iDolls members Enzo Almario, Matty Juniosa, and Lucas Garcia shared their coming-out stories.
Almario, Juniosa, and Garcia recounted how they came out to their families and the world.
Almario came out to his family in 2011 because of his romantic relationship.
“Ako po mahirap talaga yung coming out ko sa family ko, kasi year 2011 yata, kasi yun yung unang beses ako na nagkaroon ako ng jowa na akala ko talaga in-love na in-love ako, na tipong nag-layas pa ako, nag-nakaw pa ko sa alkansya ng Daddy ko para mapuntahan ko. Yung mga ganong level.”
Almario also recalled his experience when coming out publicly in 2018 via Tawag ng Tanghalan.
“Nung 2018 nag-come out din ako on national TV, and doon ko talaga naramdaman na I was free. Kasi, kahit sabihin natin na out ako sa friends ko, out ako sa family ko, laging with restrictions. Everytime I would go to the public na parang, ‘ay, hindi ko to pwedeng gawin, kasi mahahalata nila na bakla ako.’ O kaya pag may ibang bakla na kakausapin ko, lagi akong may something na nagho-hold back sa akin.”
He also shared his advice with those who are struggling in coming out to their families.
“I think it’s okay na, para d’yan po sa mga nanonood po na hindi pa naga-out or hindi pa tanggap ng mga parents nila, ‘wag po natin pilitin yung parents natin na tanggapin tayo. Kasi, it will take time for our parents to accept us.”
As for Juniosa, he considered his stint in Philippine Idol as his coming-out moment.
“Wala ako necessarily a coming-out moment. It was more of like, I’ve always been like this. Wala namang nagbago, may mga tanong nang tanong dati na ‘bakla ka ba, bakla ka ba?’ I’ve always answered na hindi pero I’ve always acted otherwise.
“And then nung Idol Philippines po, siguro yun na yung pinaka coming out ko sa world.”
Juniosa also shared the changes that happened with his family when he came out publicly on Idol Philippines.
“Nung nag-idol na ko hindi na sila nagulat. Pero, it was hard nung nagsisimula. Kasi syempre hindi naman talaga tanggap, lalo na religious yung family ko, so it’s not an easy concept to accept.
“Pero now, sobrang drastic, even my lola would post about the three of us na parang ang saya lang.”
However, Juniosa clarified, “I never felt coming out kasi feeling ko wala akong kailangan patunayan.”
Meanwhile, Garcia recollected his coming out at the age of 14.
“Naramdaman ko na bakla ako at nagkakagusto ako sa kapwa lalaki ay bata pa lang ako. Pero, yung coming out ko talaga, 14 years old ako nung second year highschool ako.”
He also expressed how thankful he was for his mother’s support when he came out.
“Tapos hindi ko naramdaman yung higpit, yung takot na mag-out, kasi mismong magulang ko, mismong Mama ko hindi nya pinaramdam sa akin na hindi ka dapat bakla.
“Sobrang thankful ako kay Mama ko dahil sa pag tanggap nya sa akin nang buong buo simula nung bata pa lang ako. At sobrang ini-idolo ko sya dahil sa diskarte nya sa buhay bukod sa pagtanggap nya sa akin, sa pagtaguyod nya sa amin ng mag-isa.”
The iDolls formed in 2019 after Almario, Juniosa, and Garcia competed in ABS-CBN’s Philippine Idol. They also got the fourth spot in Your Face Sounds Familiar Season 3.
The group sang the theme song, Hinog na ang Mundo for Boys Love movie-turned-teleserye, The Boy Foretold by the Stars: The Series. They also teased their upcoming gay empowerment song under Star Music and Star Pop.
