MANILA, Philippines — International publications did not fail to mention the election of the first transgender lawmaker in the Philippines, where there are no solid laws addressing the appeals of the LGBT community.
Meet Geraldine Roman, a Liberal Party candidate made who history this week by being the country’s first transgender person to be elected to the House of Representatives.
More than being a Bataan's representative to the Lower House and a member of the LGBT, here are other facts about Roman:
1. Geraldine won more than 62 percent of the unofficial vote count in the congressional district of Bataan.
Despite the expected focus on gender preference, Roman said her priority was the people of Bataan, and to help more poor students nationwide get scholarships.
2. Geraldine was raised a Catholic and has dreamed to be a lawmaker.
She said she wants to use her power to respond to critics who dismissed her as just another LGBT community member, a someone who is not to be taken seriously.
3. Geraldine will be the highest-ranking openly LGBT politician in the Philippines.
She wants to give recognition to other transgender people—pushing for an anti-discrimination bill.
4. Geraldine is a political neophyte, who came from a political powerhouse family.
Roman's mother used to be the representative of Bataan while his late father was a former congressman.
5. Geraldine has been living as a woman for two decades.
She underwent sex change at the age of 27 in New York.
6. Geraldine was a journalist.
After attaining two master's degrees, including a scholarship, she worked in Spain as a senior editor for the Spanish News Agency.
7. Geraldine speaks foreign languages.
The new lawmaker does not only speak English and Filipino, but also speaks Spanish, French and Italian.
8. Geraldine used to live in Spain.
She came back to the Philippines in 2012 to take care of her ailing father.
9. Geraldine has already found love.
In Spain, she met her partner of 18 years.