 My name is Emmy Ortega Anderson, your host for Pinoy Power Hawaii. We come to your homes and share wonderful success stories and perhaps realizations, adventures, and basically to fulfill our mission. We are on air to empower, enrich, enlighten, educate, and entertain. Today we're going to do just that. I have wonderful lovely flowers, if I may call them. They are gorgeous in every way. And they make up all the beautiful colors of the rainbow, which is the theme of our show today. Without further ado, I'm going to introduce my guests. First to my meet-it-left is Trish, Hailey, and Jaira. Oh, I'm going to say Ateno. Good afternoon. We want to welcome all of you here to think Tec Hawaii, part of our empowerment. So, let's start with Trish. Tell us a little bit about your growing up. I grew up in Bicor region, Naga Kamarini Sur. I was so fortunate that my family is so accepting when it came as a transgender. I actually transitioned with how I was like in preschool. This time that I have long hair, I wear makeup and I wear heels. There is some discrimination, there is some bullying. But as long as you have the support of your family, I think, and you like yourself, that's the most important thing. So you didn't have too much of a difficulty because you were comfortable? Yes, especially because my family is very accepting about it. That's really, really important, Trish. I'm glad you mentioned that. Now we have Kylie. Welcome. Tell us a little bit about you. We grew up in the same region, which is Bicor. Unfortunately, I don't have the same family support as her because I grew up in a really religious family. When I was young, my dad used to beat me up. And then I thought that it's just because that's how Filipino parents want to discipline their child. But growing up, I feel like it's actually because they hate me because I didn't came out as what they expected me to be. So although it was a very hard transition, I actually haven't transitioned yet. I think I'm still a trans dresser because I haven't taken hormones and everything. Actually, in the Philippines, there's only bakla or tomboy. But when I came here in America, I came here like around almost three years ago. When I came here, my eyes just opened to that there's actually a lot of genders out there. And that's when I started to figure out what I am. Although I'm not there yet, I think I'm getting there. Okay, so you are also comfortable. Now we have Jaira. Aside from what Trish and Kylie have shared, please tell us a little bit about you. My name is Jaira and I'm from San Nicolas, Locos, Norte. Oh, San Nicolas. I'm in Locana. When I started transitioning right after high school, that's where I started taking hormones and stuff. My family was okay about it because I have to do something to go to school every day to pass my exams every time. It's just for us, for them to be happy no matter what I am. Right after first year of college, that's where I moved here. That's where I continue doing transitioning and taking some hormones and stuff like that. Was it difficult? Did you experience a lot of changes in your body or any discomfort? Not really. It's just emotional. You're very emotional. I think when we transition, we feel more confident about ourselves. We are not afraid to go out and show what we really are. Although there's a lot of discrimination still happening today, we really need the courage to stand up for ourselves. Do you think it's more acceptable to be transgender here in America or in our country? I think it's more acceptable here. Walking on the street, buying stuff, going anywhere, you cannot hear anything about yourself. They are respecting you from head to toe. Right two years ago, I went back to the Philippines to have a week vacation. I was just at the mall and people are staring at you. People are wondering. They are just calling you Bakula or something. It's Philippines. We are still fighting for our equality there anyways. Here it's more free. You have your freedom to be what you are. Everywhere I go for me, I have the same equality as what women get from the people. Let me ask you this question, Jara, because you look like you have fully transitioned. Yes. You have the boobs even bigger than Ate. You have the feminine features. For my face, I don't actually have any surgery. I only have my breast argumentation and my sexual trans... It's SRS, for assignment surgery. For my face, I just have to take hormones. You have to take hormones, you have to take the beauty regimen, like shots. You have to take vitamins every day. You have to take Myra E as well or Vitamin E. It's just for you to take care of yourself. If you want to change yourself completely, you have to give all your best. You have to be obligated to commit it into something that you want to be. Now that you are transitioning, is there any regret? No. So far, personally, I've been feeling good about coming out. Although I'm not really supported, especially in America, coming out here is