Philippine stars migrating to other countries to start new lives is not a new story.
Many have left life in Manila’s spotlight for places they could lead more private lives.
Count BB Gandanghari — formerly known as Rustom Padilla — as the latest celebrity to give up the glamorous life and start anew abroad.
Her brother Robin Padilla said during the morning show Magandang Buhay yesterday that Gandanghari is now making a living as a driver for ride-hailing app Uber, in the United States, though he didn’t reveal exactly where Gandanghari is living.
As Rustom, she was known as a ’90s action star and a matinee idol, like her brother.
As a man, he was married to actress Carmina Villaroel in 1994 before getting an annulment in 2002.
Gandanghari came out as gay in 2006, then as a transgender woman later in 2009.
Padilla only began to refer to Gandanghari as a sister instead of a brother in 2013, but now seems to fully accept his sister for her new identity.
“She’s there trying her luck in America. She’s an Uber driver there,” Padilla said in Tagalog. “I’m a little worried because, of course, that’s America. I’m not familiar with the people there or the places that she’s going. She’s going cross country for the people she doesn’t know. BB is doing just fine,” he added.
After migrating to the United States last year, Gandanghari was able to legally change her name and gender designation from male to female.
Padilla shared his closeness with Gandanghari and how he used to defend her when they were younger.
“When we were younger, it was just the two of us. Probably 80 percent of my fights were because I was defending her,” he said. “She was always being bullied back then. Of course, that’s my sibling, it hurts to hear that she’s being bullied. I won’t forget that it was always just the two of us before, up until now actually. It’s just different because he’s a woman now,” he said.
Reader Interactions