As a young boy born in 1990, I thought of leaders as powerful, intimidating and almost always authoritarian. I would often hear that for a leader to be successful, he should not only command respect but also, most importantly, fear. Leaders would only be obeyed if their subordinates feared them. Looking back, this idea was reinforced by prominent leadership figures I grew up being familiar with—stern grandparents, terror teachers and tyrannical government officials.

Being the calm and cheerful child that I was, I thought I would never make an effective leader. Apart from not seeing myself as someone others would fear, I also did not see myself as a man. As young as I was, I had already been in touch with my womanhood. Though there were female leaders, women in leadership positions were rare, not commonly celebrated. The concept of leadership was quite exclusionary and it made me feel like I had no chance of succeeding as a leader. 

And so I had to work extra hard not only in accepting myself as the woman I know I am but also in honing my leadership capabilities. I had to work extra hard in accepting and reveling in the fact that women can be leaders. 

As a woman born in 2013, I think of leaders as inspiring, transformative and inclusive. As I was learning to accept and love myself, I also became more and more aware of the struggles that trans individuals deal with. But I didn’t want to stop on just being aware.

'Leaders can come from simple backgrounds and can be women, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or anywhere in the spectrum of gender and sexuality.'

Coming from humble beginnings, I have always been attuned to the hardships that underprivileged members of society face. I started becoming more involved in advocacy work focused on LGBTQ+ and HIV-AIDS awareness and rights. This immersion in the intersectionality of the struggles of the marginalized motivated me to work even harder not just for myself but for the communities I belong to, which are often excluded and erased. 

I want to prove to society that I, a trans woman and daughter to blue-collar parents, am worthy of being a respected leader. I want to set an example that can hopefully inspire and transform others who relate to my story. I want to be included in the narrative of leadership and in return, always be inclusive of individuals like myself when performing my roles as a leader. I want to be a leader who tips the scale of opportunities in favor of the marginalized, in order to balance out the injustices experienced by members of my community.

We deserve leaders and public servants who recognize and prioritize the importance of and strength in diversity and inclusion. We have come a long way in changing and diversifying the faces of leadership and in promoting inclusivity, but we still have a long way to go in making sure the human rights of every Filipino are protected.

Gone are the days when I think of a leader and see an image of a tyrant in my head. A leader doesn’t need to be feared in order to be admired and followed. Leadership roles are no longer exclusive to privileged, heterosexual men. Leaders can come from simple backgrounds and can be women, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or anywhere in the spectrum of gender and sexuality.

Leaders are not measured by how fearsome or masculine they are but by how well they can serve and protect the best interests of everyone within their constituency. Leaders inspire their people to be better and start ripples of positive change.

Most of all, leaders should be inclusive. Leaders should never be selective of who to serve nor discriminatory of those who are in the margins. Leaders should know that for as long as a single member of their constituency is left behind, the whole organization will not be able to move forward.

My dream is for Filipino leaders, especially the Philippine government to understand, respect and include everyone regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, expression and sex characteristics. We do not need performative and populist leaders who only intend to either please or instill fear. 

We deserve leaders and public servants who recognize and prioritize the importance of and strength in diversity and inclusion. We have come a long way in changing and diversifying the faces of leadership and in promoting inclusivity, but we still have a long way to go in making sure the human rights of every Filipino are protected. 

Registration for the 2022 presidential elections ends this September 2021. Register with your loved ones and vote for candidates who will sincerely lobby for our equal rights, inclusion and protection. Let us hold on to what we have now, keep hoping for a better future, and work together in rebuilding ourselves and our nation.

Make your voice heard. Register now! Go to irehistro.comelec.gov.ph.