Aiko Melendez, Sunshine Dizon and Max Collins
At a recent press conference for “Rainbow’s Sunset,” an LGBTQ-themed drama film entry in the 2018 Metro Manila Film Festival, supporting actresses Sunshine Dizon, Max Collins and Aiko Melendez talked about growing up working with people from the community:
SUNSHINE DIZON. I’m proud to have two lesbian aunts, whom I look up to. I remember when I was a little girl, we had to attend this wedding or an event that required them to wear dresses. And I was very confused because I thought back then that they were actually males.
They’re some of my best titas—such kind and good people. I truly love them.
MAX COLLINS. Like Ate Sunshine, I also have two lesbian aunts. I’m very close to them, and I love them so much. I have never looked at them any differently. A person’s gender doesn’t make him or her any less of a person—it doesn’t matter at all.
AIKO MELENDEZ. I don’t have immediate gay relatives. But I did grow up working and being around people from the LGBTQ community, here in show biz and when I was in politics. Gender has never been an issue for me; I accept them fully. What’s important is whether or not we’re doing something good and making a difference in society.