With the flick of his fingers, the rouge sparkling on his cheeks, and the hips swaying with every graceful step, one would never guess that he would be under the sweltering summer sun and on the burning tracks competing in a showdown meant to display the strength, endurance, and the rough edges of manhood.

For one, society has long placed people like him in narrow boxes – as typical contestants to gay beauty pageants, being salon stylists or simply by becoming the happy pill in a group or crowd – spaces that usually allow them to freely express their femininity.

But he was not the type to be confined in the gender stereotypes the society has made for members of the LGBTQ community like him. Not when he has a dream, and more so when he has an important promise to fulfill.

The queen slays on the tracks

At the New Clark City Athletics Stadium during the Philippine Athletics Championships last May, Rain Mabelin, a young walkathoner from Cavite, stood out during the scrum interviews at the end of the boys U18 5000-meter walk where he won a silver.

He is a member of the LGBTQ community, along with the gold medal winner and friend Wenniel Simba. They are so close that they celebrated as if they were winners of a beauty pageant – with Mabelin, the last year's gold medalist of the same event, acting like he was passing the crown to Simba.

They were bubbly, playful, and energetic. But when asked if he aspires to be a national athlete, he had a straightforward but surprising answer.

“It could be an option but I have not met the standard times of the Philippine team. I am satisfied to be just here, enjoying the moment, he said in Tagalog.

It was a response that was unheard of in a competition as grand as the National Open where athletes are doing their best to make heads turn and hopefully land a spot in the national team.

“I want to join the Army, he declared – an answer that was a bit surprising given how soft he acts and talks. He, however, seemed to be already used to such reactions whenever he talks about his dream.

“Whenever I get asked the same question, people are quite surprised. Yes, I act soft, and they don't believe I want to be in the military, added the 17-year-old athlete.

It turned out, it was a dream he shared with his late father. It was even his dying wish that one day, he would be wearing an Army uniform. And Mabelin promised he would do everything to fulfill it.

Honoring his father

Mabelin comes from a broken family and back then lived with his mother in Camarines Sur.

He lost his father during the height of the pandemic, and given the Covid restrictions that prohibited traveling, he was not able to see his father alive. He was only 13 years old back then and minors were not allowed to go out.

In fact, he even had to hide inside a box during a 10-hour trip from Bicol to Naic, Cavite just to get through the checkpoints and attend the wake of his father.

It was painful not to see my father alive for the last time. On the eve he died, I promised him that I will be a soldier no matter what, he said.

He did not return to Camarines Sur and decided to stay in Cavite. And that was where he fell in love with the tracks – which eventually became his safe zone.

Finding a family in the sport

With most national team members serving in the military, athletics has offered him a way to get closer to his dream.

“I tried track and field to build my endurance and be ready whenever I join the Army, said Mabelin.

Fortunately, he was nurtured under the guidance of coach Fernando Dagasdas, who not only welcomed him to the sport but also opened the gates of their school to take Mabelin in.

Mabelin was actually living at their school's dorm while he was balancing his duties as a student and an athlete. And though he was missing his father and was left without a family close to him, he seemingly found one in his coach and his fellow athletes.

Like in the many races that he has been into, life hasn't been easy for Mabelin. Like walking on burning tracks and under the scorching heat, it was tiring, punishing, and painful at times.

But similarly how he took the races with bravery and determination, he will continue to persevere and soldier on – to reach the finish line, to fulfill his promise and dream.

It's still a long way to go for Mabelin but he has already come a long way as well.