To many, turning 60 becomes a moment to come to terms with themselves going into the so-called sunset years. More than finally snagging discounts from having a senior citizen card, it calls for a reflection on the years that have gone by, and eventually, a time for people to reflect on what legacy they’d like to leave behind.
But for Jose Bayani Baylon, 60 marked a different milestone. It was the year he checked off what he described as the last item off his bucket list: stepping completely out of the closet.
‘It is in honor of such an accepting mother that I’ve chosen to go public with this piece in which I will admit that I am 60 and I am happy,’ Baylon wrote in his column in the newspaper Malaya, back in 2023. ‘Well, in other cultures you can substitute the word happy with gay. But gay is such a broad term covering the LGBTQ+ community, and if I am asked which of those letters apply to me then I will say it is the middle one-the B.’
Nearly three years since publicly coming out, Baylon says not much has changed in his day-to-day life. But within him, he knew it was a step he needed to take for himself.
‘Nothing changed, since most of my friends already knew and were just polite enough not to ask. If anything, the change was in me. I became less guarded and relaxed. I didn’t have to worry about people wondering about who I am. But of course, I also needed to be careful and make sure I don’t stay too long in the men’s bathroom,’ he says in jest.
True enough, the revelation became neither a hurdle nor a credential to flag. It is simply another piece of data in a multifaceted identity. Since then, Baylon has become the chief sustainability and risk officer of the entire NAC Group. He also serves as the president of the company’s foundation, focusing on initiatives related to education and health.
Career path
Baylon’s career has been colorfully adorned with unique experiences. He famously topped the UP Law examinations, yet chose to walk away with just one final subject to complete.
He was a speechwriter for the late statesman Rene Cayetano while still in his 20s, and later served as an executive assistant to the late tycoon Enrique Zobel.
Eventually, he rose to become vice president at Coca-Cola’s headquarters in the Philippines, and even managed the company’s basketball team in the Philippine Basketball Association.
His journey highlights a massive generational shift. Decades ago, his own father warned him in a handwritten letter that his identity would destroy his future. ‘Even your advancement in companies may become an issue,’ his father wrote.
But reality proved far kinder than those generational anxieties, anchored by relationships that stood the test of time. Television host and lawyer Gaby Concepcion, whom Baylon dated during his university days and who remains one of his closest confidants, recalls that Baylon had the utmost decency to tell her personally about his orientation as early as 1998, before she could hear it from others.
‘I remember him asking if I was mad or upset about the news,’ Concepcion shares. ‘But I think I would have been upset or angry only if I felt that he had used me as a ‘beard’ or as a
front … But I had no doubt whatsoever about his feelings for me when we were together.’
Laughing, she adds that if he had merely needed a front, she wouldn’t have been the right choice anyway because she was a ‘difficult’ person to date. Even then, Baylon possessed a massive following among the female population as a star debater and charismatic speaker.
For Concepcion, his coming out didn’t change a thing. ‘I first heard the words ‘love is a continuum’ from JB in 1998,’ she says. ‘And he has definitely proven those words.’
No fear
The fear of being judged continues to keep other executives hidden in the proverbial closet, particularly men who worry they would be treated differently because of their corporate standing and sexual orientation.
But today, at least from where Baylon stands, being part of the LGBTQ+ community is no longer a taboo, nor is it a corporate gold star-it is simply a neutral fact of life.
‘JB showed me the article before it came out, and I remember having no reaction at all,’ says NAC president and CEO Martin Antonio Zamora. ‘Not because I expected the news but because the news itself is a total non-issue to me as a friend and colleague. I am simply happy for him.’
‘For us here [at NAC], it goes beyond gender. We try to promote the careers of everyone regardless of other factors like gender or educational background-as long as you perform and are dedicated to what the company stands for, the company is always going to be supportive,’ he adds.
Baylon recalls a message he received from a former classmate in law school that continues to have an impact on him: ‘He was the head of his fraternity, and he told me that it was difficult for him to accept his son who had come out. It took him two years of struggling, but when he accepted his son, he saw the value of that acceptance for the both of them. He became prouder of his son and his achievements, and he said he was grateful that I wrote about my own story.’
Even NAC employees were inspired by the bold move set by Baylon. Among them is Jessie Dumanig, an agriculture and conservation values supervisor at one of NAC’s mine sites in Cagdianao.
‘It is truly inspiring and empowering to hear one of our leaders openly share that he identifies with the same community I belong to. Seeing representation at the leadership level serves as a powerful reminder that our identity is not a limitation but a source of strength, resilience, and authenticity,’ he says.
He adds, ‘This is proof that even in industries traditionally perceived as male-dominated, talent, dedication, and leadership know no gender.’
As the business community marks Pride Month, Baylon’s story underscores the value of an accepting workplace environment, and the power of individuals like him to move the conversation forward – not just for the youth, but especially for his peers.
‘When I wrote that column, it was in the hopes that people my age who have sons or nephews who are members of the LGBTQ+ community would look at them differently. It was more for the fathers than the kids, especially since more young people are now empowered to come out,’ says Baylon.
‘To others my age who refuse to come out, it is not my position to tell them to do so. It all comes down to the individual, and for me, I was being true to myself by doing that,’ he adds.
Lester Pascua, a long-time colleague, close friend and a representative of the G in the LGBTQ+ spectrum, says the revelation only enhanced Baylon’s existing strengths.
‘For me, JB will never be defined by his orientation, but by who he is as a person. At the end of the day, it’s about how we treat people, and JB is one of the most generous individuals I know – a boss who will truly fight for his team. Most importantly, he became happier, and we are all happy for him.’