Gay Filipino in History: Ka Jose and Ka Andres

 

Ka Jose and Ka Andres were widely recognized as the first couple to have a same-sex wedding in the Philippines.

Although it was not a legally recognized union in the Philippines, Andres and Jose, an NPA couple, were married in southern Mindanao in 2005, making it the first known Filipino same-sex wedding.  Although they were not granted a license, Maria Arlyn Ibanez and Joanne Reena Gregorio made the first attempt at a same-sex marriage in a Philippine civil registry in 2015.  Due to the Philippines' lack of legal recognition for same-sex unions, many other Filipino couples have chosen to get married overseas or in private ceremonies.

On the island of Mindanao, in the Compostela Valley province, Ka Jose and Ka Andres were married in a historic ceremony in February 2005.  A 1998 Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) document that approved of same-sex relationships made this possible.

Throughout the "wedding," the couple's shoulders were adorned with a CPP flag.  The couple exchanged vows, signed a "wedding contract," and were congratulated by their community. Instead of exchanging wedding rings, the two exchanged bullets to symbolize their dedication to the armed struggle. A chorus performed revolutionary love songs, and local peasants and comrades were there.

The ceremony demonstrated how closely the couple's personal love and their political and revolutionary commitment inside the NPA are intertwined.

A few years after the wedding, the couple split up, according to a 2010 MindaNews story.  According to reports, Ka Jose deserted the rebel movement after Ka Andres (Val Mente) passed away from a rat-borne illness.

Gay Filipino in History - Biniboys

 Biniboys

First Filipino Group of Transvestites

Most likely, "Biniboys" alludes to the Biniboys Ball, a 1957 social event for transsexual people in the Philippines, specifically in Pasay, Manila.  A Facebook post referred to it as the first-ever exclusive party for transvestites.

In the middle of the 1950s, transvestites and crossdressers frequently frequented Dewey Boulevard in search of fun and easy cash at the cost of gullible travelers.  Mayor Arsenio Lacson had to order the police to step up their campaign against these "biniboys" since they became so out of hand.

In February 1957, a group of transvestites organized the first-ever Biniboys Ball, an elite celebration in Pasay, to better their reputation in the community.  The dance celebration invited transvestites from all across Manila, and many of them showed up in their finest attire, accompanied by their male companions.

Thanks to the Biniboys of Pasay, the Biniboys Ball made for good public relations news and momentarily gave the general public peace of mind that not all of their type engaged in dubious activities.

Gay Filipino In History - Walterina Markova

Walterina Markova (1924 - 2005) 

Filipino Comfort Gay

Birth Name: Walter Dempster Jr.

Birth Date: May 20, 1924, in Pasay, Rizal

Death: June 24, 2005

During the Japanese conquest of the Philippines in World War II, Walter Dempster Jr. (May 20, 1924 – June 24, 2005), better known by his nickname Walterina Markova, was a gay Filipino who was compelled to work as a "comfort gay" (sex slave) for Imperial Japanese Army soldiers.

As a young child growing up in Manila in the 1930s, Markova's life was already influenced by cruelty. He was frequently harassed and mistreated as a child by his older brother, Robert. When Robert passed away, he experienced independence for the first time.

According to Markova, he was first unconcerned by the Japanese soldiers' presence in the nation in the early 1940s. Actually, the soldiers only chuckled when they witnessed his gang rifling through a Harrison food shop.

However, Japanese forces searching for Americans nearly arrested him during a raid. When the military arrived, he was accompanied by his American stepfather, and they brought him to a garrison at the University of Sto. Tomas.

Markova claimed that the Japanese soldiers eventually turned vicious. He remarked, "In the land they do not own, they were like kings." Rice, vegetables, and other goods were seized by the soldiers to be kept in their barracks. By then, he recalled, forced labor was also enforced.

Markova joined a gang of six drag queens, or crossdressing performers, after leaving home. Japanese forces detained him when he was a member of this group and brought him to what is now the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

For several years, he and his friends—along with other "comfort gays"—were forced to work and were sexually exploited by Japanese soldiers, who utilized the "comfort women" for their own purposes.

