Kaladkaren at Luke Wrightson
MAS pinahanga pa ng award-winning actress at TV5 news anchor na si Kaladkaren ang mga LGBTQIA+ community sa bago niyang award.
Isa si Kaladkaren o Jervi Li sa tunay na buhay sa mga binigyan ng pagkilala bilang Woman of Influence ng Cosmopolitan Philippines kamakailan.
Kasama niyang tumanggap ng naturang award sina Iza Calzado, Carla Abellana at iba pang awardees sa naganan na recognition dinner last March 21, sa Origine restaurant in Brittany Hotel, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.
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Naging emosyonal ang proud transgender woman sa kanyang acceptance speech dahil ibang level na nga ang na-receive niyang award bilang isang “babae.”
Sa unang bahagi ng kanyang mensahe, nag-joke pa ang impersonator ng broadcast journalist na si Karen Davila tungkol sa kanyang OOTD that night na parang katerno ng production design ng stage.
“Hindi ako nakapag-prepare ng speech because I was busy looking for my outfit for tonight.
“Kasi, ang sabi daw nila, iridescent, na sparkly na dress, so, hanap ako nang hanap, so sabi ko, ano ba ang susuotin ko? Sabi kong ganoon, pero I found this dress.
“And I think nasa theme naman ako, di ba? From a scale of one to ten, I think I’ve got plenty. And I promise you, hindi po ako production designer for tonight’s event.
“Parang ayaw ko masyadong tumabi dito sa mga box na ito, kasi baka ano, hindi na ako makita,” ang pahayag ni Kaladkaren na ikinahagalpak naman ng audience.
Si Kaladkaren ang ikalawang transwoman na nabigyan ng nasabing award, ang una ay ang TV host-content creator na si Mela Habijan.
“To be honest with you, and, seriously, I am very honored to be here tonight. I am very honored to be here as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community. I’m honored to be here as one of your honorees.
“And most especially, I am honored to be here, to be a woman,” ang pahayag ng news anchor.
Kasunod nito, medyo naluha na nga si Kaladkaren nang magkuwento tungkol sa natatanggap niyang pamba-bash dahil sa ibinigay na award sa kanya.
“Alam niyo po, it’s very difficult to be a transgender woman in this society, every day we face so many challenges and tribulations.
“In fact, when I posted that I am one of the Women of Influence 2024 (awardees), may mga taong nagsabi na, ‘Bakit siya nandiyan? E, hindi naman siya babae.
“I think she’s taking up space not meant for her, but meant for other women.’ But I don’t care, because Cosmopolitan Philippines thinks otherwise,” aniya pa.
Pag-alala pa ni Kaladkaren noong bata pa siya, “When I was a little boy, let me share this with all of you, when I was a little boy, I have so many heroes and inspirations that are women.
“My mother, of course, Britney Spears, Spice Girls, di ba? Iyan yung mga idol ko noong kabataan ako, and news anchors in the Philippines like Mel Tiangco, Korina Sanchez and Ma’am Karen Davila.
“And I was thinking, ‘Parang gusto kong maging sila,’ I thought to myself. Sabi ko, ‘Parang, gusto kong maging babae in the future.’ And I knew from the start, deep in my heart, that I am a woman.
“Pero sabi ko, parang imposible, because I haven’t seen any transgender woman on mainstream media when I was growing up.
“That’s why, when I won the first… my award, as the first transgender Best Supporting Actress, and became the first transgender news anchor in the Philippines, I said, ‘I think the Lord has paved the way to have me, this kind of responsibility, to represent the LGBTQIA+ community, and the transgender community, so that, the trans-kids, the trans-youth, you know, have someone to look up to.’
“And that is really very important because you are giving them hope, you are giving them inspiration to become who they want to be.
“And it is not impossible, because I am the living testament to that, I am standing here right in front of all of you, as myself, as my true self, and I am so proud of that.
“And nothing can take that away from me. No matter what other people say, I am me, I am KaledKaren, and I am proud to be myself.
“Again, I am so thankful to Cosmopolitan Philippines. Thank you very much for including me, I am grateful, because this is exactly how it feels like to be included. Thank you very much!” ang buong laman ng acceptance speech ni Kaladkaren.