Kathoey

I got a message in my inbox the other day from Joey Magduza. It was a short message that has a straight intention for its recipient. Do you know who is Joey Magduza? Actually, I don't know him. LOL. Based on his message, he is a lady boy from the Philippines which he spelled it as "philipins". Hehe. See the rest of his message..

Cute noh! Haha. Lumi-lady boy na din siya kahit di naman uso ang term na yun sa atin. Here in Thailand, especially in Pattaya, lady boys are all over and they are accepted. And to be honest, there are lady boys na mas magaganda pa kaysa sa mga babaeng thai. And I'm talking about the thai women prostitutes and lady boys. Mas magaganda ang hubog, mukha at alindog. Siyempre lahat sila retokado. Retokado ang mukha, ang boobs, ang balakang, ang pwet, at wala nang adam's apple. Mabenta din sila sa mga foreigners. Minsan napapatitig talaga ako sa kanila. Ang galing eh! Okay, walang halong inggit yan ha. No plans of becoming a lady boy!

Pero may mga lady boys din na di binagayan nang transformation nila. Nagmukha tuloy silang nakakatakot. Haha. Lalo na yung mga makikita mo sa umaga na walang make-up. I swear, minsan nagugulat ako. Minsan natatakot. Hehe. Since hindi naman ako masyado exposed sa mga ganyan, even if I'm mentally informed about lady boys, na-culture shock pa din ako nang makakita ako nang madami sa Walking Street. Minsan nga di ko na malaman kung sino ang totoong babae o lady boy. Hehe.

A Thai term that refers to a transgender person or an effeminate gay male in Thailand is called Kathoey. It is most often rendered as ladyboy in english conversation with Thais and this latter expression has become popular across South East Asia. Kathoey works in predominately female occupations, such as in shops, restaurants and beauty salons, but also in factories (a reflection of Thailand's high proportion of female industrial workers). And mostly, they work in entertainment, tourist centers, and in cabaret. Punta ka lang sa Walking Street or sa Pattaya Beach sa gabi, andami mong makikita.

Ewan ko ba, I'm having this perception na sobrang daming bading sa Pattaya. Parang mas madami pa sa straight. Sabi nga nang friend ko, sa Thailand, there are 3 classification of men. The straight guys, the monks, and the gays. Kaya for the thai girls, nauubusan na sila nang options kasi yung mga guys, kung hindi daw monk, eh bading. Pero minsan nakakabaliw ang mga bading dito sa Pattaya. I don't mean any descrimination pero mostly, the discreet ones or not, mga payat sila, mga walang itsura (I swear), at baduy pumorma. I swear, lamang na lamang ang mga pinoy. Minsan, sila pa yung may ka-holding hands na foreigners. Sa loob loob ko, "ganun?!".

Naisip ko nga minsan, kung sila nga nakakabingwit nang foreigners, tapos easy money, mag-pokpok na lang kaya ako. Baka yumaman pa ako. LOL. Just kidding.