SOCIAL DILEMMA: HOMOSEXUALITY Homosexuals in the Philippine Society as Depicted in “Geyluv” by Honorio Bartolome De Dios

my voice, the ocean’s bell

rings a note bellow the waves.

i am the sea’s sovereign sound,

everyone kneels upon my fins

they give me pleasure.

out of the sea, i am dumb:

my royalty holds no meaning,

no man kneels at my feet

 it is i who kneel

to give them pleasure.

--“Ariel II” by Ralph Semino Gallan (Ladlad, 1994) 

Introduction

The author of “Gayluv” is a gay. This piece of work is a manifestation of his individual point of view and a reflection of his personal observations and experiences on how homosexuals are being treated in our society. Gayluv, as a product of  a first hand experience of a gay man who wants to share the life of homosexuals, and to express his opinions regarding the issues faced by this gender in our society. Honorio De Dios served as an amplifier for the voice of this minority to be heard and be understood by the society. The first line of the story says, “I love you, Mike.” told by Benjie, a line delivered by a man to another man proves that these people are human too. The story evolves between two male characters who have questions in their respective lives and the big role of homosexuality in providing some answers and at the same time more and more questions. To have a better understanding of the idea of the story and the author, the following excerpt from De Dios’ “Sa Labas ng Parlor” (1998) is quoted. “Sa kanyang kalipunan ng mga maiikling katha, seryoso si De Dios sa kanyang pagsisikap na ipahayag at ipaunawa sa lipunang heterosexual ang partikular na kalagayan ng mga Filipinong bakla. Sa bawat kuwento ay hindi lamang ang problema ng bakla sa sarili ang pinoproblema ng bawat tauhan: laging kaugnay ito ng lipunan na siyang kinalalagyan at kinakaharap ng problema.Walang pag-aalinlangan na ang simpatiya ng awtor ay nasa tatag at ganda ng tagdang kinawawagaywayan ng bandila ng kabaklaan.”

“Maagang namulat si Honorio Bartolome De Dios sa makulay at madilim, masaya at malungkot, magulo at mapag-isang mundo ng mga bakla. Mula sa Marilao, Bulacan, lumuwas siya sa Maynila at bilang seminarista ay nag-aral ng sociology at nakilahok sa mga gawaing pangmasa. Na-involve siya sa development work sa loob ng sampung taon. Ngunit hindi lang sa mga ito siya naging abala. Sa mabangis na lungsod, ginalugad din niya ang mga suloksulok ng kabaklaan upang hanapin ang kanyang natatanging lugar sa lipunan. Ilang beses din siyang napaluhod, nadapa, at napasubsob sa kanyang paghahanap. Ngunit sa tuwina, bumabangon siya na may panibagong lakas at determinasyon. Sa ngayon patuloy pa rin ang kanyang paghahanap at ang pinagyayamang karanasan ang ginagamit niyang panulat upang lumikha ng mga kuwentong sumasalamin sa buhay ng mga bakla sa isang lipunang may kinikilingan, mapagsamantala, walang pagkakapantay-pantay, pyudal, at patriyarkal.”

Analysis

            The story is about Benjie and Mike who fall in love with each other. The two presented several aspects of homosexuality in our society. The typical gay or bakla, portrayed by the character of Benjie; was manifested by the manner of his speech in several lines from the story:

“Pero mga ateee, bumigay na naman ako sa hiyaw ng akong puso.”

“Gasgas na sa akin ang puna ng mga amiga kong baklita na ilusyon ko lng ang paghahanap ng meaningful relationship.”

“Daaaaay. Maganda si Carmi. Mas maganda at mas sexy kaysa kay Carmi Martin. Pinanghalong Nanette medbed at Dawn Zulueta ang beauty ng bruha.”

“Ay naku daaaay, imbyerna na ako ha! Ayoko ng guessing game na ganito.”

“Ang Drama, ateee.”

“Naloka talaga ako  nang bigla na lang siyang yumakap sa akin.”

            This kind of language is typical among Filipino homosexuals. Their wide knowledge on beauty and show business was also manifested when Benjie was describing Carmi. Their gay or jolly personality is also quite obvious in the way he speaks. Notably, this kind of homosexuals are those which we see in parlors, the one that is comical and laughable, the one that receives less respect and improper treatment from many, the one which is usually looked down and degraded. Those who are the living persona of insult and are epitomizing the so called “salot ng lipunan”. Remoto (2009) lamented, “Homosexuality is now a contagious moral and spiritual disease from which our youth need to be quarantined?” Such claim was also highlighted by Mike’s fear to be associated with gays, he says “Aba, eh baka kako mapaghinalaan din akong bakla kung isang bakla ang lagi kong kasama.” This manner or frame of thinking on how homosexuality is viewed in our society is possessed by the majority of Filipinos. According to Barnet, (1996) homosexuals and heterosexuals are ways of defining human being. Sadly, in the Philippine setting and in many parts of the world, the definition of homosexuality is immorality and sin. Perhaps, gay’s reputation of using money to get sexual satisfaction with the same gender is also manifested as Mike explained, “…nanlalaki, yun bang namimik up kung saan-saan.” It is undeniable that such practice is rampant among many homosexuals in our country, which probably is the reason why many Filipinos have a negative perception and reception of the gay community.

            An unacceptable behavior in our society of a man appreciating another man was also reflected in the story through the following remarks of Benjie about Mike:

“Oo, gwapo si Mike at macho ang puwit…”

“Aba, at mas gwapo pala sa malapitan ang Mike na ito.”

Such remarks, if uttered by a man, will be a qualifying evidence that he is a gay and that he is deviating from the acceptable norms in the society, which is condemning homosexuality.

            Homosexuals are also portrayed in the story as someone who does not deserve to be happy in terms of emotional aspect, most specifically in the aspect love. This was manifested by the character of Benjie who reflected, “Para kasing nung nakita ko silang dalwa, ang pakiramdam ko, kalabisan na ako…” as he saw Mike and Carmi together. This also supports the conventional thinking of our society that god created man for a woman and a woman for a man and same sex pairing is a sin.

            According to Barnet (1996), “…sexuality will determine the particular categories within which individuals come to understand and to name their own desires.” In the story, a line says, “…sa gitna ng madilim na kwartong kaming dalawa lamang ang laman, ay di lang yakap at halik ang gusto kong isukli sa kanya noong gabing iyon.” Such desire if uttered by a heterosexual will be very acceptable and even encouraged, but if it comes from a homosexual even if there is sincerity, it will still viewed by many-- maliciously and often immoral.

Conclusion

            It is a long way to go, if not impossible before our society could accept homosexuality with tenderness. The injury that it is inflicting and the living scars on the skin of both the heteros and homos in our society will continue as man strives to live in this diverse world. It will keep on burning the fire of reality that whatever we do, accept it or not, homosexuality is existing and growing in our society. These homosexuals could be your parent, your sibling, your cousin, your neighbor, your friend, the person sitting beside you, or you yourself. Therefore, the key I think is, the culture of understanding and acceptance, thus according to Remoto (1994) “yes, we have come, we are here, kapit bisig if you want it—voices that have long been silenced, people who have long lived on the margins of page, on the shadowlands of other people’s consciousness.”

References:

Barnet, S. (1996). A short guide to writing about literature 7^th edition. HarperCollinns:

USA.

Garcia, N. C. & Remoto, D. (1994). Ladlad anthology of Philippine gay writing.

Anvil Publishing Inc. Pasig City.

Remoto, D.(November 16, 2009) Disenfranchising homosexuals Editorial. Ang

Pahayagang Malaya. Retrieved at  http://dantonremoto2010.blogspot.com/2009