By Felicia Recto | Special to the BusinessMirror
AT 7 years old, Ramon Busa knew he was different. From the way he moved to the way he spoke, he had a feeling he wasn’t like any of the “regular” boys.
“’Pag nasa harap ako ng salamin, galaw ako nang galaw, kembot ako nang kembot, tula ako nang tula, kanta ako nang kanta,” he told the BusinessMirror. “That early, alam ko na iba ako. Hindi ako regular na lalaki.”
Fortunately for him, he was not criticized by his family or peers for expressing himself the way he did. However, since he lived in a time where being gay was looked down upon by society, he took great care in how he presented himself in public as he grew older.
“Kaya siguro nga, isa ’yun sa mga dahilan kaya naging maayos din ’yung buhay ko na hindi ko rin inalis iyong self-respect ko,” he said. “Nakita ko rin kung papaano ako minahal ng magulang ko, kaya minentain ko ’yun na hanggang sa nag-college ako, nag-graduate ako.”
Years later, fate brought him to former Pasay City Councilor and Founder of the Home for the Golden Gays Justo Justo when they started working together for a voiceover stint for dzRH. The pair parted ways when Justo pursued his political career as councilor and Busa went abroad for work.
During that time, the Home for the Golden Gays had already been around for 10 years. The facility, established by Justo in 1975, provided a home for homeless elderly gay men, and for 37 years, it was a haven for the lolas to express themselves in a safe environment.
The year 2012 became the turning point for Busa and the lolas. After encountering an accident on a jeepney, Justo was left bedridden and, eventually, unable to function. It was then he gave Busa the responsibility of heading the Home for the Golden Gays.
“Tuwing nag-uusap kami, lagi niyang binabanggit na if ever halimbawa mawala siya, ituloy ko ’yung legacy, tulungan ko ’yung ibang mga bading,” Busa said. “Sabi ko sige, ’pag dumating ’yung puntong ganun, I’ll try my best at saka, hindi ko naman mababayaan dahil kasi papunta na rin ako doon eh, kaya maiintindihan ko ’yung takbo ng buhay.”
Assuming the role of president was not an easy task for Busa. After Justo’s death, the Golden Gays were faced with a bigger problem—their home on 108 David Street was taken back by Justo’s family. The haven they called home for more than 30 years was no longer theirs.
Busa managed to get the property next to their former home on 109 David Street as their meeting place, but even so, the 48 lolas had no choice but to go back to their families or the streets where they used to live.
Currently, the Golden Gays are still in need of a home. In spite of Justo’s and now Busa’s efforts to have the Home for the Golden Gays recognized by the Pasay City Council, the local government has yet to give them a permanent residence.
Fortunately, for the lolas, society has not completely abandoned them. Multinational companies, like JP Morgan, Wells Fargo, QBE and Emerson, often sponsor the Home for the Golden Gays as part of their corporate social responsibility. Every once in a while, these companies hold beauty pageants for the lolas and reward them in kind—food, old clothing and, sometimes, commuting fare for those who live far—for their efforts.
For the lolas, the beauty pageants remind them of the freedom they once had in their old home. It rejuvenates them; some lolas can even stand in their heels for up to three hours, modeling their gowns to the sponsors.
“Kailangan din namin ’yung ganung mga activities dahil unang una, ’pag may mga beauty con, feeling ng mga lolas kasi nae-energize sila. Lumakas talaga ’yung katawan nila. Lahat ng stress sa buhay ng mga lolas ay nakakalimutan pasamantala, pakiramdam nila na humihinto ang inog ng mundo, kasi nga ang aging process totally stopped kasi nga masaya ang mga lolas,” Busa said.
The Golden Gays have also been gaining the attraction of many media outlets over the years. In 2013 Danish Filmmaker Nola Gaardmand made a short film on the facility, featuring two of the lolas Rica and Leony.
GMA also made a documentary last year in their I-Witness program about the Home for the Golden Gays, which gave a more extensive look into the lives of the lolas.
Recently, the Golden Gays joined this year’s Manila Pride March. Usually, the lolas would not join movements due to their age, but Busa thought this was a good opportunity to expose them to the public.
“Sabi ko nga sa mga lolas kailangan we have to be a part of this para mai-promote naman natin ang Golden Gays kasi, although meron kaming web site, marami pa ring hindi nakakakilala sa mga lolas,” Busa said. “Sabi ko ito na ’yung magandang opportunity kaya hindi kami nagkaroon ng second thought, join kami sa Manila Pride March.”
Despite sponsorship from different companies and media exposure, a permanent home is still one of Busa’s wishes for the Golden Gays. For him, having a residence for the Golden Gays is important not only to provide them a home and foster self-reliance, but also to establish something that the younger generation of LGBTs can use when they get older.
“Isa rin ’yun sa mga plano kong maging legacy para sa mga younger generation, na ‘eto nai-set up na namin ito para sa inyo.’ Lingapin niyo nalang, pagandahin, ma-develop when the time comes,” Busa said.
While a permanent residence is an immediate concern, Busa also aims in the future to make the Philippines a retirement haven for European and American lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) couples. Following the example of some Asian countries, Busa wants to open a retirement home in Bataan, managed by the Golden Gays themselves, to accommodate European and American LGBT couples who can no longer handle the winter climate in their country.
By doing so, Busa hopes that this not only provides a stable home for the lolas, but also an opportunity to help the Philippine economy.
“Gusto rin ng Home for the Golden Gays na makatulong sa pagunlad ng ekonomiya. Ito lang ang magagawa namin para sa bagong administration,” Busa said. “Sana magkaroon kami ng pagkakataon maipakita sa inyo kung papano namin magagawa ito and, hopefully, sana ang matulungan din kami.”
In spite of the daily trials Busa and the lolas face, their resilience and optimism continue to be a inspiration for the LGBT community. They will continue to have the spark in their eyes, a spark that is only unique to their character.
“Kung makakausap mong ibang mga Golden Gays, iba ’yung kislap ng mata niyan,” Busa said. “Till death ang mga lolas, hindi uurong sa labanan. Never surrender. Kaya hanggang huling sandali may kislap ang mga mata ng mga lolas mo.”