Ben&Ben’s Paolo Guico denounces use of ‘bakla’ as insult: ‘Pilipinas, let’s grow up!’

Ben&Ben’s Paolo Guico urges the public to be comfortable in their own skin. Images: Twitter/@PaoloBenjamin_

Paolo Guico of the award-winning folk-pop band Ben&Ben condemned the use of “bakla” (gay) as an insult as he promotes the breaking of gender norms.

Guico urged Filipinos to “grow up” and respect all genders, especially the LGBTQ+ community, through a series of tweets earlier today, Feb. 10.

“[Never] assume anyone’s gender based on the clothes they wear. [Hay Pilipinas], ang layo pa natin (Philippines, we still have a long way to go) *sigh*,” he tweeted.

“[Higit] pa rito, mali ang mag-assume na ang isang bagay o gawain ay panlalaki o pambabae lamang (Moreover, it is wrong to assume that one thing or activity is for boys or girls only),” he continued in the following tweet.

higit pa rito, mali ang mag-assume na ang isang bagay o gawain ay panlalaki o pambabae lamang.

kids, be free to be yourselves. don't let anyone bring you down.

— Paolo Benjamin (@PaoloBenjamin_) February 10, 2021

“[Kids], be free to be yourselves. [Don’t] let anyone bring you down,” the musician said as he called for gender nonconformity, the practice of not conforming to the present gender norms and roles.

In his most recent post, Guico stressed that we should stop using “bakla” or gay as an insult, noting that “as a heterosexual male, [I] may not be in the place to speak for them but, [I] will fiercely fight for our LGBT friends and listeners.

“[You] are valid, accepted and loved. Pilipinas, let’s grow up!” he emphasized.

panghuli, sana'y makamove-on na tayo bilang bansa sa paggamit ng "bakla" bilang insulto. as a heterosexual male, i may not be in the place to speak for them but, i will fiercely fight for our LGBT friends and listeners. you are valid, accepted and loved. Pilipinas, let's grow up!

— Paolo Benjamin (@PaoloBenjamin_) February 10, 2021

Guico’s series of tweets came after he posted a photo of him wearing a dress on Feb. 8, urging the public to “be comfy in [your] own skin.” The post also came with another photo of him donning a shirt and pants.

be comfy in ur own skin pic.twitter.com/jh52r8OcY7

— Paolo Benjamin (@PaoloBenjamin_) February 8, 2021

This is not the first time Ben&Ben stood up for the LGBTQ+ community. In June last year, Ben&Ben fans launched the “BBs Pride Home” campaign to give them a platform to share their stories while relating them to Ben&Ben songs, a move that the band itself supported.  /ra

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