This story
was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly
newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com, www.bulatlat.net, www.bulatlat.org).
Vol. V, No. 29, August 28-September 3, 2005
Walterina
Markova: The 'Comfort Gay' World War II in the Pacific
ended 60 years ago with the infamous bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In the
Philippines, the end of the war was hardly observed even if only to reflect upon
the atrocities committed at that time with the Filipinos as the principal
victims. A hidden chapter of those dark times is the story of “comfort gays.” BY AUBREY SC MAKILAN The Japanese occupation 60 years ago was a
difficult time for the Philippines. For over three years and until the day Japan
surrendered to the USAFFE (or U.S. Armed Forces in the Far East), the Filipinos
suffered grievously under the Japanese Imperial Army. Among these Filipinos was Lola Rosa who,
together with other aging “comfort women,” in the 1990s related the horrors of
being forced into prostitution by Japanese soldiers. As their stories were being
documented by women groups, human rights activists and journalists including TV
anchor Loren Legarda, one soul found the courage to come out of the closet and
share his own nightmare. In an interview for a college paper with
this writer in 2000, Walter Dempster Jr., a.k.a. “Walterina Markova” - a
Filipino-Jamaican gay - said he was forced to become a sex slave by the Japanese
army during World War II, at a time when homosexuality was then considered a
cardinal sin and social taboo. Markova’s story had also apparently lured Legarda
to the Home of the Golden Gays in Pasay City supposedly to interview a former
comfort woman in the 1990s. At first disappointed that Markova was actually a
gay, she nonetheless agreed to record his story. Growing up in the
1930s in Manila, Markova’s young life was already shaped by brutality. As
a child, he told this writer, he was constantly bullied and abused by his older
brother, Robert. His first taste of freedom was when Robert died. Markova later
joined a barkada (group) of six cross-dressers who made a living as stage
performers. He and his gay friends were into cross-dressing without anybody
noticing their true gender. In the early 1940s, Markova said, the
Japanese soldiers’ presence in the country did not at first bother him. In fact,
the soldiers only laughed when they saw his group looting a grocery store
somewhere in Harrison. But he was almost arrested in a raid by Japanese soldiers
who were looking for Americans. His American stepfather was with him when the
soldiers came and so they took him to a garrison at the University of Sto.
Tomas. After a while, Markova said the Japanese
soldiers became brutal. “They were like kings in the land they do not own,” he
said. The soldiers started confiscating rice, vegetables, and other supplies to
store in their barracks. Forced labor was also imposed by then, he recalled.
Violence Violence was an ordinary scene at Japanese
sentry points. Markova narrated how they were ordered to get off the vehicle to
salute them. Failing to execute the right salute – bowing the head to hip-level
with the hands atop the thighs - they would be beaten up. “‘Pag hindi maganda
ang saludo mo sasampalin ka…bibigyan ka ng mag-asawang sampal” (If the
salute was not executed well, the soldiers would slap you on both sides of your
face), he said holding his cheeks. One day, Japanese soldiers were chasing gays
after being tipped off by an informer that a gay, in revenge for his parents’
death, killed a Japanese. A gay friend was arrested and was tied at the gate of
San Beda College where passing Japanese soldiers beat him up and burned his skin
with cigarettes. He was set free only after another gay suspect, believed to be
the Japanese killer, was captured. Markova said the suspect was then brought to
Fort Santiago, where his arms were hanged with burning woods placed under his
feet. His toe nails were all apparently pulled out during torture. Sex slaves Historical accounts show that some 80,000 to
200,000 women were forcibly enlisted to service Japanese troops at "comfort
stations" throughout the Pacific during World War II. In those days, Filipino women were not safe
even with the company of men. Actually, Markova said, women were raped anytime,
anywhere, even in front of their male companions. “Nanghahatak na lang sila
ng mga kababaihan saan man nila gustong gawin ang kanilang kahayupan” (They
would force women to go with them and assault them sexually anywhere), said
Markova. At the age of 18 – the age for women
adolescence - Markova, together with his gay friends, were not spared from such
“service.” Markova’s barkada was at first
mistaken for women by Japanese soldiers when they were taken to the Japanese
officials’ rooms at the Manila Hotel. Aside from beating them up using guns as
punishment for their "deception," all drag queen performers were ordered
arrested. The gays were brought to a camp – known today as the Rizal Memorial
Sports Complex - where they became comfort drag queens, repeatedly raped far
more brutally than comfort women.
“Buti sana kung isang beses lang ginawa sa
amin ‘yon, eh hindi. Para bang
galit na galit sila na…’mga bakla ito, hindi ito mga tunay na babae.’ Lahat ng
klaseng kababuyan ginawa sa amin. ‘Di ka naman makapagsabi ng ‘huwag,’ e
bayoneta ang kaharap mo” (They did it
not only once but several times. They were even angered by the fact that we were
gays and not women. They did all vicious things on us and we could not protect
ourselves because their bayonets were aimed at us), he recalled. For years, the barkada would be
brought to various Japanese camps to offer their “service” to the soldiers.
