Robin Padilla on BB Gandanghari: I’m happy for her

MANILA, Philippines – Robin Padilla is happy for his older sister, BB Gandanghari, a transgender woman and celebrity who recently petitioned to formally change her name and gender in California.

Robin and his siblings weren’t on the best of terms with BB, formerly known as Rustom Padilla, immediately after her transition, but in later years, things were said to have improved between the siblings. 

On BB’s recent petition for a name and gender change, Robin said during an interview with Rappler’s Maria Ressa on Monday, August 22, that he still doesn’t necessarily agree with her choices, but he could be happy for her. 

“Hanggang ngayon, siyempre, I protest. Pero sa atin naman lahat siguro in general, pag mahal natin ang isang tao at masaya yung tao, it doesn’t mean you support, but you are happy as well. Masaya na rin ako para sa kaniya,” he said.

(Until today, of course, I protest. But I guess for all of us in general, if you love a person and she’s happy, it doesn’t mean you support, but you are happy as well. I am happy for her.)

Robin said that BB has done much to change his views on the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. 

“Siyempre hindi naman lahat ng tao bukas lagi ang iniisip, marami din akong pagkakamali at marami din akong pagkakamali sa kanya,” admitted Robin.

(Of course not all people are open-minded, I made a lot of mistakes too, and I did her a lot of wrong.)

“As long as para po sa akin, you are not violating any law, at wala kang sinasaktan na tao, then we are good, we are at peace,” said Robin, who noted that the community has huge contributions to his own industry and to many others, as well. 

(As long as, for me, you are not violating any law, and you’re not hurting anyone, then we are good, we are at peace.)

He earlier added that his family understood that this is BB’s choice, and that no one is expecting her to change her mind. 

“Wala na po talaga ma’am, mama ko na lang po ang nananatiling naniniwala na babalik pa si Kuya Rustom. Pero kami, siguro, humor na lang, pero 50 na siya, 49, baka magalit sa akin ‘yun, nasabi ko edad niya. Siguro mahirap na, ‘yun na ‘yun,” he said.

(No ma’am, it’s just my mom who still believes our brother Rustom could come back. But I guess, with us, we use humor…she’s 50, 49 – she might get mad at me, I said her age. I guess that’s that.)

BB faced her own challenges when she came out as a transgender woman, including the long journey towards acceptance. BB talked about being gay back in Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Edition in 2006, in her late 30s, as Rustom. BB was officially introduced in 2009. – Rappler.com