Heart-to-Heart with Heart (An interview with the first Transgender woman University Student Council Chairperson)
by Eva Callueng, The POC
March 18, 2012

I do not always go to UP though I am currently enrolled; I just go there to meet my adviser for my dissertation. Being busy with my work, I don’t get to hang out with my orgmates in UP Babaylan. One of my orgmates, Heart Diño, was recently elected and is the first ever transgender USC Chairperson of UP Diliman. She was elected last March 1, with the campaign banner: “Tayo ang USC” (We are the USC) under UP ALYANSA (UP Alyansa ng Mga Mag-aaral Para sa Panlipunang Katwiran at Kaunlaran).

Heart and I never really got to know each other since we were not resident members at the same time. I had an opportunity to get to know her better outside the campaign circus when I chanced on her during our Babaylanes Board Meeting. She was present to express her gratitude for the organization’s support in her recent victory.

Q: What was your first reaction when you learned that you made it?

Happy, and even before I won I was talking with Ace (Vice Chairperson Candidate of UP ALYANSA) and we said that whether we win or lose, the experience already made us winners. After all, it is not about the destination, it’s about the journey or the process. It is more important that we were able to build our character, develop our skills, and strengthen our faith. I already consider myself a winner given the number of people around me who have given their all-out support. I was glad that I was able to do it until the end of the campaign and when I learned that I won, everything paid off.

I wanted my partner to win too, the whole of ALYANSA, so I was saddened that some of them didn’t.

Read full article @ http://www.thepoc.net/thepoc-features/pinoy-lgbt/pinoy-lgbt-features/15133-eva-callueng.html