After years of silence and emotional distance, Senator Robin Padilla has finally opened up about mending ties with his sibling, BB Gandanghari — a reconciliation that was, in his own words, long overdue yet deeply healing.
During his candid appearance on Fast Talk with Boy Abunda, Robin revealed that it took him years to accept BB’s transition, admitting that their relationship had once been strained by his struggle to understand her identity. “Namiss ko siya eh,” Robin said with sincerity. “Noong nag-out siya [as a transgender woman], hindi na kami nag-usap. Kaya noong dumating ‘yung [time] na naging close kami ulit, ‘yun pala ’yung isang namimiss ko sa buhay ko — ‘yung relationship ko sa kaniya.”
Their renewed closeness has been a journey of acceptance, respect, and rediscovery. BB, who was once known as Rustom Padilla, came out as gay in Pinoy Big Brother back in 2006 and later revealed her truth as a transgender woman three years after. Now based in the United States, she has embraced her identity with pride and grace, earning her degree in Entertainment Business as summa cum laude from the Los Angeles Film School last July — a milestone that reflects her resilience and reinvention.
Earlier this year, BB shared that her brother now fully acknowledges her as the woman she is. “Kapag nasa pila kami, ladies first,” BB recounted. “Nagpunta kami sa mosque sa Taiwan, naka-hijab ako, pumasok ako doon bilang babae, at nire-recognize niya lahat ‘yon.”
The once-broken bond between the Padilla siblings has transformed into one of mutual respect and love — a quiet testament to how time, empathy, and understanding can heal even the deepest rifts. For Robin, acceptance came not through grand gestures, but through the simple joy of reunion. “I realized,” he said, “that what I truly missed was my relationship with my sister.”