Apple was 10 when she came out. "Nag-cross-dress ako; inipon ko allowance ko, tapos bumibili ako ng blouse (I wore women's clothes; I saved my allowance to buy these clothes)," she said.
Even when she was young, her dad never reprimanded her for being "iba (different)." "Nagagalit siya hindi dahil trans ako, kundi dahil sa ginagawa ko (He never got angry because I'm transgender, but because of what I do)," she said. "Tulad ng pag-uwi ng gabing-gabi, di nag-aaral (Like going home really late, or not studying)..."
Now as a lady of 23, if there's an advice she can give, it is this: "Be yourself. Huwag pipigilan ang sarili. Mahirap ang magpigil. Mas masarap na bata ka pa at alam mo namang bakla ka pala, magrampa ka na (Don't deny yourself. It's hard to deny yourself. It's better if while still young and you already know you're gay anyway, you should already come out)."
She looked at the older gay men around her. "Minsan ka lang sariwa. Kaya dapat, while young pa, out na (You're only fresh once. So while still young, come out already)!"
source: Speak Carabao
