Geraldine Batista Roman (born 1967) (age 51–

52) is a Filipino journalist and politician. She

was elected as the Representative of the 1st
District of Bataan following the 2016
Philippine elections, becoming the first
openly transgender woman elected to
the Congress of the Philippines. Under
political party PDP-Laban (2017–present)
Liberal Party (until 2017 )
Geraldine Roman, born in 1967, was
the second of four children born into
the family of politicians Herminia
Roman and Antonino Roman, Jr. She
spent her early childhood in Orani,
Bataan. She was teased by her
classmates but her father taught her
to be confident.
Geraldine Roman transformation
In the 1990s, Roman underwent sex reassignment
surgery at age 26 in New York City .

She said that her father and brother took care of her when she underwent sex realignment
surgery in New York when she was 27.
“[When I woke up after the surgery] I had a big bouquet of white flowers given by my father. He
even set up a small altar beside my bed. That was how supportive he was of me,” she said.
Now she wants the same treatment for other transgender Pinays. “I was telling the parents of
transgenders my life story in the hope that they will understand and accept their children the
way my parents accepted me,” she said.
She said she made an informed decision before undergoing surgery and consulted with the
Jesuits.
“And you know what they told me? They told me: ‘Geraldine, the body is just a shell. If you feel
that by modifying the outside, you can become a more loving, more generous and a happier
person, go ahead, because what is important is the heart. God looks at the heart,’” she said.
She also cited the “liberal atmosphere” in the University of the Philippines, where she also
studied, saying that this helped with her transition.
 ROMAN ATTENDED THE ATENEO DE MANILA UNIVERSITY FOR
HER ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDIES. FOR HER
COLLEGIATE STUDIES, SHE ATTENDED THE UNIVERSITY OF
THE PHILIPPINES. SHE MANAGED TO SECURE A SCHOLARSHIP
TO PURSUE JOURNALISM AT THE IN SPAIN AND ATTAINED TWO
MASTER'S DEGREES. SHE WORKED IN SPAIN AS A SENIOR
EDITOR FOR THE SPANISH NEWS AGENCY BEFORE
RETURNING TO THE PHILIPPINES IN 2012 TO TAKE CARE OF
HER FATHER, WHO WAS SERIOUSLY ILL BY THAT TIME.
How was it like growing up in an all-boys school like Ateneo from grade
school to high school?
Of course, you go there to study, but there was teasing. I tried to excel in my
studies, because if you’re bright, they’d respect you. The Jesuit priests were
very kind, like the guidance counselor Bro. James Dunne S.J., even our
principal Fr. Alberto Ampil S.J. Mabait sila (they were kind), there was no
rejection. In fact, during the 10th anniversary of our Ateneo High School
batch in 1994, Fr. Ampil pulled me towards the teachers and introduced
me, saying: “This is the first alumna of the Ateneo High School.” Now the
school is co-ed.
Other Jesuits who were good to me included Fr. Candelaria, the next
principal. There was also the Irish Jesuit Fr. James O’Brien SJ. Before I
undertook my sex re-alignment or re-assignment surgery in 1994 in New
York, I consulted Bro. James Dunne SJ. He even linked me to the Jesuits of
Fordham University, they came, prayed for me and they even wrote me. They
ministered to me.
CONGRESS
DURING THE 2016 PHILIPPINE ELECTIONS, ROMAN RAN UNDER THE LIBERAL PARTY BANNER FOR THE POSITION OF 1ST DISTRICT
REPRESENTATIVE FOR BATAAN IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. SHE COMPETED AGAINST HERMOSA MAYOR DANILO MALANA
OF AKSYON DEMOKRATIKO AND WON WITH MORE THAN 62% OF THE TOTAL VOTES AND BECAME THE FIRST EVER TRANSGENDER
CONGRESSWOMAN IN THE CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES. ROMAN SUCCEEDED THE INCUMBENT, HER MOTHER HERMINA ROMAN, WHO
HAD A LIMITED TERM.
SHE, ALONG WITH OTHER ELECTED LAWMAKERS (OBJECTIVELY KNOWN AS "EQUALITY CHAMPS"), LAUNCHED THE PASSAGE OF THE ANTI-
DISCRIMINATION BILL ON THE BASIS OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY (NOW KNOWN AS THE SOGIE EQUALITY BILL)
THROUGH A SPEECH IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THAT GARNERED INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR LGBT RIGHTS IN THE
