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Mela Habijan: Regine Velasquez had vital role in coming out story

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<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="ABS-CBN" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/entertainment/06/22/20230622-mela-regine.jpg" class="fr-fil fr-dib"/><figcaption><em>ABS-CBN</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA — For Miss Trans Global 2020 Mela Habijan, OPM singer Regine Velasquez played a vital role in her coming out story.</p><p>In the Wednesday episode of “Magandang Buhay,” Habijan shared that she was talking about how she idolizes Velasquez over the phone which was heard by her father, Erico.</p><p>&quot;Little did I know, papa was hearing the conversation over the telephone ... sabi ko this must be the time to declare my identity pero pinatagal ko siya ng isang linggo,&quot; Mela shared.</p><p>When it was time to tell the truth that she&#x27;s gay, Erico has no words but acceptance to his child.</p><p>&quot;Pagbalik niya, pinatawag niya ako sa kwarto tas sabi niya &#x27;ano sasabihin mo&#x27; and I started crying, I couldn&#x27;t say it,&quot; Mela recalled.</p><p>&quot;Sabi ni Papa, &#x27;na ano, na bakla ka&#x27; tapos tumango ako tapos sabi ni Popsie, &#x27;eh ano naman,&#x27; those were powerful words,&quot; she added.</p><p>Mela added that his father was still open to her identity when she came out as a trans woman.</p><p>&quot;When I came out as a trans woman, the most beautiful words came after he just messaged me and said &#x27;kung sa tingin mo magiging mabuting tao ka bilang babae, mabuhay ka&#x27; and I owe it to them why I&#x27;m live the best life. I am at my happiest,&quot; she said.</p><p>For Erico, what&#x27;s important is Mela was able to earn the respect from others and made them accept her identity.</p><p>&quot;Matalino kasi siya eh, alam ko na kung paano &#x27;yung gawa at damdamin ng mga ganoong bata,&quot; she said.</p><p>&quot;Ang bakla sa Pilipinas napakahirap ipagtanggol iba kasi &#x27;yung tingin, ang tanging sinabi ko sa kanya, maging matalino ka at ipakita mo na iba &#x27;yung pagiging bading mo sa bansang ito. &#x27;Pang inunawa mo, papasok &#x27;yung respeto, &#x27;pag nirespeto mo, papasok &#x27;yung pagtanggap, &#x27;pag tinanggap bubukal &#x27;yung pag-ibig.&quot;</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Y5NAQX14Mtg?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

For Miss Trans Global 2020 Mela Habijan, OPM singer Regine Velasquez played a vital role in her coming out story.