On March 26, Pride of Pinoy Pop Paul Pablo recalled how Gandang Gabi Vice and Vice Ganda helped his Dad appreciate his sexuality.
During a sit-down interview with Pablo, he admitted that his father didn’t initially accept his sexual orientation.
“‘Yung Papa ko talaga medyo ano siya–medyo may pagka-homophobic. Tsaka palaging niyang tinatakot ako, Kasi sabi ni Mama ko, pansin na raw niya noon pa.
“Na parang may pagka-malambutin ako, ganon. Tapos pinabitbit ako ng tatay ko ng rabbit. Kasi di ba pagkinuha ko siya gumaganon ‘yung paa. Tapos ginanon ko kasi siya, galit na galit talaga at dito ninya parang mismong na-confirm na bakla ata ‘tong anak ko.”
He then recounted how GGV and Vice Ganda paved the way to change his father’s mind about the LGBTQ+ community.
“Pero gabi-gabi kasi nanonood siya ng GGV. Hangga’t sa doon palang na-appreciate na niya si Meme Vice. Ganyan ‘Wow nakahappy pala ‘yung pagiging bakla. Kasi ganon talaga sila, very, like Wow, nakakahappy pa la ‘yung mga bakla. Kasi ganon pala sila–lalo na mga gay people like Vice Ganda.
“So ayun since idol ko si Vice noon gumagawa ako ng mga vlogs noon, pero naka-private na siya sa YouTube channel ko. Real name ko pa ‘yung gamit ko noon, Paul Ramirez. Gumagawa ako ng mga vlogs tapos hindi ko alam pinapanood pala siya ni Papa. So ayun kinuwento na lang sa akin ni Papa na nanonood ‘yung Papa ko ng mga vlogs ko tapos tawa siya ng tawa.”
Pablo also shared that his father became proud of him and his achievements when he went into college.
“Tapos noong parang nag-college na–dream kasi ng Papa ko na makapagtapos ako tapos mag Ateneo din. Tapos before, parang bagsak-bagsak ‘yung grades ko noong highschool, kasi puro lang ako kanta at sayaw, pero pagdating ko ng college parang–ay senior highschool pala tapos hanggang college nagiging honor-honor student ako.
“Ayun naging proud siya tapos dumating ‘yung time na na-accept niya ako.”
However, he expressed his future hopes that the LGBTQ+ youth wouldn’t need to prove their worth to their parents.
“Pero ang daming makaka-relate kasi halos lahat ng bakla naman kasi parang ‘yung struggle na may kailangan ka pang patunayan bago ka tanggapin ng people, pero sana dumating din ‘yung time na sana kapag bakla ka chill na lang ‘yung iba. ‘Yung parang there’s nothing special even if bakla kasi madali ka nila ma-accept.
“‘Yun ‘yung pinagdaanan ko sa family ko. I needed to prove something before they accepted me, pero iba ‘yung situation ko dun sa mom ko kasi. Parang na-accept niya agad.”
Aside from his personal experience, Pablo also discussed his opinions about the LGBTQ+ representation in media.
“Para sa akin, very important na pinag-iisipan ‘yung media representation–hindi lang sa gay people alone, pero sa ano talaga, any type of people.
“Halos pala lahat ng people kumukuha sila ng information through media. So, very important na kung paano nire-represent ‘yung gay people is parang sakto lang siya sa reality or pinag-iisipan na hindi siya magfa-fall sa discrimination, or sa misunderstanding with people like me.”
Pablo recently released the song ‘Kaya‘ under Warner Music Philippines, available on digital streaming platforms.
Paul Pablo is known for his ‘hugotronic’ sound and has previously released four tracks, Bangin, Bai, Kalawakan, and Gulo, under Warner Music Philippines.
