Found Beauty in Scars

Didn’t expect what he showed me on his left arm…

From a distance, I saw him. He stood out among the crowd with his sky and cloud-colored dress- holding a tray of drinks. As he sat next to me, he told me how humid the weather is while pouring honey syrup on his tea. His pink lips, mid-length black hair with see-through bangs, smoky eyeshadow, and brown eyes caught my attention. Popularly known as “Amber or “Amberlicious”, he is a host, a TESDA trainer, a professional storyteller, a freelance artist, a specialist in a business process outsourcing company which provides customer service called IQOR, and many other professions – he maximizes all the time that God has given him.

Looking back to the first time he visited Its Showtime, a noontime variety show, he was just part of the huge audience clapping and cheering for other people. He went to the show for the second time on November 27, 2017. He was not clapping for others anymore, he was the one receiving the claps; he was not cheering for others, but the one being cheered for. He joined the show’s segment Ms. Q & A, a competition for bright and witty members of the gay community.

Though he failed to take home the crown, doors were not closed upon him. He is an active member of Alitaptap Storytellers Philippines, a non-government guild of volunteer storytellers. The organization’s mission is to instill the importance of reading and the appreciation of children’s literary art through storytelling. “I love being a storyteller. I want to promote the importance of reading to people, especially to children”, he answered when I asked him how he got into storytelling.

“Invest in your mind, not in your body”

he said.

He continued sipping his tea. He then showed me his left arm, showing a prominent scar. A scar that reminds him of the battles he fought throughout his life. Living with no one else by his side, failed relationships, absence of people to talk to once lead him to attempt suicide.

Traveling from one country to another became his way of coping up with his loneliness and battling his suicidal tendencies. “What was one thing you thought of to overcome the struggles you have gone through if there is any?” I asked him.

“Noong nakilala ko si God”

He considered this as the brightest highlight of his life. He decided to embrace the beauty of being alone but not lonely. Being in a relationship was not his priority, and depending on others was not his refuge.

Since then, he enjoyed and lived his life to the fullest as an artist and performer, switching from jobs to jobs. His passion for acting lead him to different acting opportunities.

Some of the teleseryes and movies he had been into was Got to Believe, Ang Sikreto ng Piso, Bakla Sakali, and soon to be released movie 12 Days to Destiny. His next goal is to be part of the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF). “Is there a chance po ba na sumali uli kayo ng Ms. Q & A?” I asked. He told me that he is fonder of hosting but he is not closing his doors for Ms. Q & A.

We parted ways as soon as he finished his cup of tea, keeping our promises of not forgetting each other and the possibility of meeting again in the future.

“Value every person you meet” – Ms. Amber Marcial Noval.