Mr. Gay World conquers social media & the stage

Photos by Thurees Obenza

Ask any pageant gay who their favorite kweens are and you’ll usually get a Ms. Universe or five, maybe even a couple of sickening Rupaul’s Drag Race: All Stars alumni to round out the list. Allow us to suggest a king this time, none other than John Raspado, winner of this year’s Mr. Gay World. After being crowned in Spain, not only is John the first Filipino to win the pageant but he’s using it to advocate for HIV/AIDS awareness, as well. All this coupled with playing a queer character in Red Lantern Production’s Solo Para Adultos, a sex comedy about the complexities of love in the menacing world of showbiz, premiering tonight.  

During rehearsals for the play, TEAM sat down with John to discuss his recent conquests in the gay world, from taking the theatrical stage to tightening his grip on the megaphone when it comes to HIV awareness. 

Congratulations again on nabbing the crown in Mr. Gay World. Stepping back and taking in the pageant, do you think there is a type of gay more favored by judges?

When it comes to pageantry, may hinahanap silang certain qualities…someone who can represent. It doesn’t necessarily mean na kung sino yung manly or kung sinong very talkative. It comes with the advocacy. 

Do you think there’s other criteria that need to be explored in judging gay pageants?

Hindi natin masasabi eh kasi it’s dynamic every year. Before kasi, meron silang Q&A onstage, now it’s very in-depth. This year it’s more of personal interviews and getting to know the delegates more…gusto nila na nakikilala nila yung tao in person.

You’re covering the prominence of gay Filipinos in pageants but do you see gays prominent in other spheres?

Social media kasi is a very powerful tool and [Filipino] LGBT kasi are barely recognized, not totally accepted, so I think social media can help in making LGBT people more visible. We’d like to empower LGBT people sa kung ano yung nagagawa nila when it comes to their achievements, skills, talents, especially people who want to dedicate their whole lives to advocacy.

As someone who’s out and proud, what does the future look like for gay men in entertainment?

Hopefully with the help of Mr. Gay World and other organizations, we’d like to be more empowered and we’d like the Philippines to accept us more rather than just recognizing us.

More queer stories will help and the play you’re acting in, Solo Para Adultos, is one of these. Can you tell us more about this?

Maraming mapupunan na lessons eh. I play kasi the role of JP San Miguel. He is an actor. Alam mo naman sa showbiz, when it comes to actors being gay and coming out…baka ma-compromise kung ano yung certain image portrayed. Maraming mga actors who aren’t coming out. Being an actor kasi [is defined by] your skills and talents. The question is whether they can be accepted by the public as who they are. 

I still believe in forever and I’m a person bound by loyalty.

It’s a love story so there are twists and turns. Yung impact nun kasi ay medyo maselan. I still believe in forever and I’m a person bound by loyalty….yung gusto ko sana, one at a time. For me, it doesn’t matter [kung girl or boy yung ka-relasyon ko], basta one at a time kasi if not, it complicates things more. [When it comes to gender], wala namang difference nun when it comes to cheating.

As a public figure now, you’ve been working on bringing more attention to HIV/AIDS awareness. Can you tell us about the work you’re doing in this realm?

As one of the ambassadors for HIV awareness and Mr. Gay World, we are advocating for responsible sexual relationships or sexual behavior. Kung gusto mo ng relationship, it comes with responsibility. If you’re polygamous in nature, you have to know your status. You really have to screen yung mga ka-date mo, and people living with HIV going on dates, kailangan mag-ingat sila para hindi mag-spread. It’s important to embrace awareness. The more scared one is if they’re unaware.

Catch John in Solo Para Adultos tonight (October 20) before the play continues its run in February 2018. 

Hey, queer reader or ally.

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