#KuwentoMoPa: 48-year old transgender single-handedly raises adopted son

Loida Pangilinan is not your typical father.

She is a proud transgender woman who determinedly raises "Andrew" all by herself ever since she adopted him in 2015, when she was already 48 years old.

In GMA's recent digital documentary series for Father's Day, Loida said that being a father knows no gender. It was all about loving your child. 

She said, "Malawak siguro ang definition para sa kin ng isang 'ama'. It's not just ama, it's love."

This was how she felt ever since Andrew's parents gave him away to Loida in exchange of P15,000. 

They couldn't afford to raise Andrew anymore and decided that Loida would be able to better provide for him.

Loida said, "Ayokong kamuhian niya magulang niya. Alam kong ginagawa ng magulang niya 'yun kasi may plan para sa kanya."

Loida added, "Naramdaman ko kasi 'yung pain ng nanay niya noong ilalayo na namin sa kanya."

She remembered how she kept asking the mother if she was sure, that she can always back out from the agreement, but the mother simply answered, "Ano papakain ko diyan?"
 
However, becoming Andrew's parent didn't start easily. Andrew was born prematurely and was in a critical stage.

Loida was bracing herself already for the possible loss, but she always told Andrew, "Promise...'nak laban ah. Nandito lang kami. 'Wag kang bibitaw."

Thankfully, Andrew survived, and Loida has promised to herself that she will raise Andrew the best way she can and never to make him feel the kind of strained relationship she had with her own father.

Loida narrated that as a transgender woman, she endured a complicated relationship with her family.

"Siyempre, bakla. Ayaw nila, lalo na si father, siyempre lalaki image," Loida said. "Kaya I stayed away from them. Ginawa ko 'yun hindi para magrebelde pero I just wanted to find myself."

Loida felt rejected back then and felt like her father never really loved her, up until her father's dying moment.

She was composed when she was talking to her father, but when she went out of the room, she encountered someone who said, "Ay, ito ba 'yung anak niya? 'Yung bunso? 'Yung pinagmamalaki niya?"

She felt her world collapse after hearing those words, but it was too late. Her father died on the day of her birthday.

She said, "Hanggang namatay siya, actually, ako 'yung bunso pero sa 'kin niya binilin lahat ng kapatid ko kasi alam niya na ako 'yung very strong. Doon ako nadurog."

With this experience, Loida vowed to do better by Andrew.

"It serves as my lesson, 'yung aking pinanghuhugutan, para masabi ko sa sarili ko na one of these days, isang parte sa buhay ko na magkaroon ako ng family na very strong," she said. 

Even though there was no blood relations, Loida vowed that she would look for a family for herself, and that's when Andrew entered her life.

Despite this, Loida continues to be anxious for the day that she has to tell Andrew the truth, but she said, "Sooner or later maghahanap 'yan. Hindi namin ipagdadamot kasi alam ko din naman, kasi alam ko din kung papaano maghanap ng sariling pamilya."

Until then, Loida promises to love him unconditionally and explain how he was given to her not through abandonment, but through love. — LA, GMA News