really nice. Especially at school, I go to women's restroom and everyone is really open-minded. They got nothing to say about it. So yeah, it's nice. We just wanted to tell people, as a transgender or transsexual, we have a different spectrum. We're just doing cross-dressers. We're just born in the wrong body. And on ourself, we feel like we are a woman. So that's why we do this to ourself. We do take hormones. We do have these operations. We do estrogen. That's why for us to feel comfortable with ourselves because we were born inside of us as a woman. So we need to be comfortable so we need to take those. We're just born in the wrong body. Okay. But other than that, any other difficulties that you might want to mention of this? How about facial hair or body hair? Is that a problem? For body hair, I think no. I never had a problem with my body hair actually. I'm so thankful. I think Filipinos don't have any hair. I think while you're taking the hormones, I think it helps to lessen it. Yeah, lessen it. With every facial face, it's not growing anymore. Well, if you're taking hormones, that's what your doctor instructs. So how about the voice? Because I couldn't tell. Thank you. Do you go through that modulation or change? For me, since I'm not taking hormones yet, I think having a female voice is like I can do it. But when I do it for a long time, it gets a little bit strange. It gets a little bit difficult because I have to maintain it. But sometimes I just feel like, oh my God, am I using my voice again? So I've got a mind. Sometimes it gets out of my mind that I'm using it. Because I guess for me, I got used to it doing this way, my voice. Yeah. You just adjust. Yeah, I just adjust. Okay, the big question. If someone meets you and they decide to fall in love with you and they have no clue, how do you break it out to them? Me? I'm sure he has that scenario, right? Yeah, definitely. It's mostly all the time anyways. For me, I tell them before going forward into anything, going on a date or something, before they talk to me, I have to inform them who I am. This is me. If you want to continue talking or something, then let's do it. But if not, then it was nice meeting you. Okay, so it's great to be honest on the start. Yes. Tell the truth rather than hide. We need to tell the upfront. The very thing when you meet them is tell them upfront. Some of them are really accepting, but some are not. So we just need to accept. That is so awesome. What are your goals real quickly? Eventually? Like with our body? Your body. Do you ever want to raise children? I mean, I have the consequence, I have it, but I think it's a choice that they made from the very first time they start taking. For me personally, I want to have a children. You have that one. But I don't mind if it's adopted. Maybe in the near future, yes. I'm sure you have those tendencies, right? That's actually my dream. It's my dream. Right now, I'm a mom of three dogs, which is I feel like I'm really a mom actually. But looking forward into the future, then I really want to have my own family. I want to raise a kid. I want to be a mom. Just be a normal. I just want to be with someone else who will take care of me when I get old and be with me and every time, you know. Okay, so do you dream of helping someone transition, helping them to come out of the closet so that they won't have the difficulties that you've had as far as the struggles? Yeah, I guess this pageant or this platform really can open up to people. You just need to accept first yourself. And then one of our goals is to generate quality. Yes. Because once they see us on the show, they want to transition also. They've been thinking they want to do this. I was like, oh, she can do it. And then so I think I can too. And then this platform could really open up. Okay. Well, quickly, I know Lauren's going to ask you other questions, the other contestants. Give us just quick details on Saturday's pageant. October. So Ms. Maharlika Yusei Pageant will be held in Hilton, Hawaiian Village, Carl Boulder. We'll start at 5.30pm. October 12th. Okay, tickets are how much? Tickets is $85. Okay. Our person. Quick. Who they can call? Can they call for tickets? Can they call you? They can call us. Let's give you. If you go to our website, Ms. Maharlika Yusei, for the pageant information that they did, they can contact us. Or they could come to the door at Hilton, Hawaiian Village, Carl Boulder on Saturday. That might not be possible because all the seats are counted and everything. So individual candidates, they were given like tickets for us to sell. Oh, okay. And they only have like this limit seat. Right. I know we sell out every year. Yeah. So that's how popular. I'm going to be there with my papers. Oh, yeah. Thank you. Hard to pick a winner because it's all beautiful. And you complete the colors of the rainbow. Rainbow, yes. All right. That completes the first phase of our program for today and it adds to our empowerment. My name