Many members of the LGBTQ community in the Philippines continue to fight for acceptance from their families, which is probably why this recently viral tweet has become a source of hope and happy feels for many netizens.
Twitter user @LeFlutiste19, who only wants to be identified as Von Erik, shared a now-viral video yesterday showing the Twitterverse the “most touching present” he received from his mom when he was a kid — a Polly Pocket compact playset.
He said in the tweet: “My mom knew I was gay when I was around 6 years old. I was always jealous of my sister’s Barbie dolls so she gave me this.”
The video shows him opening the toy which reveals a house on the top part and miniature figurines less than an inch tall at the bottom. The compact is Christmas-themed with a white and green design inside.
I just saw the most touching present from my childhood.
My mom knew I was gay when i was around 6yo. I was always jealous of my sister’s barbie dolls so she gave me this. She told me not to tell my dad. I’m 30yo now and this will always be my most fave gift from anyone ever. pic.twitter.com/L0MCXvw27L
— (@LeFlutiste19) January 7, 2019
“She told me not to tell my dad. I’m 30 years old now and this will always be my most fave gift from anyone ever,” he said in the tweet.
Von told Coconuts Manila that he saw the toy while he was looking through some stuff in one of the bedrooms in their Quezon City home.
“I found something pink hidden behind old figurines and that’s when I found this,” he said.
He believes his mom gave him the present around Christmas time back when he was six years old.
“She just gave it to me when we were alone in the living room,” he said. “She told me not to show it to my dad or else he’ll get mad at us both.”
But he mentioned that he gave the toy to her sister at some point so his dad wouldn’t get suspicious.
“I guess my sister didn’t bring it (the toy) with her when she moved out [of the house] but I guess my mom put it there [in the room] with the other old stuff since it was still in good shape.”
Von added that he was closer with his mother than his dad. “[It had] something to do with being gay as a child and him wanting me to grow up as a manly man,” Von said.
However, he said that his father probably already knew that he was gay when he was four years old because he would videotape all the Miss Universe pageants on their VHS player, a hobby he did until he was in Grade 6.
“He wasn’t very accepting back then,” he stated. “In college, he just started to joke around my sexuality and would say jokes like ‘When will you bring home a woman?'”
His father eventually accepted his sexuality as he grew older.
“He isn’t like that anymore. Both of them accepted me as who I am now and they don’t mind one bit as long as I stay healthy and I do what’s best for me.”
Von Erik said that after seeing the toy, he realized just how accepting his parents are.
“It’s more of ‘Wow, it’s still here. What did I do to deserve a gift like this at such a young age? Does this mean I was already accepted a long time ago but didn’t realize it until the day I found it (the toy) [again]?'” he said.
“I’m pretty sure that as parents, my mom and dad had already talked it over many times before behind closed doors about my sexuality but they didn’t say anything,” he told Coconuts. “That gift for me was an indirect approach [for my parents to say], “We love you [no matter] who you wanna be.”
“For all I know, it might [have been] my dad who bought the gift and gave it to my mom to give to me. That I’ll never know,” he stated.
He added that he’s grateful because he realized how one toy changed his perspective about his parents.
“I thought they were really strict because they wanted me to grow up in a [certain] way. After seeing this, I just realized how lucky I am to have them both and how they didn’t put any weight on my shoulders to come out of the closet. It just naturally happened.”
Von Erik said he didn’t expect the tweet to go viral.
“When I woke up, it just blew up. I’m overwhelmed by everyone’s reactions.”
“Normally, gays would get bashed for posting something like this because ‘it’s not normal’ or ‘it’s a sin.’ Surprisingly, I never received a single hate comment up to now. I’m grateful for my parents and to everyone who liked and commented and appreciated my mom because not all parents are like her.”
The tweet had over 155,000 views, 13,000 likes, and 1,300 retweets as of this article’s posting. Just like he said, there were no negative reactions and the replies were overflowing with love and support.
“My gay heart is crying of (sic) happiness. That feeling of assurance that someone sees and accepts you for the person that you are. It’s heartbreaking hearing people being denied of that even in their own family or community. ‘Tis a nice story to brighten up someone’s day,” said @BasicAnon0.
My gay heart is crying of happiness. That feeling of assurance that someone sees and accepts you for the person that you are. It’s heartbreaking hearing people being denied of that even in their own family or community. Tis a nice story to brighten up someone’s day.
— BasicAnon (@BasicAnon0) January 7, 2019
@love_rose09 shared that his mother let him take home a bicycle with a Snow White design when he was around 4 years old.
My mom let me take home a bicycle with a Snow white design on its headtubes and bike frames and I was around 4yo then.
— GreenTeaFrappeLover (@love_rose09) January 7, 2019
“Who’s cutting the onions here? Btw, sending you warmest regards from me to you & your mama,” said @binarprj.
Who’s cutting the onions here? Btw, sending you warmest regards from me to you & your mama❤ pic.twitter.com/SxwqwXz8oc
— Anaknya Pak Gik (@binarprj) January 8, 2019
“I am low key crying,” wrote @dftennis.
I am low key crying. pic.twitter.com/mvkEM1nXBS
— D@n (@dftennis) January 8, 2019
“Let me have your mom,” said @HalfTikoy.
Let me have your mom 🙁
— half-tikoy (@HalfTikoy) January 7, 2019
This makes our hearts happy, too.
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