PHILIPPINES. SHE ALSO FILED BILLS REGARDING ECO-TOURISM, LIVELIHOOD ENHANCEMENTS, AGRICULTURE ADVANCEMENTS, HEALTH,
AND EDUCATION, WHICH WERE THE ADVOCACIES OF HER FAMILY, AND WERE FOCUSED ON THE FIRST DISTRICT OF BATAAN. SHE WAS NAMED
AS ONE OF THE "13 INSPIRING WOMAN OF 2016" BY TIME MAGAZINE IN OCTOBER 2016. SHE LEFT THE LIBERAL PARTY IN MAY 2017 AND
TRANSFERRED TO PDP–LABAN, THE CURRENT RULING POLITICAL PARTY OF THE PHILIPPINES, TO HASTEN THE HOUSE PASSAGE OF THE
BILLS THAT SHE SUPPORTED. IN SEPTEMBER 2017, THE SOGIE EQUALITY BILL PASSED UNANIMOUSLY IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
AFTER 17 YEARS OF POLITICAL LIMBO, WITH NO LAWMAKERS VOTING AGAINST IT. ROMAN THANKED DINAGAT ISLANDS
REPRESENTATIVE KAKA BAG-AO, WHO WAS THE PRINCIPAL AUTHOR OF THE BILL. IN JANUARY 2018, ROMAN, ALONG WITH THE HOUSE
SPEAKER, FILED HOUSE BILL 6595 (THE CIVIL PARTNERSHIP BILL), WHICH SEEKS TO LEGALIZE CIVIL UNIONS, REGARDLESS OF GENDER. IN
FEBRUARY, ROMAN BECAME THE FIRST TRANSGENDER OFFICIAL OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES. IN AUGUST 2018, SHE FILED
THE REGIONAL INVESTMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE COUNCIL ACT, WHICH SOUGHT TO CREATE SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES IN LUZON. IN
SEPTEMBER, ROMAN BECAME THE FIRST COMMITTEE CHAIR OF THE NEWLY-CREATED HOUSE COMMITTEE ON DISASTER MANAGEMENT. IN
OCTOBER, SHE AGAIN PUSHED FOR THE SAME-SEX CIVIL UNION BILL, ADDING THAT THE "SKY WILL NOT FALL" IF THE BILL IS PASSED.DURING
THE SAME MONTH, SHE FILED HER CERTIFICATE OF CANDIDACY FOR REELECTION IN HER DISTRICT. IN NOVEMBER 2018, DURING THE FIRST
MEETING OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON DISASTER MANAGEMENT WHICH SHE CHAIRS, ROMAN PRIORITIZED THE REHABILITATION OF THE
WAR-TORN ISLAMIC CITY OF MARAWI.
Political positions
Federalism
Roman expressed her support for a federal form of government in the Philippines, but stated that she will introduce a clause that aims to
guarantee the country's territorial integrity as she perceives that a federal system without such clause will lead to separatism due to the
country's various ethnic groups, geographies, and regionalism. She cited the Spanish federal system as a possible reference for the Philippines'
federal prospects.
Habeas corpus
Roman voted to approve a bill reinstate the death penalty in the Philippines during its final reading in March 29, 2017, which met criticism
online. She explained that she needed to compromise in order for her other advocacies and projects to push through. Earlier, she expressed
opposition to the bill and called for the respect of the rights of convicts for reformation. Roman held a survey to gauge the views of her
constituents in first district of Bataan and 85 percent of participants in a survey she conducted favored death penalty.
Same-sex marriage
Roman is the vice-chairperson of the Women And Gender Equality Committee of the Philippine House of Representatives. She supports same-
sex civil unions for the Philippines, but said the first priority should be an anti-discrimination law, followed by a revision of the family code. She
believes that at the present time, a marriage equality bill will not pass in Congress, due to the present status quo, which is why campaigning for
it should be a top priority in the coming decades. She said in an interview that once the SOGIE Equality Bill passes the House of
Representatives, she will file a civil union bill and push for its enactment. In September 2017, the SOGIE Equality Bill passed in the House. In
late 2017, Roman filed a civil union bill that caters to both heterosexual couples and non-heterosexual couples. The bill is backed by the
majority of lawmakers in the House of Representatives, including the House Speaker.
In June 2018, Roman expressed her thoughts in support of marriage equality, saying that the most feasible option at the moment would be a
civil partnership bill, as it has a greater chance of being approved in Congress than a same-sex marriage bill. The only difference between the