During World War II, when homosexuality was seen as a societal taboo and a cardinal sin, the Japanese army compelled him to work as a sex slave.

At Japanese sentry stations, violence was a common occurrence. Markova said how they were told to exit the car in order to give them a salute. They would be beaten severely if they did not perform the proper salute, which is to bow the head to hip level with the hands-on top of the thighs. He held his cheeks and remarked, "Pag hindi maganda ang saludo mo sasampalin ka…bibigyan ka ng mag-asawang sampal" (If the salute was not performed correctly, the soldiers would slap you on both sides of your face).

After learning from an informant that a gay man had killed a Japanese in retaliation for the loss of his parents, Japanese soldiers were once hunting out gays. At the San Beda College gate, a gay acquaintance was detained, shackled, and subjected to beatings and cigarette burns by passing Japanese soldiers. Only when another gay suspect—who was thought to be the Japanese murderer—was apprehended was he released.

The culprit was then taken to Fort Santiago, according to Markova, where burning wood was placed beneath his feet and his arms were hung. It appears that during torture, all of his toenails were ripped out.

Between 80,000 and 200,000 women were reportedly coerced into serving Japanese troops at "comfort stations" across the Pacific during World War II, according to historical records.

Even when men were around, Filipino women were not safe in those days. In reality, women were raped anywhere, at any time, and even in front of their male friends, according to Markova. "They would compel women to accompany them and sexually assault them anywhere," Markova said, describing the ways in which they would violate their rights.

Markova and his gay pals were not exempt from such "service" at the age of 18, which is considered to be the age of adolescence for women.

When Markova's barkada (friends) were brought to the Japanese officials' suites at the Manila Hotel, Japanese soldiers initially thought they were ladies. In addition to being beaten with weapons for their "deception," all drag queens were ordered to be detained. After being taken to a place that is now known as the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, the gays were raped far more frequently than comfort ladies and turned into comfort drag queens.

"Buti sana eh hindi kung isang beses lang ginawa sa amin 'yon." Lahat ng klaseng kababuyan ginawa sa amin. "Mga bakla ito, hindi ito mga tunay na babae." He recalled, "Di ka naman makapagsabi ng 'huwag,' e bayoneta ang kaharap mo" (They did it not once, but multiple times; they were even enraged that we were gay and not women; they did all kinds of nasty things to us and we were unable to defend ourselves because their bayonets were pointed at us).

The barkada or friends would be transported to other Japanese camps for years in order to provide the soldiers with their "service." They simply had a set of clothes back then, Markova disclosed. He said that while they were washing their garments, they would just wear rice sacks.

Additionally, the barkada were forced to perform labor. They would wash the soldiers' uniforms and shine their battle shoes every morning before cleaning their barracks. The lawn in front of Manila City Hall also needed to be mowed.

He claimed that despite all of their "service" and other labor, they were frequently just given lugaw (rice porridge) to eat. Giving them sisid rice—sea rice that had to be fried due to its unpleasant odor—along with mongo beans and ginataang ubod ng saging, or banana stalk cooked with coconut milk, was already a feast for them.

Markova witnessed the army raiding communities nearly every day while they were in Japanese prison. Those who were arrested would be slain after having their hands tied. "D'yan sa may Remedios Church, ang daming paring Amerikanong pinatay d'yan" (Many American priests were slaughtered at the Remedios Church in Baclaran), he said.

Markova, however, was appalled by the infant deaths. "Cheers to the sanggol!"Ihahagis nila nang pataas bago sasaluhin ng bayoneta," Markova muttered, shaking his head in fear. (Babies were hurled up in mid-air and their bodies punctured by bayonets as they came down.)

These terrible events caused Markova to live each day as though it were his last. Nevertheless, his desire to regain his freedom had not been forgotten.

About a year before American troops returned, he had an opportunity to run for freedom. He was traveling to another Japanese garrison in a military truck with a few friends. The Japanese soldiers had to disembark to inspect the truck due to a mechanical issue. It was then that Markova and his companions fled. The Japanese soldiers pursued them through a grassy field that is known today as the EDSA highway, but it was too late for them. 

