Bulabog: Gays among flowers

MANILA, Philippines – Preparing for the most beautiful night in Barangay 77 in Baclaran, Parañaque City, Bubot Manalang is busy organizing probably the most stunning Flores De Mayo, to date.

“Hindi na lalabas ang mga tao ngayon kung papangunahan mo ng mga babaeng nagdadasal ng ‘Ave Maria’ ‘yang prusisyon. Ilagay mo ang mga tambol at mga beki diyan, tingnan mo na lang kung hindi mabubulabog ang mga tao. Maglalabasan silang lahat sa daan,” gushed Mommy Bubot. 

(People wouldn’t bother to come out the streets if you let women solemnly praying “Ave Maria” lead the procession. How about letting the gays and drums roll in the streets? Let’s see if people won’t come running.)

He is known in the barangay as the yearly organizer of Santa Cruzan and Flores De Mayo.

On that day, beauticians were busy styling hair and applying make-up on women participants, while others were occupied putting up streamers and arranging the flowers on the arcs. 

One of the yearly participants, whom Mommy Bubot texted, was his talent Aldrin “PJ” Avellana, who would be there as the bulabog.

“Nagsasali ako ng mga alaga ko galing sa Malate Gay Pride group tuwing may ino-organisa akong ganitong event – pang-bulabog ba at dagdag aliw.”

(I invite some of my co-Malate Gay Pride members every time I organize events such as this to cause some commotion and to entertain,” he said.

PJ, the ‘bulabog’

Not far from the streets of Baranggay 77 congested with vendors, in a tight and humid room in Bgy Sto Niño, Edward Andrada and Mark Limpin assume the role of PJ’s prep team.

With poise, PJ lifts his face as his friend Edward, a.k.a. “Mayeterrific Professional Hair and Make-Up,” applies make-up using an airbrush.

“I started participating in traditional processions when I was 15,” started PJ.

PJ was raised as a girl in his family and felt no pressure to “man up.” He recalled his first experience joining events that celebrated his gender and sexuality, and smiled at the memory of getting ultimate support from the audience and friends.

For 3 years now, PJ and his friends have been joining the annual procession in the nearby barangay. When asked about how they feel when they are discouraged to participate in the Flores De Mayo, they have different opinions.

Edward, who works as a call center agent, says that they respect the Church and the people’s stand.

“Respeto na lang din kasi kami, nandito kami para magbigay aliw,” he said. (Respect, because we’re just here to entertain.)

Mark, who was busily preparing the Victoria’s Secret-themed costume of PJ, reiterated the right of gays to join the Flores De Mayo too, as they are no less dedicated to it.

PJ said, “Nirerespeto ko din naman yung pananaw nila, nasa tao din ‘yan. Aminado ako na may mga bading na masyadong provocative yung suot kaya naman madaming hindi nagugustuhan ‘yun.” (I respect their views, it also depends on the person. I acknowledge that some gays wear very provocative outfits that many can’t tolerate.)

PJ learned to to shake off the criticisms and sometimes the insults that the audience throws at him. 

“Minsan kapag malayo na kami may mga sisigaw ng ‘bakla’ o ‘bayot.’ Masakit pero takot din naman silang harap-harapan kasi lilipad talaga ‘tong costume ko sa kanila,” PJ joked.

(Some people taunt us and call us names like bakla or bayot. It hurts but I know they can’t say those words straight to my face because they know I can hurl my costume at them.)

PJ acknowledges that its inevitable for people to frown at what they do, but he hopes there will come a time when they will understand and accept them.

On the Catholic Church’s stand

When asked why fewer gay participants were enlisted in this year’s procession, Mommy Bubot told Rappler a few conservative participants requested them to include less gays.

Gay participants were limited to only one to two, who made for the entertaining part of the event. He recalled that in the paast, Barangay 77 residents preferred to see gays parade on the streets.

“Dati mga 10 na bading buhay na buhay na ang sagala. Pero noong tumagal, may mga nagreklamo na bakit daw kami humahawak ng krus. Ayun, hanggang nabawasan nang nabawasan, hanggang sa pambulabog na lang ang mga bakla,” added Mommy Bubot.

(Before, more than 10 gays participated in the procession making it lively and vibrant. Before long, people started complaining, asking why we were the ones holding the cross. Eventually, our number decreased over time until we were just regarded as a disturbance in the occasion.)

On April 15, 2015, The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) expressed its opposition to gays participating in the Santa Cruzan and Flores de Mayo.

Father Jerome Secillano, CBCP Public Affairs Committee executive secretary, said that Flores de Mayo and Sta Cruzan should be simple and the faithful should not turn such events into a beauty pageant or a fashion show, given their deep, religious roots.

Man of the moment

Smoking a cigarette, Edward and Mark assisted PJ with his costume as he gracefully strutted on the dirty pavement going to Baranggay 77.

When they arrived, the band and the women participants were making their way back, already wrapping up the fairy-themed procession.

The 3 arrived an hour late, not expecting the procession to start on time and to end so soon. The attention was turned to them and the cat-calling and taunting began. Turning the situation around, PJ stole the spotlight. As if on cue, his friends rolled out a red tarpaulin to recreate a red carpet scene.

PJ posed for the camera as the cat-calling and taunting were drowned by applause and cheers from people amused by his “show.” Wearing an enormous wing, PJ although late, ended the day with the shutter sounds still ringing in his ears.

– Rappler.com

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