Rustom explains to ma: 'Being gay not a choice'

For Rustom Padilla, being gay is not a choice. Still working for the acceptance of his family for the new Rustom, the former matinee idol bared Saturday that he did not choose to be gay. “Gusto ko lang sabihin, ‘Ma, sa lahat din ng mga magulang na mayroong mga anak na kagaya ng pinagdaanan ko alam nyo po ang pagiging gay is not a choice, it’s really not a choice," he said in an interview with GMA Network’s Startalk. Rustom had said that his coming out has caused a rift with the members of his family and he had no choice but to avoid them. “Alam mo very normal kasi talagang pag dumadaan ka sa ganung klaseng pag-ano sa sarili mo. Kasi tinatanong mo yung self-worth mo e tapos kapag pumapasok sa isip mo na bakit parang may pasubali yung pagmamahal sa iyo di ba parang (sinasabi nila) sana hindi ka ganyan, parang may panghihinayang. Parang masakit kasi," he said. He added: “Wag nyo akong paghinayangan because I can still be the best that I want to be." Teary-eyed Rustom promised that he will prove to his family and friends that he is still worthy of their love. “Inilagay ko sa isip ko na papatunayan ko na I will be the good son regardless kung ano ako basta I will be a good son, na hindi ako magiging kahihiyan ng pamilya at magiging responsible ako sa sarili ko at saka darating ang panahon na maipagmamalaki din ako bilang anak." Rustom said it will take time before his family can accept his sexuality. He added he doesn’t harbor any grudge against them. His mother, Eva Cariño, admitted she is still hoping that Rustom will change. “Hindi naman sa hindi ko tanggap pero umaasa ako na darating ang panahon na…….hindi ko na madugtungan pero mahal ko ang aking anak dahil si Rustom mabait," she told Startalk. She was not able to immediately answer the question if she now accepts the new Rustom. “Syempre anak ko siya e, hindi pupuwedeng itapon kundi, sa ngayon, lalo ko pa siyang mahal na mahal," she said, to which Rustom butted in, “alam mo minsan, kasi minsan masakit pakinggan yung hindi puwedeng itapon, kung pwede palang itapon (itinapon na)." Mrs Cariño replied: Eto talaga normal lang sa atin na kung minsan magalit ka. E yun ang gusto niya e di bahala siya sa buhay niya, ganun pero sa bibig lang yun, deep inside hindi pwede." Rustom and his mother last met in December last year. Their meeting Saturday was filled with emotion as they hugged each other for minutes before facing Startalk host Butch Francisco. Mrs Carino said she and Rustom were uncomfortable in their first meeting nine months ago. “Nung huling nagkita kami noong December, parang pareho kaming asiwa hanggang nung kakain na kami kasama na siya, after 30 minutes nawala na lang siyang bigla. After that wala na, hindi na kami nagkita ni Rustom. Tawag ako nang tawag sa bahay nila, kaaalis lang daw, tulog, so naisip ko na talagang nilalayo niya yung sarili niya sa amin dahil siguro sa kanya parang ilag din siya," she said. Rustom explained that he is just waiting for the right timing. “Hinihintay ko lang yung tamang panahon na malagpasan ‘yung ang tingin sa akin si Rustom bakla yan di ba. Gusto ko malagpasan ‘yun (at) darating din ‘yung panahon na si Rustom OK ‘yan sa ginagawa niyang trabaho," he said. - GMANews.TV