Former actor BB Gandanghari shares how her relationship with her brother, Robin Padilla, has evolved, with Robin now fully accepting and supporting her after her transition.

BB Gandanghari, formerly known as Rustom Padilla, has gone through a transformative journey both personally and in her relationship with her family. The older sister of actor Robin Padilla, as well as the younger sibling of Royette and Rommel Padilla, BB was once a matinee idol in the ’90s. She rose to fame through her films and TV series, including GMA’s Valiente and Pintados.

BB, who transitioned from male to female and embraced the name BB Gandanghari, recently shared her deep appreciation for her relationship with her brother Robin.

Photo Source: Youtube
Years after coming out as gay and transitioning, BB now feels more accepted and loved by Robin. In an interview on Fast Talk with Boy Abunda on January 14, she discussed how their bond has evolved over time. BB explained that while Robin and Rustom (her former identity) treated each other as brothers, their current relationship is more sisterly. “Si Robin at si Rustom, ay brothers so they treat each other as brothers and then ang pinakamalaking pagkakaiba, tinatrato ni Robin si Rustom as kuya. Ngayon ang relasyon ko kay Robin is brother and sister. Ramdam na ramdam ko ‘yan,” she said.

Robin’s gestures towards her have also significantly changed. He now treats her like a woman, letting her go ahead in queues and even ensuring she wears a hijab when they visited a mosque in Taiwan. “He’s treating me as a sister now more than a brother,” she added, expressing how much her brother now sees her as a woman rather than the brother she once was.

Photo Source: GMA Network

However, BB shared that her brother initially struggled with her transition. There was a time when Robin could not even bring himself to see her. This changed, however, largely due to the influence of their mother, Eva. BB’s return to the Philippines to be with their ailing mother also helped mend their bond. In a heartfelt Instagram video, BB showed her attempts to talk to their mother, who no longer responded. She admitted that it broke her heart to hear her mother ask, “Sino siya?” during phone calls. This moment pushed BB to return home, cherishing the time with her family.

Her journey has been full of challenges, but BB is grateful for the changes in her relationship with Robin and the love and understanding they now share.