Markova witnessed a captured Japanese soldier bound to the rear of a jeep one day during the "liberation." He claimed to have struck the soldier with an umbrella in retaliation. Then he removed a safety pin and poked the inmate several times.

When the soldier's American prisoners attempted to step in, he warned them, "You don't know what the Japanese did to us...they tortured us."

To exact revenge for what they had done to us, I slapped the Japanese and then struck his arms, head, and face. “But nahampas ko na ‘yung Hapon…kung saan ko hampasin, sa likod, sa braso, sa ulo, sa mukha, para makaganti ako sa galit ko sa ginawa sa amin.”

Markova was eventually left alone to tell this story after learning that his two other gay friends had been killed in a raid shortly before the Japanese occupation ended.

He retired from crossdressing years after the war ended and worked as a makeup artist for the motion picture industry. He also discovered that some macho actors in the movie business were in relationships with gay lovers.

He would spend the night in the Home for the Golden Gays in Pasay City, where other elderly gay people who had experienced persecution from society also sought safety.

Additionally, he started training young Filipinas part-time to work as exotic dancers in Japan.

Markova never believed that his story, which was already widely known in print and on television, would be worthy of a movie. Dolphy, the comedy king of the film industry, depicts his life in much more detail.

His final years were spent in Pasay City at the Home for the Golden Gays. When he was unintentionally struck by a racing bike on June 24, 2005, he passed away at the age of 81.

He was cited as saying: "Tayo namang tao ay hindi talaga magtatagal. Kaya ako lumabas ay para magbigay inspirasyon lalo na mga baklang hanggang ngayon ay inaalipusta pa rin. Because of this, naniniwala ako na hindi lang ang sarili ko ang napalaya ko mula sa ganitong pagtingin." (As humans, we won't live long. By sharing my own story, I hope to inspire other gays who are still oppressed today, and by doing so, I may have likely granted freedom to many other gay people.)

Gil Portes directed the 2000 movie Markova: Comfort Gay, which was based on his narrative. It was screened at the San Francisco International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival as well as the Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival in 2002.

Source Article: 

WP, excerpts from AUBREY SC MAKILAN's interview of Walter Dempster Jr for Bulatlat.com

Photo Source: 

The Probe Team

Gay Filipino In History: Arsenio de Guzman

Arsenio de Guman

Patriotic Cult Leader

Name: Arsenio de Guzman

Hometown: Barrio Sinalhan, Santa Rosa, Laguna

The cross dressing colorful individual Arsenio de Guzman founded the nationalistic sect Iglesia ng Watawat ng Lahi on December 25, 1936. (The followers of early leader Gaudioso Parabuac is contesting the claim). 

De Guzman who is from Barrio Sinalhan, Sta. Rosa, Laguna is a former storekeeper and has been the face and voice of the sect ever since. He is fond of wearing feminine attire, make-up and printed nails. He is known to assume different personalities and was called by various names such as Tatay Ada, Anda Malakie, Maria Consuelo, and Ka Senyong.

De Guzman claimed that he was commissioned by his friend and hero to carry out his will after his death in 1896 making Rizal the sect's patron saint. He further claimed that he was 100 years old at the time of his interview. 

He placed a set of 10 principles that all members and followers should adhere and follow the examples of heroes, attend regularly masses in Latin and internalize the slogan:  "Maka-Dios. Maka-Tao. Maka-Bayan."

In the 1956 report, the religious nationalistic cult has a following over 50,000 with 30-cassock or sutana wearing priests, seminarians and bishops. 

The Iglesia ng Watawat ng Lahi firmly believes that Rizal is the Holy Spirit reincarnate, and that Jose Rizal was never really killed during his execution at the Bagumbayan on December 30, 1896. The sect stressed out that when his family attempted to exhume his body in the Paco Park where it was buried after his executive, it is nowhere to be found and that a tree trunk and a pair of shoes were found at the site.

The Samahan Rizal nationalistic cult believes that there are four personas of God: God the Father, God the Mother (Mary), God the Son (Jesus Christ) and God the Holy Spirit.

