Unapologetically Fierce: When Being Seen is Power
- Lexy Aurelio and Ryan Jan Alfaro
- Jun 10
- 6 min read
Together, we make space for every kind of love.
This Pride Month, we honor the everyday courage it takes to live proudly, especially in a time of crisis, uncertainty, and division.
In this feature, we spotlight two fierce Ka-Globe who show us what it means to stand tall in who you are, and to keep going for yourself and for others.
Left photo: Lexy Aurelio posing near the Eiffel Tower in Paris; Right photo: Ryan Jan Alfaro at the stairs of Arakurayama Sengen Park in Japan
Meet Lexy and Ryan
Lexy Aurelio has been with Globe for almost 11 years—5 years as a vendor employee and 6 years as a regular employee. She’s part of the Network Technical Group, handling project enablement and asset management, and an incoming member of the Globe Adventure Club, conquering mountains as part of her life adventures.
Outside Globe, Lexy is a life coach, HIV counselor, and 12-year volunteer with Love Yourself PH, as well as a mental health advocate. She loves traveling, listening to stories about different cultures, beliefs, and upbringings, and meeting new people. "Kung gusto nyong mambudol ng trip at wala kayong kasama, message nyo lang ako. I love meeting new people to learn and know their stories," Lexy shares.
“I feel fierce every time you see me—because I love myself, my body, my looks, my confidence. I love everything about me. I accept who I am: my wins, my flaws, my perfectly imperfect self. I still have a lot to learn about myself, and I’m doing the work because I am a work in progress.”
Ryan Jan Alfaro (he/him) is a Customer Experience Ambassador at the Globe Store Zamboanga, Territory 8, who’s been with the company for 9 years and 11 months. He bridges the gap between what customers need and what Globe can deliver, making sure every interaction leaves people feeling heard, valued, and fully assisted.
Outside work, Ryan is a curious soul who loves wandering along the quiet beaches of Zamboanga City and nearby towns, and unwinding with mobile games with his brother and friends.
“What makes me feel fierce? Knowing that I show up fully, unapologetically myself, and that I stand up for people, fairness, and doing the right thing, even when it’s hard. To me, fierceness isn’t about being loud or demanding attention. It’s about staying steady, kind, and unshaken, no matter what comes my way.”
Being truly seen at work
For Lexy, being seen means being recognized beyond first impressions:
"When people talk about me at work, I hope they see more than my appearance. I hope they see my value as a person, as a human being."
"More than my strong personality, there’s always a part of me that is curious about you and your story—because you matter, your truth matters. This matters to me because more than work, we long for meaningful connections and conversations where we can learn from each other’s truths and experiences.”
For Ryan, being seen starts with trust.
“When people talk about me at work, I hope the first thing they say is: ‘He’s someone you can trust—he listens first, and he always has your back.’ This matters so much to me because I believe trust is the foundation of everything we do. Whether I’m supporting a customer, helping a teammate, or working alongside our leaders, I want people to know I’m not just here to ‘do a job’—I’m here to genuinely care. "
"When people feel safe with me, they open up, collaborate better, and bring their best selves to everything we do together. That’s how we don’t just get good results, but build a place where everyone actually wants to be.”
Finding strength in uncertain times
Both Lexy and Ryan are navigating the same difficult world we all live in—rising costs, political tension, and constant noise.
For Lexy, it’s about choosing how to respond and rewriting the story she tells herself.
“Lahat nahihirapan, but suffering is a choice."
"With everything happening, I ground myself to my core. I try to see the silver lining and the opportunity for growth. Mahirap, pero kinakaya. Just changing the narrative—or the story we believe in—can change lives. It can change how we move forward. "
"Seeing the order in the grand scheme of things can open doors to opportunities. Intentional living will always bring abundance, wealth, and prosperity. Just remember your life’s purpose. And if you don’t know it yet, create the life that you want.”
Ryan stays grounded by focusing on what he can control, holding on to his people, and giving himself grace.
“2026 has been such a heavy year—fuel costs keep rising, there’s so much uncertainty in our politics, misinformation spreads way too fast, and it feels like everyone is stretched thin. "
"Honestly, there are days I feel tired and overwhelmed too. But here’s how I keep slaying and keep going forward:
First, I focus on what I can control. I know I can’t fix the fuel crisis or stop fake news from spreading, but I can choose to show up with a calm voice, a kind attitude, and do my work really well. I choose to be a source of clarity instead of adding to the noise.
Second, I hold close to my people—my colleagues, my family, my friends. We check in on each other, share a laugh over coffee, or just listen when someone needs to let it all out. Connection is my fuel; it reminds me I’m not carrying all this weight alone.
Third, I give myself grace. I remind myself I don’t have to be perfect every single day. Some days, ‘slaying’ simply means getting through the day with a smile and trying again tomorrow. And honestly? That’s more than enough.”
Allyship that feels real
For LGBTQIA+ Ka-Globe, allyship is how safe it feels to show up as themselves every day.
Lexy treasures the support she’s received from leaders and a powerful moment of being heard as a community.
“I’ve been privileged to have a very supportive IS from the time I started my career journey with Globe. Allyship with my IS matters the most—knowing that he/she understands what I want and what my career goals are."
"If that relationship is established at the onset, then I know I will be in the safest environment, where I can be who I am and genuinely express my authentic self.
But one moment struck me the most: it was when we (Globe’s LGBTQIA+ community) had a meeting with our President and CEO Carl Cruz, and we talked about how Globe can support the LGBTQIA+. That moment made me feel that our concerns and dreams as a community truly matter.”
For Ryan, allyship showed up in the form of one colleague who refused to let him struggle alone.
“Early in my career, I was handling a subscriber with such a complicated issue. I was completely stuck and honestly had no idea how to solve it. I reached out to a senior colleague and asked for help, and right away, she stepped in without even hesitating."
"She patiently walked me through which tools to use, explained clearly what might be causing the system error, and even spoke directly to the subscriber herself to clarify everything that had happened. "
"In that moment, I truly felt a sense of belonging—knowing I wasn’t alone, that I had someone I could lean on whenever I felt out of my depth or unsure. It meant the world to me and taught me what real support looks like.”
What equal treatment means every day
For Lexy, equality starts with how we treat ourselves and how we see others.
“In general, we just need to respect everyone as a human being. We can start that by treating ourselves right. Remember that everyone is a mirror of you.”
Ryan points to the small, everyday habit that can change how included people feel: language.
“If I could change one everyday habit in our workplace so LGBTQIA+ colleagues are treated equally, not specially, it would be this: stop making assumptions. Use inclusive language as the default."
"Instead of ‘husband/wife’, say ‘partner’. Don’t assume pronouns or how someone loves or lives. Equal treatment means no one has to explain or correct themselves just to fit in. When inclusion is normal, no one feels like an outsider—no labels, no boxes. Everyone gets the same respect and care. That’s fairness, not special treatment.”
Fierceness looks different on everyone.
For Lexy, it’s radical self-love, intentional living, and the courage to keep growing. For Ryan, it’s quiet strength, trust, and compassion that turn everyday work into true connection.
Together with all our LGBTQIA+ Ka-Globe and allies, they show us that when people are truly seen, respected, and supported, we don’t just keep going, we also keep slaying.
As one Globe, we continue to build a world where every kind of love, and every kind of courage, has space to thrive.
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