Charice’s journey to becoming transman Jake Zyrus

By: Allan Policarpio - Reporter

When he looks back at old videos of him—in dainty dresses and belting out power ballads—he does
not see himself, but a different person.“It’s like watching my little sister,” quipped recording artist
Jake Zyrus, who was previously known as Charice.But the 25-year-old singer, who announced his
new name in social media last June 20, isn’t out to completely erase Charice from his life. According
to Jake, he’s simply letting her go to give way for the person he has been all along.Changing his
name was just one of the early steps in his “journey” as a transman—in his journey toward becoming
“complete.”He had his breasts surgically removed in March, and has been taking testosterone shots
since April. And the effects were quite apparent when we sat down with him recently for an
interview: He now has a hint of mustache; his voice’s tone has gone deeper. And these excited him.

If there’s one song that would encapsulate what he’s feeling right now, it would be Rascal Flatts’ “I’m
Moving On.“At last, I can see life has been patiently waiting for me,” Jake began to sing, his voice still
as beautiful as ever. “And I know there are no guarantees, but I’m not alone.” People knew of being
gay or lesbian, but not necessarily other gender identities. Now it seems like people are starting to
recognize that the LGBTQ community is diverse. To hide your real identity for a long time is hard
especially when you are a public figure. Peoples attention are all on you. As a trans man identity from
a girl to be a man is a bit strange and not that acceptable for people who are used to see and love you
as a girl. It is for you to stick on your beliefs and understand the people around you, and wait for the
time for them to accept the changes. All that matter is that you know how to live your life happily.
Extent of drug abuse in schools revealed

by STEVE DOUGHTY, Daily Mail

The terrifying degree to which drug abuse has become a part of everyday life for hundreds of thousands of British
children is revealed today.Many start as young as 11. By the age of 16 nearly one in ten boys is regularly taking drugs -
including heroin and cocaine - with the statistics for girls almost as high, according to a ground-breaking study.

The figures mean that across the country probably 400,000 under-16s are now regular users.

The nationwide survey, taken among 18,000 pupils at 67 schools, is the first to examine how often children use drugs
rather than just whether they take them at all.It paints a frightening picture of the grip the culture exerts on the young
- and the explosion in use as they pass through their teenage years.At the age of 11, out of every thousand boys 12
count themselves as regular users, meaning they take drugs weekly over a period of three months or more.By the age
of 14 the figure is 59 out of every thousand. But by the age of 16 some 88 boys out of every thousand meet the
'regular user' test.While cannabis remains the drug most heavily used there is increasing evidence that even very
young pupils are now trying and persisting with the hardest of drugs.Among 11-year-old users, seven out of every
thousand say they have used heroin and 13 in every thousand admit trying cocaine.The statistics highlight the way
drugs are now regarded by many teenagers as integral to their music and dance culture and an automatic part of
growing up.Even the one in ten 16-year-old boys and one in fourteen 16-year-old girls who told researchers they do
not take them admitted they expected to use them over the next 12 months.aid.A recent survey found that one in four
young people in their teens and early 20s routinely drives while under the influence. Nearly one in five believes taking
drugs makes them better drivers.The falling price of drugs has now put them within reach of many children.

them simply turn to crime.One recent survey by the charity Drugscope calculated that teenage heroin addicts in
provincial towns are now spending £10,000 a year on average on their habits - raised largely by shoplifting, stealing
cars, burglary, theft and street robbery.

The latest survey was carried out by the Swansea-based Adolescent Assessment Service, which makes regular studies
of the lifestyles, habits and interests of the young.

It was backed by a number of education authorities anxious to get new information to boost their anti-drug
programmes.
 “Being transman to hide your real identity for long time is hard
especially when you are a public figure.People attention are all on
you. As a transman identity from girl to be man is a bit strange an
not that acceptable for people who used to see and love you as a
girl. But as long as you stick to your beliefs and try to understand
the people around you, time will come for them to accept the
changes. All that matter is that you how to live your life happily.”

“Drug abuse is a terrifying problem in any part of the world. Using of illegal