is Emmy Ortega Anderson bringing you unique stories that helps to empower us. We will be back after the break. Aloha and welcome. My name is Mark Shklav. I am the host of Think Tech Hawaii's Law Across the Sea program. Every other Monday at one o'clock, I am here. I am here on deck with various guests talking about different topics of the world and the ocean and international law, different areas where we all have seen and want to travel to and learn about. Please join me for my next law across the sea program. Aloha. You should watch Talking Tax with Tom and this is Tom. This is Tom Yamachiki, president of Tax Foundation of Hawaii. And we meet every couple of weeks. We talk about tax, tax policy. What else do we talk about, Tom? Well, you asked me a whole bunch of hard questions. I want that. Yeah. That's what we do. We recover tax, fiscal policy, economics, 101, 102. We try to explore how the state works economically in terms of fiscal policy and in terms of tax. And if you don't think that affects you, look again. Okay, Tom Yamachiki and me. I'm Jay Fidel, Talking Tax with Tom. Every couple of weeks. Watch our calendar and you'll see us. Aloha. Aloha. Have a blessed day, everybody. I'm here and we're back here with our team, Colors of the Rainbow. And I'm sitting on behalf of Ms. Amy Anderson Ortega here at ThinkTech Hawaii and Pinoy Power Hawaii. And would like to welcome you back in our segment for the Colors of the Rainbow. And we have here three lovely ladies. Hello. We're waiting for Ms. Maharlika USA 2019. And of course, can you please introduce yourselves? My name is Lexie Faye Escalante-Tabamo from Cagandora City, candidate number six. My name is Glen Fanatics. I'm from Maccadice City, Metro Manila, candidate number five. And I am Maria Jajapariso. You're reigning Ms. Maharlika USA 2018. Yes. And we all know that our team is Colors of the Rainbow. And it's very, very timely within this month because we're also celebrating the pride of the Honolulu Pride Month, right? And that will be on October 19th. Yes. And can you tell about Ms. Maharlika USA and being a winner of 2018, Jaja, what have you learned about this pageant? Well, I have been joining a lot of pageants in the past since I was in the Philippines, started joining pageants when I was 14. But this pageant is just so amazing. I love the fact that the organization will really push you to be at your best. Not just for yourself, but also for the people who can benefit of it. For example, when I won the pageant last year, they gave me the chance to support one of a charity or a beneficiary for a certain project that I want to do. And yeah, this year I'm going to be, no, it's going to be next year March that I will do it. Yeah. And we all know that Ms. Maharlika USA is a socially relevant pageant because our advocacy is for each of the candidates to share whatever they wanted to have for their projects. And then the organization will help you guys, right? And as you were saying again on March 2000. Yeah. I'm going to be flying to the Philippines to do my project. In 2020, right? It is. Yeah. And then you will be, what will you, what will you going to do on the Philippines? For, I decided to support young trans people like young trans kids who is, you know, going on through a lot like emotional depression, like hard times in general. So we're going to be supporting them, like providing them support. And in terms of what? Like, we're going to be holding like events, feeding programs, and like a lot of like seminars and stuff for them to be able to know more about who they are and more about what trans is, what transition it is. Yeah. And of course, once again, this is Lexie Faye. Hello. Tabamu, candidate number six. What they can expect from you on the said night on October 12. Well, it's actually my second time joining this Maharlika pageant because I joined last 2017. And I was the first runner up and then you encouraged me to join again because it actually was fun because I came out when I joined the pageant last 2017. And I'm so lucky that I found your organization Miss Maharlika USA because when I came here in Hawaii, I was a teenage boy with like a top cut and like a boyish look. But when I found your organization, I was like, I feel like I belonged here. I feel like, you know, I'm so comfortable with people around me. That's the time that I realized that I'm a transgender. I have to transition, you know. And I feel comfortable about my body right now, ever than before. So this year, I'm just going to have fun because look at these wonderful ladies. Like, look, all my sisters already. So just going to have fun and give everyone a good show. Yes. And of course, you would like them to be there again on when? Okay. The pageant will be on October 12 at Hilton Hawaiian Village, the Coral Borum. And it's actually a free show. You just have to pay for the buffet, which is $85 per ticket. And you can contact us for tickets and visit the page Miss Maharlika USA 2019 