two is the name of the matrimony, from 'marriage' to 'civil union or partnership.' All benefits are the same. Additionally, she noted that she is a
legislator who knows how to look at the realism of Philippine politics and that an 'all or nothing' activist approach might trigger greater defiance
against the LGBT community, leading to the blocked passage of any LGBT partnership or marriage bills.
Health services
Roman is a member of the Health Committee of the House of Representatives. She has filed a Cancer Institute bill in the House as well as a
Caregiver's bill. She supports the health bills of Em Aglipay in the House of Representatives and Risa Hontiveros in the Senate. In an interview,
she expressed her intent to file a bill for sex realignment surgeries. Roman is against conversion therapy as she believes that the therapy is
one of the causes of depression and suicide for LGBT citizens. Roman supports the Mental Health Law, which was passed in 2017. Conversion
therapy shall be illegal once the SOGIE Equality bill passes in the Senate.
War veterans' rights
Roman is an advocate for war veteran rights in the Philippines. She is the vice chairperson for the Veteran Affairs and Welfare Committee in
the House of Representatives. She has filed a bill seeking to increase the monthly pension of Filipino war veterans.
Tourism
Roman is an avid fan of history, culture, and the environment. She stated that her love for culture and the environment developed at home and
was polished during her almost 20 years of stay in Spain, where she learned a lot about history and received two master's degrees. She has
filed bills for the protection and conservation of numerous tourist sites in the first district of Bataan.
Education
Roman support higher education in the Philippines. She has filed the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Students
(UNIFAST) bill in the House of Representatives. Additionally, she has filed a bill which seeks to mandate the government to open all of its books
to the people via online library.[
Indigenous people's rights
Roman has filed a bill seeking to increase the representation of indigenous peoples in the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, which is near her
home province of Bataan.
Agriculture and aquaculture
Roman has filed bills on the sustainability of agriculture and aquaculture in the province of Bataan. She has also filed the re-allotment of
public lands and urban lands for agricultural lands
Is it true that you’re already married in Spain? To whom?
No, it’s not true, I’m not married. I have a partner of 18 years. He’s
a Spanish man, a former cameraman for TV, but he’s now with our
family’s real estate business in charge of our subdivisions. We have
projects in Batangas, Laguna and Bataan.

His name? Age? How did you end up with him? Were there others
before him?
His name is Alberto, he’s 50 years old. I was attracted to him
because of his kindness of heart. We lived in Europe, we had no
househelp there, so he helped me cook. He would cut vegetables,
he vacuumed our home and if I got home very late, he’d massage
me. He’s very secure in his manhood, you cannot find that among
most Filipino men due to the upbringing here, where men have their
clothes made ready for them by others. You would never have seen
my late dad holding a broom.
I used to date a top executive, he was sophisticated, but there was
no connection, there was no room to be yourself. He was always
counting calories. What’s the point of having a fairy tale man who’s
not real? He was very hard to please. It’s hard to be with ego-centric
men, who think they’re God’s gift to women. Would you like to be
married to that?
Alberto looks good physically, more important, he’s kind, humble,
supportive. You don’t need to find (a lover) from a buena familia,
with an illustrious surname, an executive, successful, etc. Those
things do not guarantee happiness. As young people, movies fed us
with these superficial things. We have our arguments, that’s natural,
because if there are no arguments it means you don’t care
anymore.
Awards and recognitions
100 Leading Global Thinkers of 2016 by
US-based Foreign Policy magazine

Part of "Inspiring Women of 2016" list

by Time magazine