During those days, Markova revealed that they only had a set of clothes. They
would only wear rice sacks, he said, while washing their clothes. Forced labor The barkada were also made to do
forced labor. Every morning, they would shine the combat shoes and wash the
uniforms of the soldiers, then clean their barracks. They were also made to mow
the grass in front of the Manila City Hall. Despite all the “service” and other work
they did, he said, they were often fed only with lugaw (rice porridge).
It was already a feast for them if they were given sisid rice – rice from
the sea which needed frying because of foul smell – with ginataang
ubod ng saging (banana stalk cooked with coconut milk) and mongo beans. Under Japanese custody, Markova saw the
soldiers raiding communities almost everyday. Persons arrested would have their
hands tied and then killed. “D’yan sa may Remedios Church, ang daming pareng
Amerikanong pinatay d’yan” (At the Remedios Church [in Baclaran], many
American priests were killed), he added. But what
horrified Markova was the killing of infants.
“Pati ang mga sanggol!” Markova said shaking his head in terror, “ihahagis
nila nang pataas bago sasaluhin ng bayoneta.” (Babies were tossed up in
mid-air and their bodies pierced by bayonets as they came down.) Because of these horrible incidents, Markova
treated each day as if it was his last. But even so, he had not forgotten his
dream to be free again. “Liberation” He had a chance to dash for freedom about a
year before U.S. troops came back. He and some friends were aboard a military
truck in a trip to another Japanese garrison. The truck had a mechanical trouble
forcing the Japanese soldiers to get off to check. At that instance, Markova and
his friends made their escape. The soldiers gave a chase toward a grassy field,
now Edsa highway, but it was too late. One day during the “liberation,” Markova saw
a captured Japanese soldier tied to the back of a jeep. In an act of revenge, he
said, he hit the soldier with an umbrella. Then he took out a safety pin and
repeatedly pricked the prisoner. “You don’t know what the Japanese did to
us…they tortured us,” he told the soldier’s American captors when they tried to
intervene. “Pero nahampas ko na ‘yung Hapon…kung
saan ko hampasin, sa likod, sa braso, sa ulo, sa mukha, para makaganti ako sa
galit ko sa ginawa sa amin.” (I slapped the Japanese
then struck his arms, his head and face to avenge what they did to us.) Markova learned later that his two other gay
friends were killed in a raid just before the end of the Japanese occupation,
eventually leaving him alone to share this story. Years after the end of the war, he found
himself retiring from cross-dressing and worked as a make-up artist for the film
industry. In the film industry, he also found that macho actors having gay
lovers and some were into a relationship. At night, he would stay at the Home for the
Golden Gays in Pasay City – where other older gays who have been victims of
society’s discrimination also took refuge. He also became part-time trainer for young
Filipinas to work as exotic dancers in Japan. His story already publicized in print and
broadcast, Markova never thought the same story would merit a film. Much more
portray his life by no less than the film industry’s comedy king, Dolphy. Hidden chapter Shown in 2000,
the film, “Markova: Comfort Gay,” brought to light a long-hidden chapter in gay
history. It may have focused on the story of one
man, but its scope is truly wide-ranging. It recounted the story of a nation’s
struggle for self-determination and its own internal battles involving
intolerance, conformity and expectation. The film documented the
ultraconservatism of the 1930s, the horrors of the occupation, the travails of
the Marcos years and the long struggle toward liberation. The 97-minute film was included in the 2002
Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival and 26th San Francisco
International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival. Markova was thankful that the movie about
his life was watched by many people. Asked whether he intended to claim
indemnification from the Japanese government for the acts of atrocities
committed against him and other gays, Markova said there is no need. “Sa aming anim, ako lang ang nabuhay…humingi
man ako ng claim sa mga Hapon, paniniwalaan ba ako?” (Among the six of us
gay people, I was the only survivor…Even if I filed for a claim, who would
believe me?), he told this reporter five years ago. Last June 24, Markova, old and frail at 83,
was hit by a racing cyclist in. He never survived. A fellow gay who also lives at the Home for
the Golden Gays, says of Markova: “Hanga kami sa kanya dahil kahit alam naman
n’ya kung paano tignan ang mga bakla dito sa atin, may lakas pa rin syang
ikwento ang karanasan n’ya”(We admire him for telling his story and for his
conviction on how to treat gay people). “Tayo namang tao ay hindi talaga
magtatagal. Kaya ako lumabas ay para magbigay inspirasyon lalo na sa mga baklang
hanggang ngayon ay inaalipusta pa rin,” Markova told
this writer then. “Dahil dito, naniniwala ako na hindi lang ang sarili ko ang
napalaya ko mula sa ganitong pagtingin.” (As humans, we won’t live long.
Revealing my own story is my way of inspiring other gays who continue to be
oppressed today. By my act, I may have probably given freedom to many other gay
people.) Bulatlat © 2004 Bulatlat
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