Kuwento ng pagbangon at pagkakaroon ng pag-asa ni Ezra Vaganza sa kabila ng HIV, alamin!

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Kuwento ng pagbangon at pagkakaroon ng pag-asa ni Ezra Vaganza sa kabila ng HIV, alamin!

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Transcript

00:00Today, we will talk about an inspiration despite the trials.

00:05She is an individual or person living with HIV

00:08who also serves as a voice for those who continue to fight

00:11and an example of strength and hope.

00:14To share her story with us, we have with us Ezra Vaganza.

00:20Good morning and welcome to Rise and Shine Philippines.

00:22Good morning.

00:23Rise and Shine Philippines.

00:24It's beautiful. I love it.

00:27Laura and her drag journey.

00:29We will also talk about that.

00:31But before that, let's talk about you.

00:34When you found out that you have HIV,

00:37what was your reaction and what were the steps you took after that?

00:41Actually, I found out that I have HIV back in 2021.

00:46Thankfully, when I went to the testing site,

00:50we had guidance counselors.

00:52Right then and there, they helped me with the next steps

00:56which is to take my treatments right away.

00:58We have what we call anti-retroviral treatment

01:01and then I actually still take that on a daily basis.

01:04So that after 6 months, if I am diagnosed,

01:07I will be undetectable or untransmissible.

01:10Meaning, I won't be able to pass the virus to others.

01:12It just needs to be sustained.

01:14Yes.

01:15But in terms of the emotional aspect of your life,

01:19after receiving that, because it's heavy.

01:23I mean, the stigma here is mostly due to our members,

01:27the LGBTQI plus community.

01:29We are the ones who can be affected by this.

01:31So, on your end, how did you feel about having that?

01:35At first, it actually helped that I also know immediate people

01:40who have the same situation as I do.

01:43It helped that they also served as inspiration to me.

01:46And now, it's a full circle moment that I can inspire others.

01:51To let others know that everything will be okay.

01:53Well, I admire your strength.

01:55But what is the biggest challenge?

01:58I guess the biggest challenge is especially talking to my relatives.

02:03They are from a different generation.

02:05So, it's different.

02:06Yes, they are used to it.

02:08And the medical advancements that we have now.

02:11The stigma, of course, we need to fight it.

02:15HIV is no longer deadly.

02:17When we say HIV, it doesn't mean that it's equal to AIDS.

02:21And when we say HIV, it's not like what you said earlier.

02:25It shouldn't be limited to the LGBTQIA plus community.

02:30Okay.

02:31In terms of your family's acceptance, where are they now?

02:35Right now, they're very much supportive of my status, of my drag.

02:40And thankfully, when I came out to them,

02:44their immediate reaction was actually more on the concern.

02:48Hey, are you eating well?

02:50Are you doing an active lifestyle?

02:53Are you being healthy?

02:55So, there's still concern aside of them.

02:58Okay. How did you decide to become Bukasan?

03:01When it comes to discussing this and your situation.

03:05Actually, my being a drag queen helped.

03:08Because not everyone is given this kind of platform to have a voice.

03:13For a certain type of community or for a certain part of the community.

03:17So, I thought, you know what?

03:20I feel like this is my purpose.

03:22That I should become a person who people can also look up to.

03:27And be a source of inspiration for other people.

03:29Because for me, I was able to get people who I know who also have HIV.

03:34My hope is that I can also give strength to other people.

03:39Okay. Let's go with your drag journey.

03:41So, you pushed for your drag journey when you became PLHIV or even before you started?

03:46Yes. Although, I've had my interest in drag for years now.

03:50My drag journey actually started around 2022.

03:55So, you were diagnosed in 2021, right?

03:58Yes.

03:59So, you did drag in 2022?

04:00Yes.

04:01Okay.

04:02And I'm happy. It's giving.

04:04Yes.

04:05I love it.

04:06I know.

04:07You can now audition for drag programs here in the Philippines.

04:12What do you look up to in the drag community?

04:15In the local drag community, I look up to different artists.

04:18Like Brigidine, like Miss Jade So, like Shewarma.

04:22They are the artists that I get inspiration from.

04:26Fifi also has Fifi's Drag Race.

04:28Yes, I do that Fifi's Drag Race.

04:30But it's a community kind of activity in Bulacan State University.

04:34It's not just obvious.

04:35That's great.

04:36You know, she's happy that she used that platform to become a drag queen.

04:41To push for an advocacy.

04:43Yes, which is good, right?

04:45How do you relate your journey in becoming a PLHIV and also your drag right now?

04:53I feel like the common denominator here is stigma.

04:55Okay.

04:56So, that's what we're really fighting against.

04:58So, when we say a person living with HIV, there are a lot of negative connotations.

05:03When we say drag queen, there are a lot of negative connotations more or less.

05:07So, that became my fighting factor to keep on going.

05:12So that at least somehow we can enlighten people that

05:15it doesn't mean that if you have HIV, you're a certain type of way.

05:20Or it doesn't mean that if you're a drag queen, you're also a certain type of way.

05:24Through examples like myself, we can give voices and personality

05:30to people who we only see in numbers or statistics usually.

05:35What are the negative connotations sometimes in drag?

05:38What do we want to change?

05:41We want to know that, yes.

05:42Actually, when we say drag, especially in the Western world,

05:48they think it's inherently sexual.

05:51Or like drag queens, it's not really common here in the Philippines.

05:58It's very much an underground culture still.

06:00But thankfully, through mainstream media,

06:03we're able to promote the industrialization of drag.

06:07And we're able to let people know and let people understand

06:09what it's like to be a drag queen in the mass community.

06:12Well, actually, drag is not really about the LGBTQA plus community.

06:17It's being political, it's an art, it's a culture.

06:21Before you consider any aspect of social, political, and economic side of your life,

06:27it's your culture.

06:28That's where it comes back and it's more expressive

06:31of what a drag queen wants to say.

06:34And you, as a drag queen, what could be your message to the people?

06:38Number one, in removing the stigma for HIV.

06:41And number two, to understand about what drag is all about.

06:46So my message, actually, it's very simple.

06:49That I am the living, breathing proof

06:51that you can be a person living with HIV, a drag queen,

06:55and continue on living your life beautifully.

06:58That's great. It's like I want to give her a corona.

07:00Yes, thank you.

07:01You have an invisible corona there.

07:03Thank you so much.

07:04Yes.

07:05Please, do we invite our viewers to follow you on social media?

07:09Yes, yes.

07:10So you can follow me on social media at Ezra Vaganza underscore.

07:14We also have a podcast and a show where we talk about queer experiences.

07:18Okay.

07:19My partner is also a drag queen.

07:21So we have a channel called at Oppositesatrack.ph.

07:24Oh, I love it.

07:25I hope you all connect.

07:27Why not?

07:28We can talk backstage.

07:30Let's make it happen.

07:31Yes.

07:32Thank you so much for sharing your story with us, Ezra Vaganza.

07:37It's true that your journey is a good example of strength and hope.

07:41I hope you continue to give inspiration to many.

07:46Thanks, Ezra.

07:47Thank you, thank you.

Kuwento ng pagbangon at pagkakaroon ng pag-asa ni Ezra Vaganza sa kabila ng HIV, alamin!

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