On the subject of gender

Sofronio Vasquez, unarguably the country’s latest global pride, should present to the world at large his girlfriend, or wife, as soon as possible.

If The Voice USA Season 26 winner doesn’t do it, any man or boy photographed with him in a pose that could be interpreted as romantic will be hysterically declared his boyfriend.

His Philippine handler, Gio Santos, is most likely just the first to be “reported” as Vasquez’s lover. After Santos, any freedom-loving netizen who has snapped a photo of a man with Vasquez in a somewhat romantic pose will be proclaimed the Pinoy singing champion’s “real lover.” There would likely be a series of them unknown and unidentified “lovers” of the goodlooking, creamy-skinned but asexual, antiseptic-looking Sofronio Vasquez, the Pinoy singing champ of The Voice USA.

“Handler ako ni Sofronio. Hindi kami mag-jowa,” Santos stressed in his X account (formerly Twitter) after a photo of him leaning on Vasquez’s breast was posted in an un-identified netizen’s social media account. “Mag-jowa” is the Pinoy gays’ term for lover couples of any gender.

It is quite easy to suspect Vasquez is gay because he has never been photographed with any girl or woman in a public display of affection. The singing champ has been going on pleasure visits to tourist spots with his Ozamis City-based widowed mother, his siblings, and close kins but never with a girl or woman who could be construed to be Vasquez’s girlfriend. Vasquez almost always identifies his mother when she is in a photo. That’s how noble a son Sofronio Vasquez III.

(This is an aside, very personal: We’ve always been deeply impressed that in this persistent era of American nicknames — such as Mark, Sam, and Jeff — among Pinoy celebrities, Vasquez mightily uses the quaint and antiquated “Sofronio.” What he stopped using as part of his showbiz name is the “III.” The Voice coach Reba McEntire once exclaimed how beautiful the name Sofronio is).

Sofronio should present a girlfriend and never mind if she is not a Chloe San Juan who once pestered the world with her photos clinging with and clambering on Pinoy Olympic gold medalist Caloy Yulo.

The world will surely stop suspecting Vasquez is gay as soon as that kind of pic of him with some girl makes it way to any digital media.

If Vasquez turns out to be gay, he could blurt out to the world SB19 top member Stell Ajero’s retort to those who take him to be gay: “Eh ano ngayon kung bading ako (And, so what if I am gay).”

Actually, all five SB19 members have been suspected to be gay for the longest time not only because of their androgynous outfits when performing in shows but also because none of them has bothered to present to the multitude his girlfriend. if anyone of them is ever seen with a girl in a romantic pose, that scene is part of a music video for a song they happen to be promoting.

So, please indulge us with this hypothetic shout out in behalf of Vsaquez: “Eh ano ngayon kung bading ako!” (Repeat: it’s a hypothetical, imaginary scream.)

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Another shout out for real and with more feelings: “Gather ye all, lovers of Pinoy bakers, at the (Philippine) World Trade Center on 6 to 8 March for Bakery Fair 2025!”

The biennial fair is open free to the public. It’s an event hosted by the remarkably dynamic 50-year- old Filipino- Chinese Bakery Association, Inc. (FCBAI) and currently headed by the youthful skinhead Christopher Ah (yes, that’s the man’s full surname). Two Ah ascendants of Christopher have been FCBAI president. The family owns Liberty Foodmart which has been operating for decades.

Regarded as one of the country’s premier baking exhibitions, Bakery Fair 2025 is a platform for businesses to connect, explore new technologies, and showcase craftsmanship. The FCBAI president emphasized its significance, noting that it reaches bakeries across the country and fosters close industry ties.

“This event isn’t just an exhibition; it’s a catalyst for economic vitality, uniting pioneers and communities to create a sweeter, brighter future for all,” he said in a media huddle for the event held at Crystal Palace restaurant in Tomas Morato Avenue, Quezon City.

The three-day event will hold a series of competitions, live demonstrations, and networking opportunities. Highlights include The Baker’s Cup, where participants will compete in bread-making and hyper-realistic cake art, and the Grand Regal Tiers Wedding Cake Display Competition, which offers a top prize of P150,000. Winners will also have the chance to receive international training and gain exposure to global baking trends.

Visitors can join interactive sessions with world-class chefs, industry talks, and exhibitor booths showcasing the latest baking tools and techniques. Specialty contests, such as the Donut Dash and World Water Day Cake Decorating Competition, will highlight creative and sustainable practices among bakers.