02/07/2025
Palike and share po salamat🤗
Hi, I’m Loi Olofernes, 32, proudly from Southern Leyte
I’m the youngest of nine siblings, born in a family that may not have had much, but was rich in dreams. From a young age, I learned that life’s hardships are not a reason to stop but fuel to reach farther.
Coming out wasn’t hard for me because I grew up in a family with LGBTQ+ relatives, but gaining acceptance from my father was a battle. I faced painful words from people, even from teachers who once told me, “Loi, it’s better if you don’t go in. You won’t amount to anything.” But I used every hurtful word as gasoline to keep going, to prove them wrong.
I went to Manila carrying my dreams, only to face countless rejections—told at gates, “Bawal ang tomboy.” I didn’t give up. I took any decent job I could find—vendor, janitor, delivery rider, welder—whatever it took to live with dignity. I worked abroad in Japan for seven years, taking on welding, fish processing, and dairy farming, enduring homesickness while growing stronger.
When I returned home, I tried to start different businesses. I faced scams and failures, but that’s where the strongest version of myself was born. Today, I own a barbershop, slowly rebuilding my dreams.
The hardest challenge wasn’t just poverty; it was the constant doubt society throws at people like me. Many times, I felt small, questioning God, “Why make me this way?” But I learned that my worth doesn’t depend on what the world thinks. Respect starts from how I see myself.
Ten years from now, I see myself as a successful entrepreneur with businesses that welcome everyone—women, men, LGBTQ+—with no discrimination. Everyone deserves respect and equal opportunities.
