie.
“I can still be myself, but just the shell of it is different, and that’s what gave me I think, you know, the peace, the sense of peace and calm and the confidence to pursue what I ended pursuing,” saad ni Isabel.
NOEL FERRER
Nagpapasalamat si Isabel dahil nandiyan ang suporta ng kanyang magulang, lalo na ang kanyang ina na naninirahan sa Cebu.
“My mom has always been supportive of me pursuing opportunities to, you know, fulfill and realize my potential. I’m very grateful to my parents for that,” sambit ni Isabel.
“I’m so proud of the journey that I’ve gone on. My mom is proud of me. Because ultimately at the end of the day, I think of myself first and foremost as an artist and a filmmaker.
“And at this moment, I think in the community that I’m a part of, that I am recognized as a filmmaker or some talent. Hopefully, of extreme caliber who makes films and art better, challenging and interesting, and hopefully you know, represent the future of cinema,” sabi pa ni Isabel.
Ang isa pang ipinagpapasalamat ni Isabel ay hindi rin siya nakaranas ng discrimination sa Amerika, bilang isa siyang Asian at Pinoy pa.
“I did not… and I’m very lucky in that sense, and that I guess after having been in a hormone therapy and also being an Asian and Filipino, I guess physically I passed well enough. I’m lucky in that regard.
“But I’m also a very private, you know, person. I was an only child and so you know, I’m more, I guess focused on my work and my art in that sense.
“It's not something like being trans, not something that I wake up and think about every day in the US.
“And it’s both a luxury and, ahmm... and also I think the decision that I make,” saad ni Isabel.
JERRY OLEA
Maikukumpara kay Isabel ang pinagdadaanan ni BB Gandanghari na nakuha rin ang status bilang transwoman sa Amerika.
Ibinahagi ni BB sa social media ang mga pinagdaanan niya sa transition na iyon.
Taong 2016 ay pinalitan na ang gender niya bilang isang babae ng Orange County Superior Court.
Sabi ni Isabel, nagkakilala sila ni BB, pero wala naman daw siya sa posisyong magbigay ng komento o payo pagdating sa transition bilang isang babae.
“I’ve met her, but you know, people should live their lives the way that they want and feel, as long that makes them happy.
“I don’t think I’m in the position to comment or give advice to someone who I think despite you know, being trans I think had a very unique and singular journey of their own.
“But I absolutely wish BB Gandanghari well… you know,” pakli ni Isabel.