“Love, Autonomy, and Our Attempts at It”: Coming of Age in Malate

Abstract

This chapter offers an oral history of one gay host whose life elaborates intimate neoliberalism. The author follows PK from his childhood in Olongapo, where his father worked for the US Military and where he was first oriented to US culture, to his migration to Manila because of his need to work and explore his sexuality; into gay hosting; his transition to Call Center work; ending with his current life with his Filipino boyfriend. PK’s experience parallels the lived experience of other hosts who also migrate to Manila, find gay space, create sexual identity and community, learn hosting to economically survive, manage violence, and use hosting to either translate into another form of cultural work or “age out” of the scene altogether.