In this #MahabaHabangUsapan on Gender Equality, spearheaded by PURVEYR and San Mig Light, three artists share their thoughts and experiences on how the Philippine creative industry sees gender.

You can listen to the full ‘usapan’ or panel talk through the Soundcloud player below.

Regine David, a renowned female photographer, highlights how her art has become her form of activism promoting gender. Being in a so-called “male-dominated” industry, she held on to her talent and passion, believing that these would help her carry her through. Thus, she advises up and coming Filipina photographers to just keep on capturing stories and let their wonderful craft speak.

There’s more than one way to live.
— Regine David

Adobo Magazine’s Creative Director Chaz Requina explains and underscores why accurate representation in the media matters. He takes a look back at his childhood, growing up in the US, and identifying himself with “Him”, the flamboyant demon in the Power Puff Girls cartoon show. For Chaz,  he was more than a villain, but an identity that he can relate with. With Him’s groundbreaking gender-bending persona, Chaz understood himself even more — that it’s beautiful for men to wear wigs, heels, and defy gender norms.

There are more possibilities out there than I’ve been presented.
— Chaz Requina

Award-winning young filmmaker Celeste Lapida addresses strength in visibility, noting that carrying the label as a “queer” director and writer is a huge step in making them gender identity known and understood. As a femme-expressing queer person, Celeste has sometimes been questioned for them choices (such as having hairy legs), but they would always forward that once Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression are always and will always be personal. For now, labeling them as queer is important to recognize them as a part of the society, which hopefully would lead to a norm of them being known without the need to be labeled.

It’s the end goal — to not having to explain ourselves.
— Celeste Lapida

All three of them believe that the Philippines is still far from achieving equality, but slowly journeys towards being a progressive nation. As more Filipino artists push for normalizing the existence of every gender, we will, one day, achieve the equal Philippine society we have always hoped for.

Photos — Marvin Conanan