AdNU Administration on SOGIE

May understanding ang Ateneo and they are trying to move progressively. But there are reservations. Maraming nag disagree (with the cross dressing policy), kasi bakit daw kailangan pa mag register sa OSA. AdNU is not really allowing students kung need pa ng permission. One of my friends said “hypocrisy lang ‘yong movement kung kailangan ng permission to express ang sarili nila.” Also, during Intrams, isa sa mga guidelines sa Modern Dance was that no crossdressing allowed. But the fact na meron pa rin idea ng crossdressing, are they really pushing inclusivity sa campus or pakitang tao lang ‘yong movement?

Eugeni Belches, 3rd year, BA Education

The most noteworthy na ginawa ng university regarding accommodating SOGIE was allowing students to wear uniforms or clothes that affirms their gender identity. Although there were restrictions, like there was a need to ask for permission from the parents and go to OSA. Although it can be improved, it's still a step though. There needs to be a realization. I guess it's still ‘hard’ for the university to allow the students to wear what they want without having the students out themselves to their parents.

Erin Arcilla, 3rd year, BS Psychology

There was an attempt to accommodate SOGIE, pero without fully understanding or comprehending ano ba ang SOGIE in the first place. I think clouded pa rin sila ng pagiging conservative, and result din siya ng generational gap. Pero hindi dapat siya maging excuse para (hindi) ma-accommodate ang students. Kagaya nung Crossdressing Policy, iyong statement pa lang na “crossdressing policy” is problematic na in a sense; kasi you wouldn’t say na a transwoman is crossdressing. Tapos iyong kailangan pa ng paperworks para ma-validate iyong existence mo.

Zarah Gayanilo, 2nd year, BS Digital Animation

Hinintay namin mag-announce iyong OSA regarding that (Crossdressing policy). Nag-email kami to OSA and sabi nila mag-wait for further announcement. Tapos iyon, nagpost ang OSA sa FB in regards doon sa pag-allow ng preferred uniform, so I’m very happy naman doon, that Ateneo is really looking towards a diverse perspective. Talagang sa College Guidance, they’re very concerning and may matatakbuhan ka talaga. Sa past years talaga, inaamin naman nila (AdNU) that they are into continuously improving pa. And first pa lang ito (Crossdressing policy) ma-implement here dito sa Bicol.

I’m very happy sa Ateneo kasi hindi sila nagc-close boundaries sa mga possibilities. Ang raming opportunities and ang dami mong matututunan. Lalo na pag nag college ka dito [sic] sa Ateneo, very diverse society. Iyon ang pinapakita ng Ateneo sa each and every department. We can wear what we want, just abide by the dress code. Ang ganda tingnan.

Patricia Velasco, 2nd year, BA Education

Given that it is a catholic institution, it is rather lenient and tolerant of progressive expressions of SOGIE, the only real issue is that the schools require you to turn in a permit for you to fully express yourself, it comes off as performative rather than accepting. It is also the school’s job to make their students feel loved and accepted regardless of SOGIE.

In my opinion, they still haven't grasped how to properly apply SOGIE in their handling of students, but they are taking a step in the right direction. Gender neutral bathrooms, wearing of uniforms in accordance to one’s own identity, and wearing makeup are all the bare minimum things an establishment can provide to create a safe space for their students, we only ask the university to properly educate their staff on how to treat their students with respect.

Gerome Manalo, 2nd year, BS Biology

AdNU Staff on SOGIE

Naiintindihan naman ng staff ang SOGIE especially with the younger professors, nafeel ko na very open naman sila about LGBT. Some of them even try and educate my classmates. Although there are still some people na may reservations. Some of them even try na iwasan ‘yong topic. Happy ako, they are trying to push inclusivity. Sa non-teaching staff ‘di naman ako naka-experience ng homophobia. I think open naman sila since every day may nakakasalamuha sila.

Eugeni Belches, 3rd year, BA Education

Sa faculty and staff, maybe it's just the introvert in me, I only talk to a few profs. So far wala pa naman ako na-meet na homophobic or transphobic. Although there are professors that are a bit stereotypical and sexist. I think that there just needs to be more education sa teaching staff… because SOGIE includes everyone.

Erin Arcilla, 3rd year, BS Psychology

Napansin ko iyong iba kong friends na non-conforming sa binary ng gender standard, iyong mga guards natin parang may reservations pa rin. I think hindi lang dapat iyong faculty ang dapat ma-educate about SOGIE, pati rin sana iyong staff, like university guards, custodians etc. Para maka-catch up din sila. I think pwede rin siyang ilunsad, magkaroon ng educational discussion between the staff, like kung ano ang SOGIE, kung bakit kailangan natin i-push ang SOGIE, ano ang benefits if mare-recognize natin ang SOGIE in society.