At its peak in the 1980, the group reached over 100,000 members. However, by 2012, its number dwindle down to a staggering of at least 90 percent. In the same year, the sect was led by Bonifacio Relleta.

In the year 1987, the group was divided into four factions: The Samahan ng Watawat ng Lahi Presiding Elders, Iglesia ng Watawat ng Lahi Malvarosa Faction, Iglesia ng Lipi ni Gat Dr. Rizal and Pilipinas Iglesia ng Watawat ng Lahi.

The charismatic cult leader was buried in the grounds of the Iglesia ng Watawat ng Lahi headquarters in Laguna where people still visit his tomb.

Iglesia ng Watawat ng Lahi Flag

One of the symbols of the Iglesia ng Watawat ng Lahi, clearly influenced by Masonry is the triangle with the " eye of God " and three stars on it. 

 

The Nationalistic Cult Church

 

Iglesia ng Watawat ng Lahi Headquarters Building

Sources:

Filipiknow (Author: Alex R. Castro) - https://filipiknow.net/lgbt-personalities-philippine-history/

Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:8430jfSierra_La_Paz_Dumarais_Church_Roads_Tarlacfvf_06.JPG

Maharlika kingdom of God Lupah Sug Empire Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/107718370926612/photos/a.107736270924822/117618116603304/?type=3

Gay Filipino In History: Crispulo "Pulong" Trinidad Luna

Crispulo Trinidad Luna (1903 - 1976)

Early Filipino Transvestite

Birth Name: Crispulo Trinidad Luna

Birth: June 10, 1903 in Sasmuan, Pampanga

Death: May 1976

Pulong as he is fondly called is the first prominent Filipino gay crossdresser. Although obviously, he is not the first Filipino transvestite as there are Filipino transvestite during the Spanish colonial period, he prominently sits for portraits working for Victoria Studios and his life was well documented by his relatives. His life is colorful yet meaningful and paved the way for modern day transvestite now with the popular drag race. His story was first written and told by the award-winning writer J. Neil Garcia in his book "Performing the Self: Occasional Prose" and in fact, Pulong made the cover of his acclaimed book. Almost all of the information in this article came from his book and written journal, "Budhi: A Journal of Ideas and Culture" published by the Ateneo de Manila University publishing house.

Lolo Pulong was born Crispulo Trinidad Luna on June 10, 1903. He is the third child of four children of the couple Pedro Luna and Candelaria Trinidad both of Sasmuan, Pampanga. He grew up in Orani, Bataan where his father earned a living for his family as a fisherman. When his husband died, Candelaria moved the family to Tondo until her children are old enough to become independent and have a family of their own. 

Even as a very young boy, Pulong had been "soft" and "effeminate" - he has a light skin which makes him appear like a mestizo and his features is delicate which is no surprise for his family that he did not get married as all of his siblings did. His sister recalls that each time a well-meaning family offer to find him a wife, even at the ripe old age of 50, invariably, his response, delivered with unflappable grace, was, "Pero por Dios, babae ako!" (For heaven's sake, I'm a woman!). Pulong was never subjected to a moralizing judgment by his siblings or by anyone in their families in fact, petty jealousies erupted among them whenever Pulong chose to live with any one family for too long. 

In the late 1920s when he was at least 25 years old, Pulong had made friends with the owner of the Victoria Studios in Paco, Manila where some of these pictures of Pulong (and a picture with his live in partner Juan) were taken. This studio was located close to the home of the sibling with whom Pulong is staying at the time. 

As was the case with other photo studios and establishments of its kind, a customer wishing to be photographed by the Victoria studio could choose to avail himself or herself of any of the costumes which the studio kept in its wardrobes. Pulong had pictures of himself taken well into his twilight years. He ended up with a sizable collection of these visual self-representations which, arranged chronologically, comprises the narrative of his life. In them, we find him all dressed and made up in feminine poses and styles, reflective of the fashion of the time. 

