How these queer Pinoys are breaking barriers and redefining gender norms at work

But while Baculot was already envisioning a future at sea, he was still coming to terms with another part of himself: his sexuality, which took him years to fully embrace.

“Nag-come out lang ako sa family ko nung college na ako, pero I knew from the start na alam nila. I think when I came out, I just said that 'I'm not straight, I'm gay.' But then my auntie said na 'We knew,'” he said.

His grandfather, however, was less welcoming of his true self then.

“Noong una, noong bata-bata pa ako, may discrimination talaga. Siguro dahil sa panahon nila, hindi pa masyadong open. Hindi pa niya ma-gets ‘yung ganung bagay, so nahirapan din ako habang lumalaki. Kaya naging patago ako, kaya nagka-girlfriend ako dati kasi isa ‘yun sa mga way ko to make him proud,” he said.

“Mahirap siya, pero it's a process din na you must be patient and you must understand also na hindi open ‘yun sa time nila,” he added.

Despite the challenges he faced growing up, Baculot refused to let them define him. In school, he excelled both inside and outside the classroom, becoming a student-athlete and developing a proficiency in arnis. More importantly, he remained focused on the dreams he had set for himself at a young age, which was to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps and become a seaman.

Kaven Kirk Lobaton similarly grew up seeing his father and brothers work in the seafaring industry, which is why a career at sea felt like a natural path to pursue.

Unlike many LGBTQ+ individuals, however, Lobaton never had to navigate a difficult coming-out journey at home. From an early age, he was surrounded by family members who accepted and supported him for who he was.

“I am grateful that I never had a coming out story because at an early age, my parents and all the members of my family were so supportive of who I am,” he shared.

But while acceptance came easily within his household, the same could not always be said outside of it. As he pursued a career in the maritime industry, Lobaton still found himself having to contend with people who underestimated him because of his identity.

“Sabi ko sa self ko, baka it's gonna be too hard for me. Even my classmates back in high school were so shocked that I'm taking this kind of profession because it is really out of my league. Back in high school, I was too feminine,” he said.

Setting sail on their dreams

As seafaring is often seen as a traditionally masculine profession, Baculot admitted that he questioned whether the industry would be welcoming to someone like him after hearing accounts of discrimination toward LGBTQ+ workers.

“Mayroon talagang discrimination. Inisip ko na ‘yun, na kung sasampa ako sa barko, alam ko na may mga ganyang mangyayari sa akin, na ‘pag bakla ka, may discrimination sa work mo, parang hindi ka nila bibigyan ng mabigat na trabaho or feeling nila weak ka,” he said.

But his love for traveling gave him the courage he needed to push forward.

“I still continued because gusto ko talaga mag-travel. Gusto ko din malaki kinikita, and gusto ko din maka-meet ng iba-ibang mga tao,” Baculot shared. “I enjoy my work when I get to mingle with other people, especially with other nationalities.”

Much to his relief, the hate he had braced himself for never happened during his time studying as a scholar for the Norwegian Shipowners' Association. “Okay naman ‘yung pakikitungo ng mga kaklase ko at saka mga teachers ko. I feel na may respeto sila sa mga kagaya ko. Hindi nila ako jina-judge sa kung sino ako.”

Once he officially stepped onboard the ship, Baculot was happy to share that his fellow seamen hold him in high regard due to how he often puts a smile on their faces.

“Malaki ‘yung respeto nila. Alam ko kasi na nakakapagbigay ako ng kasiyahan sa barko. Ang mga LGBT kasi, sobrang happy-go-lucky and then sobrang talagang nagpapasaya onboard, so sinabihan ako ng isang kasamahan namin na naging masaya daw sila. Sobrang nag-enjoy sila,” he gushed.

“Natuwa ako kasi akala ko dati mabubully ako or madi-discriminate ako, pero dito sa experience ko, sobrang nag-enjoy ako kasi masaya ang mga kasama ko,” he added.

It was only after he began sharing content about his life as a seaman—or a "sea fairy," as he likes to call it—that Baculot started facing discrimination, as there were some who insisted that being gay and being a seaman didn’t go together.

