YouTube sensation Sebastian Castro: 'I am gay'

Mula nang lumabas sa YouTube ang music video ng Philippine-based Peruvian-Japanese commercial model na si Sebastian Castro, naging mainit na ang pangalan niya sa showbiz and modelling circle. Ang kanyang music video na “Bubble" ay may mahigit 269,000 views na sa loob lamang ng isang linggo. Sa nasabing video, hindi lang pagkanta, kaguwapuhan, at kaseksihan ang ipinakita ni Sebastian kundi nagpahiwatig din siya ng kanyang sexual preference. Ilang araw matapos pagpiyestahan ang “Bubble," inamin ni Sebastian sa kanyang YouTube channel (sebastian castro) na isa siyang gay. Dahil sa magkakasunod na mga rebelasyon, umingay ang pangalan ni Sebastian. Ito rin ang naging pasaporte niya para i-guest siya sa H.O.T. TV ng GMA-7 last Sunday, February 24. Bilang patunay ng mabilis niyang pagsikat, hindi pa man isinasalang si Sebastian sa kamera para sa isang interview, kaliwa’t kanan na ang mga nagpapa-picture sa kanya. Animo’y isang sikat na Kapuso actor ang modelo. THE VOICE. Kaya sa panayam ng PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) kay Sebastian bago siya sumalang sa show, tinanong namin sa kanya kung ano ang feeling niya at popular na siya ngayon. Nakangiting sagot ng 23-year-old model at YouTube sensation, “It’s a weird thing because it’s not like I really want to be popular. “I know who I talk to… “I know there’s lots of people that are scared just to be themselves and I know why—because it’s about their sexuality. “There’s always gonna be a matinee idol who talks to their girlfriends… you can see a lot—the guts and the balls to talk to… “The voice—I think that’s kind of all I’m doing and that makes me popular, cool. But that doesn’t really matter. “At the end of the day, I know who I’m talking to." “BUBBLE". Unang nakilala si Sebastian bilang isang commercial model. Nakagawa na siya ng print and TV ad campaign para sa Pantene (kasama si Angelica Panganiban), Jollibee, at Sun Mobile. Nakasama rin siya sa mga rumampa sa Cosmo 69 Hot Bachelors show nong 2011. Ayon naman sa business-manager ni Sebastian na si Dennis T. Sebastian, nagmula sa Atlanta, Geogria ang modelo. Pero teenager pa lang daw ito ay kung saan-saang bansa na ito napapadpad. Ilan sa mga bansang napuntahan at tinuluyan nito sandali ay ang Canada, Mexico, Netherlands, at Germany. Kung anu-anong trabaho na raw ang pinasok nito sa mga bansang tinirhan. Nong dumating daw sa Pinas si Sebastian ay naibigan agad nito ang pamumuhay dito kaya naman gumawa ito ng sarili niyang blog, ang pilipinokuno.com. Pero kamakailan nga lang ay pumutok ang pangalan ni Sebastian matapos lumabas ang YouTube music video nito “Bubble." Kailan nagsimula ang career niya sa music at paano niya inilabas ang music video ng “Bubble"? “’Bubble’ is my first single out there," sagot ni Sebastian. “The thing is that people don’t probably understand all the time. “’Bubble’ has taken ten years of my life… this is my baby. “I started writing this beautiful song when I’m only… about to turn fourteen years old in the U.S. “I used all that time to express my music. “I couldn’t even say it loud… I am so happy to be guesting today [on H.O.T. TV]. “And I’m so happy to go ahead and share something about my music." Ano ang ibig sabihin ng kantang “Bubble" para sa kanya? “That’s my story and I’m not ashamed to say that the song is about losing your gay virginity—that’s what it is." "I AM GAY." Muli namin siyang tinanong kung gay nga ba siya. “I am gay," diretsong sagot ni Sebastian. “I came out of the closet happily on Beki Night a few nights ago. “I had music video. I had a show. I was tired but I stayed awake long enough to make a video for my ‘Bubble.’ “I’m happy that they appreciate it, too. Fifty thousand hits [in just] a couple of days. “I’m really happy they appreciate it, too." May mga negatibong reaksiyon ba siyang nakuha mula sa ibang tao pagkatapos niyang mag-come out? “Oo naman, siyempre naman," sagot niya. What was the worst negative reaction he has encountered so far? Mabilis niyang sagot, “They say, ‘Go, f**k yourself, go kill yourself.’ A lot of words I can’t even say it in front of the camera. “At the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter. “I know who I am and I know who I talk to. “I know the people that I make happy are more important than the people who are small-minded." IN A RELATIONSHIP. Ngayong inamin na niya ang kanyang sexual preference, malamang na maraming mga bading at bisexual ang interesado sa kanya ngayon at posibleng ligawan siya. Paano niya iha-handle ang ganitong sitwasyon? Sagot ni Sebastian, “I don’t know if I’m entertaining them. “I know what is like to feel so alone. You might just take your own life. I know that. “So, like, for me, I don’t know about, let's say, entertaining them. “But I’m always there for them because I know what is it like to feel alone. “And maybe I’ll be the weirdo on Twitter, 24/7, but I’m happily be the weirdo on Twitter 24/7 if one kid doesn’t make a stupid decision that he would otherwise make without me… “Does it makes sense?" tanong pa niya. May boyfriend ba siya ngayon? “I’m already been open to my ‘Bubble’… I have somebody special and hopefully I can keep that one aspect of my life secret… I hope so." Gaano na sila katagal? “It’s been eight months now," sabi ni Sebastian. Is he a Filipino? “Yes… two of my three relationships have been Filipino." COMING OUT. Ngayong alam na ng halos lahat ang kanyang gender preference, how does he feel? Sagot ni Sebastian, “I feel relieved and free, because what you see is not just what you get. “There’s no need to put any layers. It’s just there. “People already have an idea of the worse and the best of me, and I think that’s kind of also makes the right fun." What is his message or advice to people hiding in the closet? “I’ve come to know several people in showbiz who are closet... “And to them, I think my presence is a little bit awkward because they like things the way they are. And I don’t blame them. “And I have no intention of outing anybody. I hope people know that. “Like, for me, whatever makes them happy is okay. “I know how hard they can be, especially in this industry. “But just keep some things in your life that are real when the camera is off." Gusto niya bang maging inspirasyon sa mga nagtatago sa kanilang tunay na katauhan, partikular na sa ilang aktor na pinagdududahan ang kasarian? Sagot ni Sebastian, “Sure, I hope that some of them would consider, but some of them can’t afford it. “And for them, I want them to know I understand. “Me coming out does not mean having a roof over my head. “So, I cannot blame anyone if it's not the right time." Talagang may alam siyang mga artista na nasa closet? “I’m not gonna tell!" nakangiting sabi niya. Dumating sa Pilipinas si Sebastian nong January 2011 at nagpabalik-balik na siya sa bansa at sa Amerika magmula noon. Sa ngayon, dito raw muna siya pansamantalang maninirahan. Is he considering a career in acting? “Acting and singing are my main passion. I don’t necessarily care about showbiz but I care about being the actor and expressing my art in acting and song in music." -- Rey Pumaloy, PEP