In one photo, Pulong has transformed himself into "Madame Butterfly" complete with kimono and geisha headgear in a homage to Puccini's benighted heroine, whose opera had just opened in Manila. In another photo, Pulong is wearing a more contemporary American-style dress standing beside a seated woman in a traje de mestiza (a Spanish-inspired dress usually cut out of cloth made from pineapple fibers). 

 

Although Pulong's effeminacy shifted effortlessly from being a "simple" (speaking in a soft and sing song manner, walking demurely acting like a modest dalagang Filipina or Filipino maiden, etc.) to "moderate" (putting on a little makeup, wearing women's undergarments and accessories), to "elaborate" (going in full drag), but only occasionally and inside the privacy of this friend's studio did he let his hair down, and go the whole hog to pursue the dream of crossing over.

Soon after these pictures were taken, Pulong became involved with and eventually became a supposed to be "wife" to a certain maestro carpentero or master carpenter (equivalent to foreman in a construction site), a strapping man five years younger, whose name was Juan. They live in their own dwelling place - a "love nest" of some sorts. This was an arrangement that the families of both side of the relationship involved have no problem or issues with. Years living with Juan were the happiest years in Pulong's life. Pulong's nieces remember that their uncle Pulong occasionally told them that Juan was the first and last "love" of his life. It was while living with Juan that Pulong had sharpened his home making skills, the most noteworthy of which were cooking and sewing. Pulong kept a clean and cozy house for his partner, and later in his life, he would continue to do the same for the family of his sister Miguela, and much later on with the family of this sister's daughter, Patricia or Aling Pat. This "conjugal bliss" last only a few years. Working on a house one day during the Japanese occupation, Juan fell from the scaffolding, and from the fall suffered an internal injury which caused his death about a month later. 

After World War II following the liberation from the Japanese forces, Pulong moved into Miguela's (Gelay), house in Santa Ana district, Manila. As if providing Gelay house help and assistance managing her household was not enough, he worked as a part-time sari sari store attendant owned by Aling Sabel, a family friend and accepted to do handwash laundry services as well as perform many other housekeeping chores for friends and acquaintances who could afford to pay for his service fee. Pulong decided to stay with her sister Gelay because she suffered from the tragic fate of losing her babies to crib death one after the other. Out of a total of 14, only six of her children survived including Aling Pat. He played important role raising these children, teaching them, particularly the girls, how to be "decent", how to keep themselves clean all the time, to wash, iron, mend clothing properly. He gave them strict instructions in the matter of boyfriends, and imposed curfews whenever they went out. Of course, it was not beneath Tio Pulong to size up his nieces' prospective suitors. We can only imagine how terrorized those poor boys must have been, every time they came to the house to call. 

Ever if he devoted a good part of his life helping his sister raise her family, he usually managed to get a few moments to himself. Aling Pat recalls that after Tio Pulong had moved in with her in 1970, the old man would sometimes go out to watch movies with an effeminate friend, a bubbly, grey-haired man he called Tiago. Other than the movies, the two of them also like taking long, leisurely strolls down Hardin Botanico which later eventually be called as Mehan Gardens.

Patricia remembers that toward the end of his life, Lolo Pulong received regular visits from his friends, Josie and Tessie, a pair of garrulous gay beauticians from the neighborhood who have the tendency to be a little loud and swishy. These two were given to calling the old man, endearingly, their "Lola Pulonia." Sometimes when Lolo Pulog could no longer abide their brash  and unladylike ways, he would shush and promptly reprimand them. The three of them comprised a happy bunch, breaking out in giggles over stories of sexual escapades both remembered and imagined. During these times, Lolo Pulong's face could be seen to light up, as though in his mind he was already somewhere else, sashaying in a floral sun dress in a life he'd always wanted and once probably did get to have, dreaming he was with his beloved Juan once more, young and looking fabulous as always and free.

Crispulo Trinidad Luna who was fondly called Lolo Pulong by his loved ones and people who knew him passed away in May of 1976 due to a stroke or a ruptured aneurysm.

On the right, Pulong is wearing a more contemporary American-style dress standing beside a seated woman in a traje de mestiza (a Spanish-inspired dress usually cut out of cloth made from pineapple fibers). Lest the viewer be misled, the third figure in this photo to their left wearing a Commonwealth-period Filipiniana native dress is probably also another man.