@cadetbaculot21 palaban to haha #seamantiktok #marinotiktok #seafarerslife #foryoupage #fyp #fypviralシ #seafarerslife ♬ what is love? - TWICE

“I have seen all the hate comments on my videos sa Facebook, sa Instagram, sa TikTok, and doon ko nakikita ‘yung comments na sinasabi nila na ang mga bakla, hindi dapat sa barko. Seaman din sila, and sinasabi nila na binababoy ko ‘yung mga uniform ng seaman,” he said.

“At the end of the day, sa sarili mo lang din talaga kung magpapaapekto ka sa mga comments na ‘yun. Maraming tao na nagsasabi sa akin ng ganun, pero hindi pa rin siya naging hadlang sa pag-pursue ko,” he added.

For Lobaton, before he became a seaman, he had heard stories from other colleagues about how it was “really hard for them to navigate the seafaring profession because they had an identity crisis.”

“I've had doubts going into this profession, but I think I know in myself that I can be at par with the straight guys, so it never really bothered me taking up this profession,” he emphasized.

“I am so sure of myself about what I want and what I want to do in my life,” he continued. “My father and my brothers, they've already told me about the pros and cons of taking up this profession. It's hard, but that's work, that's life. So I'm just going on with the experiences that I will be taking in.”

Like Baculot, Lobaton was also fortunate enough not to experience discrimination during his college years.

“I was a company-sponsored scholar and 11 lang kami na boys. I really didn’t experience discrimination with my peers back in college because I think at that time, they were so mature, and they've explained their boundaries,” he said.

And now that he’s officially a seaman, he is grateful to be working for a company that prioritizes inclusivity and respect in the workplace.

@kavenkirk Replying to @🐷 Seafaring profession is for all kinds of gender 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ #marino #seafarer #seaman ♬ original sound - kaven_kirk on IG - S4RSILMAZ🦅

“One culture that I really appreciate with the company that I am in is they don't allow discrimination, especially when it comes to gender,” he said. “With my peers right now, I don't experience any discrimination because if there's someone who is being discriminated against, we can report it directly to the company.”

Unfortunately, he cannot say the same to some of his friends in other companies, sharing that he knew someone whose company would not promote him because he was “too feminine for the job.”

“But now, the seafaring profession is a really diverse profession where they accept all types of gender, even females,” he said.

Since starting his career in 2015, Lobaton has more than demonstrated that he is exactly where he is meant to be, as he became one of the youngest chief officers in his company after being promoted to the position in 2021 when he was 28 years old.

Whenever he encounters outdated perceptions as he shares his experience online, he simply does his best to educate others and stay true to himself.

Cultivating change

In many rural communities, farming also remains a male-dominated field, with women often facing barriers to resources, training, and leadership opportunities. But lesbian couple Viola Fern Sebastian, 59, and Frianina “Nina” Resplandor, 57, have spent years demonstrating that women can lead, innovate, and succeed in the industry.

Together, the couple manages Myriad Farms, a sprawling 10-hectare property in Guimba, Nueva Ecija. Most of the land is dedicated to rice production, while the rest supports a diverse mix of vegetables, fruit-bearing trees, high-value crops, and farm facilities.

Sebastian told L!fe that the farm was originally owned by her mother, and that she was immersed in a completely different career path as an interior designer during her younger years. Meanwhile, Resplandor was establishing herself as a productivity and management consultant.

At the time, Sebastian’s mom held conservative views towards the LGBTQ+ community, so she had to conceal both her sexuality and her romantic relationships.

“I think I was in fourth year college noong na-realize ko that I love women. It was very difficult for my mom to understand. Sinaunang nanay ang nanay ko, so talagang mahirap sa kanya i-explain. Lahat ng relationships ko, ang tawag ko ay best friend,” she said.

Resplandor, on the other hand, had it a little bit easier.

“As early as grade school ako, alam ko na na babae ang gusto ko. Aware naman ‘yung family ko at wala naman akong nakuhang negative reaction masyado, except of course from my mother na may konting hesitation kasi old school din. Pero sa mga siblings ko, they're very accepting pagdating sa mga choices ko with my relationship,” she said.

