The LADYBOY PHENOMENON | (IN THE PHILIPPINES)

Pea tackles the transgender community in the Philippines through a combination of her own research and on-camera interviews with trans Filipinos willing to share their stories. She dispels Western myths about why there are so many trans people in the Philippines, explores the legal and social contradictions they face, and lets interview subjects speak for themselves about their fears, dreams, and daily realities.

What's Covered ​

• Myth-busting: this isn't a Western import

  • Many Western expats claim Hollywood and media are pushing transgender issues onto the "gullible" Filipino population — Pea flatly rejects this
  • Transgender identity has been widely accepted in Asian cultures for centuries; the ladyboys of Thailand are one iconic example
  • In the pre-colonial Philippines, before the Spanish invasion of 1521, men who dressed and acted as women (called babalan or bakla) were often respected elders and shamans — until the Spanish repressed or exterminated them
  • This is deeply rooted in Philippine culture, not a fad

• Myth-busting: it's not a financial hustle targeting foreigners

  • Some Westerners believe the large number of trans Filipinos are just men trying to attract rich foreigners and trick them for money
  • Pea says this is simply not the case based on her experience — all her interview subjects present as women 24/7, not just when looking for men
  • Trans Filipinos are attracted to foreigners for the same mix of reasons Filipinas are, which sometimes includes financial security but goes beyond money

• Filipino cultural attitudes toward trans people

  • Foreigners can commonly be seen in the company of trans Filipinos and locals generally don't raise an eyebrow
  • Filipinos don't see it as homosexuality in quite the same way Westerners might
  • There are even beauty pageants for young children where parents encourage their boys to participate
  • It's "a slightly different dynamic here, although obviously not everyone approves"

• Interview with Arjane Roshana (age 20, from Naga)

  • Experienced a gender crisis and initially tried to present as male; found she wasn't happy
  • Transitioned in fourth year of high school (age 16), started wearing women's clothes
  • Coming out to parents was extremely difficult — she hid her true personality in first year high school because she was afraid of their reaction; when she started getting ear piercings, her mother confronted her
  • Takes contraceptive pills and hormonal injections for her transition — notes contraceptive pills aren't really advisable for transition but are commonly used by young trans Filipinos; hormones affect voice, facial hair, etc.
  • Presents as female 24/7 and is always upfront with dates about being transgender: "I don't want to hide myself. I don't want to pretend that I'm a real girl because the reality is I'm a transgender"
  • Job discrimination: she finished a Bachelor of Elementary Education but can't practice because the code of ethics in education prohibits males from growing long hair and wearing female clothing — the rationale is it would "confuse the children"; she calls teaching her dream profession and is visibly sad about it
  • Biggest fear in her current relationship: that her boyfriend will eventually leave her for "a real girl" who can give him children
  • What she wants people to understand: "We are also human. God created us like this. This is not our choice because we feel it from our heart"

• Interview with Patricia (age 21, radiological technology student)

  • Knew from childhood — played with cousin's Barbie dolls, imagined herself as a "deadly girl assassin" like Cameron Diaz's character Natalie in Charlie's Angels
  • Father has NOT accepted her and she is "obviously in a lot of pain" about it but remains determined
  • Hasn't had gender reassignment surgery and hasn't decided about it; still has male anatomy, which she says is "no problem"
  • Has never been in a relationship; prefers foreigners, influenced by growing up watching Hollywood movies — attracted to what she perceives as caring and responsible attitudes
  • Plans: wants to finish her radiological technology degree, help her parents, serve God
  • Bathroom dilemma: sometimes uses female restrooms, sometimes male; gets uncomfortable looks from both genders; once was physically confronted by a janitor at a public bus terminal who forced her to use the men's bathroom, where men mocked her and threw insults — sometimes she just holds it rather than face the humiliation
  • On the claim that trans people destroy the traditional family unit: argues the opposite — trans people are willing to adopt children that unprepared parents might otherwise abort; "instead of destroying, they help"
  • Says she would support any adopted child's gender identity without pressure

• Legal and social paradox Pea identifies

  • Same-sex marriage is illegal in the Philippines, so trans people who want to marry (which is most of them) have to give up that dream
  • Trans people face potential prohibition from working in their desired fields, even if fully transitioned
  • Some careers simply aren't available to them

• What trans Filipinos actually want (Pea's conclusion from all interviews)

  • They don't want attention or to make noise — the opposite is true: they prefer to be unnoticed, to blend into society
  • Their hopes and dreams are the same as everyone else's: acceptance, employment, and long-term relationships that include children
  • While discrimination exists in varying degrees, most feel the Philippines is a warm and welcoming place
  • Pea explicitly states she is neither promoting nor criticizing any lifestyle — just reporting facts and viewpoints

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