on Facebook. Yeah. And don't forget to mention that on your page, you can also click. Yeah, our photos. Yeah. We have our Facebook page Miss Maharlika 2019. We have our photos posted for Miss Social Media. We can vote for us, number six, number five. And for the rest of the ladies, you can like hit like or any reaction would count and share would be like two points. Yeah. Anyway, candidate number five, right? Yes. Hi. Is this your first time to join? Yes. Kind of beauty pageant. Yes. It's my first time to be out in the crowd and my first time to join this pageant ever. And what can you tell me about your experience, please? Experience. Enjoying the pageant rest. Actually, it helps me to build up my confidence. First of all, I would like to thank you for my family at HMS Hose to put me in this pageant. Thank you, Laurence, to help me decide to join this pageant this year. It's supposed to be supposedly next year that I'm going to join. But, um, sorry. Of course. And then, of course, you would like also to invite your friends. Do you have any specific friends that you would like to invite? Yes. I would like to invite my friends and family and relatives lives at the west side of this island. I would like to greet my auntie of a happy belated birthday first. Okay. Sorry to Mr. Birthday. And thank you for HMS Hose family. Sorry. Is it okay for me to ask a question? Sure. Do you have boyfriends, ladies? Is it okay? Yeah, it's okay. It's totally okay. Right now, I'm ready to mingle. Okay. Because, yeah, I'm focusing on my job. But if someone knocks the door. He'll open the door. He's always welcome, you know. And how about you, Chacha? Yeah, I'm currently in the relationship. And how is it? Oh, it's amazing. There's not much of a difference until like a straight relationship. I mean, love is love. It doesn't, you know, it doesn't question gender at all. Yes. Because no matter who you are, right? Yeah. As long as there is love within our hearts, that's only matters, right? Aside from our pageant, okay, what they can, what will be the show all about, right? And the theme is who runs the world. And it's a song of Beyonce's that echoes the. Feminist. Yeah, the feminist song. It's a feminist song that echoes the cry of our transgender woman to be treated like a woman. In your own opinion, what is your perception or meaning of who runs the world? Well, for me, anybody can run the world. I mean, we are all created equal in the image and likeness of God. So I feel like every person has like a good core to their heart. But for me, I think it's everybody. It's us who runs the world. It takes care of the world. Just understanding and love and harmony. Yes. Speaking of love, because I just wanted to reminisce that this show is a socially relevant show, right? Because in 2016, in the inaugural of the show, Miss Marlika USA 2016, our team is one love. And this is very timely because we would like to spread love to one another after the tragedy, the Orlando tragedy shooting, right? And in 2017, our message or the team is my world, my responsibility. And then in 2018, which is... It's dreams do come true. Yes. It really is. I mean, yeah, going up, you know, I went to the stage where I was so confused. I was so confused. I felt like I started questioning myself. I knew at the very first that I'm special. I'm like a magical stone. But then I was like, is this right? What do I have to do with it? So I always dream of like, okay, one day I'm going to be a princess. Although by the time I'm like a prince. Yes. So what should I do? And then, you know, just believe in yourself. And yeah, the last year's theme is really irrelevant. It's like dreams do come true. Yes, ladies. And again, ladies and gentlemen, why don't we invite them once again on our show on October 12th, a Tilton Hawaiian Village Coral Forum, ladies. We have a message to our audience here right now. Hello, guys. Come watch us on Tilton Hawaiian Village Coral Forum on October 12th at what time? It's 5.30 a.m. And expect to witness a very amazing show because aside from the pageant, there is going to be a lot of special guests and the much-awaited dance showdown from your queens from 2016, 2017, and 2018. And yeah, just expect to see these beautiful ladies compete in different spectacular costumes, swimwear, which is, oh, God. I'm so excited. And their evening gown. Question and answer. Also the candidates have their own customized evening gown, right? Yeah. And then they design your gown. Everything, actually. Yeah. You design your own dresses, right? Yeah. And of course, for today, ladies and gentlemen, we'd like again to thank, I think, thank Hawaii, especially Pinoy Power Hawaii. With our main host of this event, Miss Emmy Anderson, or yes, Miss Emmy or Tega Anderson for letting us to be here. We love you, Madame Emmy. And we'd like to see you again on our show on October 12th at Tilton Hawaii Village, Colorado. Mahalo, everybody. And God bless. Thank you so much. And see you once again.