Push Admin

'It's better that way': Jake Zyrus still not on speaking terms with mom

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<figure class="op-interactive"><div id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1_Container"> <ivs-player id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-vid="1423140" data-ivs-floating="1"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/iframe-parent.js"></script> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script> </div></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>MANILA - Singer Jake Zyrus on Friday revealed that his international career was one of the toughest times in his life as he struggled with his gender identity.</p><p>Jake guested on shows like &quot;Ellen&quot; and &quot;Oprah&quot; and shared the stage with industry bigwigs like David Foster and Celine Dion while he was still known as Charice Pempengco.</p><p>He said he remains grateful for his international fame because it allowed him to provide a good life for his family, but it was the most difficult time in his life.</p><p>&quot;I think &#x27;yun &#x27;yung pinakamahirap na pinagdaanan ko, &#x27;yung time na I was in that situation. Ang hirap sundin ng nafi-feel ko because nakikita ko &#x27;yung lahat ng tao sa paligid ko na masaya,&quot; he said in an interview on ANC&#x27;s &quot;Headstart.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Nandoon pa &#x27;yung fear ko sa kung anong iisipin nila if ever na sasabihin ko kung sino talaga ako at kung ano talaga ako,&quot; he added.</p><p>He said he has known since he was a child that he was not a woman and he was also not a lesbian, but he did not know such labels.</p><p>Jake came out as a lesbian in 2013, thinking that he could get across that along with his cross-dressing. But deep down, he really identifies himself as a man.</p><p>But still, people told him to instead be a &quot;girly&quot; kind of lesbian so he can keep his image as Charice.</p><p>&quot;Noong time na &#x27;yun, &#x27;yun &#x27;yung pinaka-frustration ko kasi I understand—kung lesbian ako, it wouldn’t be a problem sa akin na androgynous yung mga porma; but yung fear andun pa rin. I was really scared to talagang biglain na &#x27;no, hindi talaga, hindi ako ganun,&#x27;&quot; he said.</p><p>Years later, he admits he and his family are still not on good terms, with most of them still not calling him Jake as he wishes to be identified.</p><p>The singer said his depression still lingers as his family still hasn&#x27;t accepted him years after he came out as a transgender man.</p><p>Asked if he&#x27;s on speaking terms with his mom, Jake said: &quot;No and it’s better that way.&quot;</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/09/26/18/heres-what-jake-zyrus-mom-plans-to-do-if-she-wins-the-lotto">Here&#x27;s what Jake Zyrus&#x27; mom plans to do if she wins the lotto</a></li></ul><p>&quot;I&#x27;m not throwing them away as my family. Kumbaga sa akin, nandoon &#x27;yung respeto kong alam kong family ko sila, alam kong nanay ko siya, kapatid, lola,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;I guess andoon &#x27;yung longing na maybe someday, something will change. Pero at the same time, what makes me feel better is iniisip ko &#x27;yung katotohanan kasi in that way, masaktan man ako, mas less &#x27;yung mafi-feel kong umaasa ako kasi I know my family,&quot; he added.</p><p>&quot;People would tell me na someday, it will change. But what if it won&#x27;t change?&quot;</p><p>In his new tell-all book titled &quot;I am Jake,&quot; he offers an in-depth look at his journey from YouTube to Hollywood, and the challenges he faced along the way.</p><p>&quot;&#x27;Yung book daw ba ay closure ko kay Charice? Sabi ko, there&#x27;s nothing to close kasi bata pa ako, wala akong pangalan noon, but I&#x27;ve always known na parang mali &#x27;yung nakikita ko sa nararamdaman ko,&quot; he said.</p>