I think what they’re doing (the university) in the past few years about SOGIE is ginagawan lang nila ng band aid solution and not actually addressing the current situation. Kahit irason pa nila na they’re still trying to unlearn or trying to be more knowledgeable, dapat ang may control niyan iyong students and hindi iyong admin, kasi hindi naman sila (admin) iyong maaagrabyado.

Zarah Gayanilo, 2nd year, BS Digital Animation

Sa department ko, masasabi ko talaga na wholeheartedly akong ina-accept kung ano ako. Sa Education department ako, masasabi ko talaga na rine-respect nila ako, kung ano ang SOGIE ko. Alam na nila pronouns ko. May mga teacher din tayo na member ng LGBT. Nakaka-chika ko rin sila. In the past decades nga raw eh, may grupo nga raw dito sa Ateneo na puro LGBT.

Patricia Velasco, 2nd year, BA Education

Majority do have a good grasp of SOGIE but of course there will always be those that refuse to open up their minds towards a more progressive and inclusive belief. I have no qualms with the non-teaching staff save for a few security guards. I was once profiled for “cross dressing” for wearing a blouse, they asked me if I had a permit to be “acting this way”. It was upsetting to say the least, no student should feel the need to justify how they express themselves especially if it isn't in a lewd or a provocative manner.

Gerome Manalo, 2ndt year, BS Biology

AdNU Students on SOGIE

I think hindi, meron iba na knowledgeable about SOGIE. Meron iba na heterosexual na akala nila na for LGBT lang ang SOGIE. There is still that notion. Nakikita ko naman na very vocal sila (students) sa social media. Like ‘yong sa “Allowing One to Dress According to Their Gender Identity,” maraming nag-voice out ng frustrations nila and maraming na-educate and nakarating naman sa kinauukulan ‘yong issue.

Eugeni Belches, 3rd year, BA Education

As much as I want to believe that most of the students are well-versed or at least know SOGIE, I think that there's a lack of understanding, especially gender identity. There are still people that get confused with labels and what those labels mean. I think that there is still a long way to go, even though there are students that spoke against the issue, it's still alarming. Even if there are students that know about the issues in SOGIE, there needs to be more active and urgent actions regarding educating students and staff. Ateneo is a growing population and students are getting more diverse, and as time progresses, there has to be a transition from being a university that just tolerates it, to a university that actually is aware, knowledgeable and also accepting of every students’ identity.

What can help is the student government. There are organizations that speak about it, like Pillars asking for opinions. The student government is the one that can take the calls of the students and actually be able to bring it up to the admin and maybe even apply pressure. That's something that I know when it comes to student leadership, especially if you're in the student government, you're there to hear the cries of the student body. Ikaw talaga ang makakagawa ng action.

Erin Arcilla, 3rd year, BS Psychology

I think meron naman (understanding of SOGIE), kasi halos lahat naman ng friends ko ay gay. Pero I think dapat mas lumawak pa iyong discussion about SOGIE, para iyong ibang students na hindi pa fully grasp ang SOGIE, at least makipag-engage din [sic] sila. Kasi nasasanay tayo na iyong mga students nags-shy away sa ganyang mga discussions ‘pag hindi pa nila alam.

Nakikita ko rin iyong mga webinars na naho-hold sa school and that’s good. Pero karamihan ng conversations about SOGIE held pa rin by queer people, so imagine if minority ang queers sa university, parang walang conversations na mags-spark. Sana mas naging consistent pa (ang student body) sa pag-bring up ng conversations na iyon (about SOGIE) kasi ngayon parang it just died down.

Zarah Gayanilo, 2nd year, BS Digital Animation

Masasabi ko talaga na sa mga nakakasalamuha ko, may idea naman na sila about SOGIE. So in terms naman dito sa mga nakakasalamuha ko, ‘pag nac-curious sila about sa mga gender topics, ine-explain ko rin naman sa kanila. Ano raw ang sexual orientation, gender identity?

Patricia Velasco, 2nd year, BA Education

In this day and age where the majority of students have access to social media there is bound to be talk and traction regarding contemporary and societal issues such as gender constructs and gender roles. There is without a doubt that our calls and cries to be seen, heard, and accepted, which we shouldn’t even feel the need to cry out for these things, are being heard by the administration. If they plan to do something about (them), that, I'm not sure, but one can be hopeful that someday no student will ever feel discriminated against or demonized.

Gerome Manalo, 2nd year, BS Biology

Collated by Emilia Mari Goyena