CHEd OK to issue rule recognizing lived names of transgender, queer Filipinos

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) is open to issuing a policy on recognizing the lived names of transgender and queer Filipinos across higher education institutions (HEIs).

Makati Rep. Monique Lagdameo on Wednesday gave this information during the House sponsorship and plenary deliberations on the proposed budget of CHEd for next year.

She was asked by Akbayan Party-list Percival Cendãna if the CHEd is considering a policy issuance on recognition of lived names of the members of the LGBTQIA+ community (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual).

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Lagdameo is the agency’s budget sponsor, and she answered questions from her fellow lawmakers. 

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READ: ‘Cagandahan bill’ seeks easier gender changes

Cendaña expressed delight that the Polytechnic University of the Philippines administration allowed the use of lived names during its commencement exercises.

Lived names, which are different from their official records, are names chosen by individuals to be used in their everyday lives. 

“The CHEd actually does not see legal impediment. The CHEd is, in fact, very much open to a discussion regarding this,” Lagdameo said. 

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“Of course, the only setback is in their records. It will have to be their real names as based on their live birth certificates from the PSA [Philippine Statistics Authority] because those are official records,” she noted.

“But other than that, we do not see any restrictions needed for this,” she added. 

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Cendaña welcomed the responses, underscoring the importance of allowing the use of lived names, especially in commencement rites.

He added that it is “important to join them in celebrating that milestone” as they use their lived names.

READ: Sharmaine Bill: How an internet meme turned into bill for gender rights

“Lived names are important for transgender, non-binary and queer people because it’s not all the time that the names they live by are the ones on their birth certificates,” Cendaña noted.

The lawmaker also said that he understands CHEd’s “setback” on the use of lived names, as they are different from the records issued by PSA. 

He said this is why the so-called ‘Sharmaine Bill’ authored by him, Dinagat Islands Rep. Kaka Bag-ao and other Akbayan Reps. Chel Diokno and Dadah Kiram Ismula must be passed.

He said this measure makes legal gender recognition for transgender, intersex and non-binary Filipinos more accessible. 

The lawmakers filed House Bill No. 9929 or the Lived Identities Recognition Act last June 23, in time for the celebration of Pride Month. 

The legislative piece stemmed from a viral online meme featuring an orange fruit complaining about its “uninspired” name because it was named after a color.

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This sparked discussions on the legal process of changing one’s name in the country. /apl