In this YouTube Shorts video, the speaker—a Filipino-born, non-binary musician and filmmaker— recounts a 25‑year journey from early attempts at a music career in the Philippines, where LGBTQ+ acceptance was scarce, to a pivot into filmmaking, migration to the United States, and a return to music with a 2013 queer music video. The speaker reflects on the evolving visibility of queer artists, expresses a desire to contribute to the thriving queer music scene, and announces the launch of their first EP titled Siya—named after a Filipino gender‑neutral pronoun. The EP release show will take place at El Rio in San Francisco on January 8 at 9 PM, featuring collaborators Miraj (a queer artist) and Mar XOXO (the speaker’s trans sister). Viewers are invited to RSVP via a short link. The narrative blends personal history, cultural identity, and a call for community support.
Chapters
Story time. Back in the Philippines, when I tried to pursue music, I had this boy band and they were very accepting of me. Two of them were Canadians and they're still very much so supportive of me. And in fact, we have reconnected and we're making music right now. But during that time, I was really, really discouraged because it quickly dawned into me that I was not going to make it as a music artist if I was open about my sexuality. And mind you, this was about the year 2001, 2002. And what year are we now? 2025. So that's about 25 years. 25 years ago, it was not very accepting and it wasn't very safe for music artists that are openly LGBTQIA+. And so I quickly pivoted and I became a filmmaker. And, you know, when I migrated here in the States, I tried to pursue it again. Around 2013, I released a music video and I came out as a queer artist. But back then, there was barely any Adam Lambert or any other queer artist that really made it big, unlike now, which, you know, the younger generations are very fortunate. And I thought maybe, you know, I could join in the fun. I have no expectations really of what's going to happen. I'm just really wanting to participate in this atmosphere of queer artists that are thriving. Not that there aren't any more challenges that we face as queer artists and also the LGBTQIA+ in general, but I am just I'm doing it, I'm doing it. Yeah, and I hope that you guys will support me as a music artist, and I'm excited for what's to happen. So yeah, that is my story time, and I hope you guys will make it to my EP launch here in San Francisco, which will be at El Rio on January 8th. The show starts at 9 PM. I will be joined by Miraj, who is an amazing queer artist as well, and as well as Mar XOXO, my amazing sister who is a trans woman and also making it big in the scene. So I hope to see you guys there. Please RSVP, tinyurl.com/cyavir. And by the way, the title of my EP and the show is Siya because Siya is a gender-neutral pronoun in the Philippines, and I identify as a non-binary individual and non-binary multidisciplinary artist at that. So Yeah, I hope to see you guys at SIA. Bye, thank you.