Sources:

J. Neil Garcia - Performing the Self: Occasional Prose, Budhi: A Journal of Ideas and Culture

Gay Filipino In History: Gregorio Lampino of Lambunao, Iloilo

The Pulahan (or sometimes called Dios Dios) is a Visayan religious revival cult easily identified by their red outfit was a popular pre-Revolution group during the last years of the Spanish occupation that once had some 15, 000 followers.

When Iloilo joined the fight against Spain, the revolutionary leader Quintin Salas of Dumangas, Iloilo sought the help of pulajan leader Hermenigildo Maraingan. Maraingan's trusy aide was Gregorio Lampino of Lambunao, Iloilo, a homosexual and considered as one of Maraingan's secondary leader. He participated in raids against Spanish territories in Capiz.

Gay Filipino In History: Ponciano Elofre Of Negros Oriental

Ponciano Elofre (c. 1800s ? - 1887)

Public Servant, Shaman and Revolt Leader

Birth Name: Ponciano Elofre / Ponciano Elopre

Birth: circa mid 1800s in Negros Oriental

Death: August 22, 1887 in Siaton, Negros Oriental

The skirt-wearing Ponciano Elofre (sometimes spelled as Ponciano Elopre) was a Cabeza de Barangay or the head of a barangay (now called barangay captain) in the town of Zamboanguita in Negros Oriental and also the leader of a politico-religious revolt in Negros in the late 19th century against the Spaniards.

He began his revolt when as a Cabeza de Barangay failed to collect all the taxes from his constituents. As a result, the Spanish soldiers beat his father, Cris Elofre to death to teach him a lesson. He took the name Dios Buhawi (Hiligaynon word for "Tornado or Whirlwind God" and thereafter, rallied the people against the forced payment of taxes.  

Soon later, he included religious freedom as part of his agenda and presided over the celebration of the ancient rites of the babaylan (ancient Visayan shaman priest), a revival of the pre-Spanish period religious leader. He and his followers numbering about 2,000 were later called the babaylanes. Elofre was reputedly dressed in female garments and was said to be effeminate in the same manner as ancient asog shamans. 

The activities of Elofre so alarmed the Spanish colonial government that governor-general Valeriano Weyler sent 500 Guardia Civil (civil guards) and a battleship to Negros to deal with the threat. On the fateful day of August 22, 1887, Elofre raided Siaton, the town adjoining Zamboanguita, and was killed in the encounter with the colonial forces. His wife, Flaviana Tubigan, continued the revolt but lacked her husband's charm and charisma. She was succeeded by Ka Martin de la Cruz, Elofre's lieutenant of the town of Tolong (now the Municipality of Santa Catalina) located in the southern part of Negros Oriental but his command of the babaylanes degenerated into banditry. When the Spanish authorities failed in their attempt to capture him on September 11, 1893, de la Cruz was killed in a trap laid by his own mistress, Alfonsa Alaidan. 

The remaining Buhawi followers according to historian Modesto P. Sa-onoy were later recruited by Papa Isio when he began to organize his own group of babaylanes in another revolt against Spain.

Gay Filipino In History Introduction

We have known so many men and women in Philippine history which tells of their exploits, heroism, accomplishments and contributions to helped us win our independence and freedom from tyranny, build our nation but most of all gives color to the Pearl of the Orient history.

While we know the stories of some Filipino individuals in history whose contribution or significant body of work gives an indelible mark which makes a big difference and impact through time, some other Filipinos unknown and unheard of by many of today's generations also made some impact and for a time make some noteworthy buzz worthy to be mentioned and be known in our nation's long journey to what we are today. 

Aside from the stories of the unknown straight Filipino men and women there are also members of the gay community in history whose stories are also quite interesting to tell and be heard of. We will now know their unheard stories which can also amuse us and inspire us to be courageous and motivate us to do great now and in the future. 

In the succeeding series, Ocean Breeze blog will feature some of these colorful personalities who made an imprint in our annals chapter of courageous act, heroism and greatness.