Viewers will now be able to catch a glimpse of Rep. Geraldine Roman (Bataan, 1st District) as she announced the launch of her own vlog on Nov. 30 at 7 p.m.
Dubbed "Geraldine Romantik," the online program will give viewers the chance to get to know Roman up close and personal.
"I want to reach out. Marami naman ang nagko-convince sa akin nuong araw kaso nga nasingitan ng pandemic eh," said Roman, during a lunch with the entertainment press in Quezon City recently. "Pero sa FB page ko madalas na ako nagla-live. I even went to Spain where I live for 23 years tapos nag-travel vlog din ako ruon."
(I want to reach out. There were many people who convinced me to try vlogging but the pandemic hit us. On my FB page I often go live. I even went to Spain where I lived for 23 years then I also did a travel vlog there.)
Roman said that she won't mind being bashed for her vlog. "Sanay na ako diyan. Noong issue on death penalty I was bashed. The youth were expecting I would vote against death penalty but I voted in favor (of death penalty) to protect my district. Ganun talaga ang trabaho sa Congress. You have to make decisions for the people."
Asked about the topics on her vlog, Roman said: "Politics not so much unless we will make a stand. We can talk about high prices, what to do para ma-remedy yung inflation."
The first edition is built around the theme, “Let’s get to know Geraldine Roman,” otherwise known as the first transgender person to be elected to the Philippine House of Representatives, where she has been designated as chairperson of the House Committee on Women and Gender Equality.
Ms. Roman said there’s more to the new channel than being just a play of words.
The congresswoman said in a recent post on one of her social media accounts: #Romantikako dahil I value the time I spend with the people I serve. Pinapahalagahan ko ang bawat kwento na kanilang ibinabahagi sa akin at patuloy akong maninindigan para sa kanilang karapatan para sa maginhawang buhay. Kayo, paano kayo naging romantik today?”
Among the many advocacies and accomplishments of Rep. Roman in the six years that she has been in Congress (she’s on her third term) are bills covering education, health care, environmental quality. Some of her advocacies are equality, Oh My Gulay! Healthy Na, May Kita Pa Program, Ecotourism, Farm to Market Road Project, Basic Digital Literacy Training.
Rep. Roman was named one of the 100 Leading Global Thinkers of 2016 by US-based Foreign Policy magazine. She was also on the list of "13 Inspiring Women of 2016" compiled by Time magazine.
"I think journalists have this thirst for communicating. Yung gusto mo talagang i-share yung ideas mo to be understood and of course to interact. I'm very interactive," she added.
Prior to YouTube, Roman invaded TikTok with her program "Geraldine Romantik" which already garnered 5.5 million views as of Nov. 27.
"Thank you so much, loves! In just one month we've achieved 5.5 million views on TikTok! Follow my official Tiktok account @geraldineromantik today and stay tuned for more educational and lifestyle content!" Roman wrote on Facebook.
She added: "We prepared different surprises for you. So see you on November 30, 7pm on my YouTube Channel."
A journalist in Spain
Many may not know it but Roman was a lifestyle reporter in Spain before she joined politics.
After she graduated European Languages from the University of the Philippines, Roman got a scholarship to study in Spain where she pursued her master’s degree in Spanish language, English literature and eventually journalism.
"Doon ako naging masaya at doon ako nag-blossom. I stayed in Spain for 23 years, age 22 to 45. I worked there at a Spanish agency and other Sunday magazines. My beat was lifestyle and I did interviews also. Because of my English, I was the only reporter sent to interview English speaking personalities like Pierce Brosnan, Drew Barrymore, Angelica Houston, and Alanis Morissette.
"Ang saya kaya! We were sent to Florence, Italy. Kasi sponsored ng Salvatore Ferragamo yung shoes sa 'Ever After.' It was a press junket and the celebrities were so nice," she recalled.
But in 2012, she gave up her exciting career in journalism and went back to Manila to take care of her ailing father. "Nag-vacation ako para alagaan siya. Kaso hindi siya gumaling." In 2016, she ran for Congress in her district and won.