From Mr. Gay World to Community Activist
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Raspado after winning Mr. Gay World (Photo courtesy of Raspado)
It was a long journey for Raspado before he stepped into that international pageant stage in Spain. He wasn’t really into joining pageants, but it all began with what Filipinos call “katuwaan lang” (just for fun.) In fact, the first contest he competed in was “Manila’s Prettiest,” which was more of a trans contest. But he says a question in that competition changed his attitude towards pageants. It was then that he thought pageants could be a good platform for advocating for issues he cared most about. The question: “How do you explain ‘transgender’ to a child?” The question still haunts him to this day.
Many of his friends always told him that his good looks would be his ticket to being in show business. It turned out show business was his first national exposure — a coming out if you will — as a gay man. He joined a television show titled “PoGay,” a competition for self-identified gay men. He won in the daily episode but didn’t make the cut for the succeeding competition weeks. That is, until he got a call back as a wild card contestant. He eventually won in the grand finals.
Raspado during Mr. Gay World Philippines competition (Photo courtesy of Raspado)
In the years preceding 2017, the country’s representative to Mr. Gay World was appointed, not selected through competition. He says he was always on the short list for several years but never got the final nod. In 2016, organizers held an actual pageant to choose the Philippine representative to the 2017 world pageant. The rest is history.
During the world pageant, Raspado chose a “whole approach” as his advocacy platform. He chose the acronym “HEART” for issues he cared about: Health; Equality; Acceptance; Responsibility; Testing & Treatment for HIV/AIDS.
Since winning the world pageant, Raspado has been involved in some theater and in speaking engagements in the Philippines and abroad. He eventually had to return permanently to his hometown of Baguio City to take care of family members.
In Baguio, Raspado has been involved in community activism and advocacy. He is among the incorporators of a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) called “Keep Going Baguio” (KGB). KGB comprises health professionals, advocates, and individuals and their families who are dealing with mental health issues, including depression, suicide, anxiety, and other similar disorders. It provides referrals to mental health providers, information and resources, and convenes check-ins and a support group for those dealing with issues. It calls the providers mental health “warriors.”
In his search for a church group that is accepting of LGBTs, Raspado found the local Metropolitan Community Church where he also became involved in HIV/AIDS advocacy. He eventually joined Community-Based Screening (CBS) as a volunteer. CBS provides free HIV screening in Baguio and nearby provinces.
He is now also involved in environmental issues both as part of his current employment as well as on a personal level. He says that when it comes to environmental issues, most people usually look at tree preservation, not realizing that Baguio has other critical environmental problems like water treatment, waste, and sewerage issues.
Raspado at the AIDS Candlelight Memorial in Baguio City, May 30 (Photo by Rene Astudillo)
As if these were not enough to make him busy, Raspado also volunteers his time to promote the sale of bags for donation to worthy causes in the city. He does this through video clips he posts on social media.
Raspado says he has been in a long-term relationship for seven years now with someone who is a health care worker overseas. When asked about the issue of same-sex marriage, he says he’s all for it although he acknowledges it faces big hurdles in the Philippines, with strong opposition from politicians, the Catholic Church, and many Filipinos.
“I hope someday that those who are in same-sex relationships would not only be accepted unconditionally, but also afforded the rights that they so deserve.” After all, he says, “Merong forever (There is forever).”
Rene Astudillo is a writer, book author and blogger and has recently retired from more than two decades of nonprofit community work in the Bay Area. He spends his time between California and the Philippines.
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