Sebastian and Resplenador met sometime in 1992 after college through mutual connections, and after going through many ups and downs, they finally started dating in 2003. It took them 11 years into their relationship before Sebastian’s mom welcomed their relationship.

Unfortunately, she passed away shortly after in 2017 due to cancer. Since no one was available to take care of the family farm, Sebastian decided to come back to her hometown to take over the reins, having attended different training sessions from the Department of Agriculture to prepare herself.

According to her, there was never any doubt about whether she could handle the farming business as both a woman and a member of the LGBTQ+ community.

“I’m very strong-willed. Malakas ang character ko, so hindi ko inisip na pang-lalaki lang ito. Never kami naka-isip ng ganun,” Sebastian said. “I promise you, kapag may nag-lookdown sa amin, hindi ko siya patatawarin talaga.”

Resplandor further highlighted how society has become more accepting of women and queer people in agriculture, unlike in the past. “As long as tama ‘yung moral compass mo, hindi naman magiging problema ‘yan.”

But managing a 10-hectare farm requires far more than passion and determination, and the couple has had their fair share of challenges that tested their resolve.

“Maraming challenges pagdating sa agriculture sector, kasi una, kalaban mo ang weather. Kagaya ngayon, nasa drought season tayo at nandito na rin tayo sa point na ‘yung source of water natin ay pa-deplete na rin globally. Plus ‘yung prices, at mahirap humanap ng mga farm workers,” Resplandor explained.

In the end, they managed to stay strong thanks to their faith and how they always strive to support each other.

“Kapag nagkakaroon ng hiccups or hitches, sinasabi ko kay Nina noon kung talaga bang para sa atin ito? Nina would always remind me and tell me na, ‘Hindi tayo dadalhin dito kung hindi ito para sa atin. Siguro sinusubukan lang tayo kung kapag sa maliit na problema, eh bibigay tayo kaagad,’” Sebastian said.

“But we forged on. We tried our best. We did our best. We are doing our best,” she stressed.

And they certainly walked the talk, as Myriad Farms went on to become not only a farm tourism site accredited by the Department of Tourism, but also a farm field school with a stamp of approval from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

“We're very proud of the fact that we were able to educate and train almost 1,700 local rice farmers in the five years that we have been operating as a learning site and farm school,” Resplandor underscored.

They also pride themselves on using natural and sustainable farming methods to foster healthier crops, healthier soil, and healthier communities.

“Because my mom died of cancer, as much as possible, we try to make our produce as clean and healthy for the consumers, lalo na for us din,” Sebastian said.

Defined by passion, not identity

For all four individuals, the biggest lesson from their journeys is that a person's sexuality or gender should never determine where they belong.

Every time Baculot shares a video from a ship, every time Lobaton speaks about his career online, and every time Sebastian and Resplandor welcome aspiring farmers to Myriad Farms, they send a powerful message that no profession is reserved for only one kind of person.

“Representation matters because it gives [other queer people] the courage na kung nag-e-excel ako, mag-e-excel din sila,” Baculot said. “It really matters not just in the sea fairies, but also for seawomen. I really do have high respect for all the seawomen in the world because I really know how hard it is and I know how much they really try so hard to excel,” he said.

Lobaton further emphasized that “sexual orientation does not determine strength, capabilities, and professionalism, and that LGBTQ+ individuals “prove every day that ability is defined by character and performance.”

For those who are held back by fear that they won't be accepted in the professions they want, Sebastian and Resplandor have this to say: Don't let other people's expectations define what you’re capable of achieving.

“Kung ang paniniwala mo sa sarili mo, ‘Ito ako, I can do this,’ then kahit anong negative pang sabihin nila, lalagpasan at lalagpasan mo ‘yan. Tulad ng ginawa namin. We went above and beyond. Talagang pinag-igihan namin. Nasa sa atin ang ating ikaliligaya, nasa atin ang ating ikauunlad,” Sebastian said.

“Do not limit yourself, kasi napakalaki ng mundo for us to explore and for us to conquer,” Resplandor added. “Huwag kayong matatakot, huwag kayong mahihiya, kasi as long as wala kang tinatapakang ibang tao at alam mong nasa tama ka lang, pagpatuloy mo lang and you can always show people that we can do better than what is expected of us.”