28/08/2026
Emma: Cadiznon Transwoman Who Makes a Difference
Some people make a difference by doing extraordinary things.
Others do it simply by having the courage to be themselves and using their gifts to inspire others.
Emmanuel Rebadomia Dela Llave or Emma Dela Llave, a Cadiznon, is one of them.
A Licensed Professional Teacher, master’s degree holder, student leader, performer, and young Filipina trans woman, Emma is steadily building a life that reflects courage, purpose, and determination.
She studied at Pedro Pitogo Elementary School, followed by Tiglawigan National High School and Dr. Vicente F. Gustilo Memorial National High School. She later pursued her college education at the Philippine Normal University Visayas, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude.
Emma pursued graduate studies at the Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia (UCAM) in Murcia, Spain, earning a Master’s Degree in Bilingual Education.
Going to Spain was not merely about earning another degree. It was a decision to step beyond what was familiar—to experience independence, discover new possibilities, and grow into the person she wanted to become.
Interestingly, Emma was the youngest student in her class. But being young did not keep her from making herself heard. She became a class representative and joined the Student Ambassadors, taking an active role in representing and engaging with her fellow students.
This was not new territory for Emma. Back at PNU Visayas, she served as president of PNU Kabataang Urduja, an organization advocating gender equality, women’s empowerment, and social awareness. Her leadership earned her the Josefa Llanes Escoda Leadership Award.
For Emma, leadership was never simply about holding a title.
It was about standing for something.
It was about using her voice.
And it was about showing that a young trans woman can lead, serve, achieve, and inspire.
But Emma's voice is not heard only in classrooms or organizational meetings.
There is another place where she shines—the stage.
Known as “Taylor Switch,” Emma is a Taylor Swift impersonator who has performed at Bacolaodiat, Panaad Festival, University Week, malls, and Cuneta Astrodome.
Onstage, she entertains.
In school, she excels.
In leadership, she serves.
And in life, she continues to find her own voice.
Emma's journey as a trans woman has not been about asking the world for permission to dream.
She dreams anyway.
She studies anyway.
She leads anyway.
She performs anyway.
And she continues moving forward.
That is what makes her story meaningful.
As people are sometimes judged before they are understood, Emma offers a different message: let your character, your work, and your courage speak for you.
A person's worth is not determined by labels, but by what they do with their life and how they touch the lives of others.
From the classrooms of Cadiz to the university halls of Spain, Emma has carried with her more than dreams.
She has carried determination.
She has carried courage.
And she has carried the belief that she can make a difference.
Emma is still young, and her story is far from finished.
There will be more classrooms to enter, stages to grace, people to inspire, and dreams to pursue.
But already, she has shown something important:
Being different is not a weakness. Having a dream is not enough—you must have the courage to pursue it.
And sometimes, the most powerful way to make a difference is simply to live authentically, lead with purpose, and inspire others to believe that they, too, can become who they are meant to be.
Raised and guided by her proud parents, Julius Dela Llave and Carmela Rebadomia of Barangay Tiglawigan, Cadiz City, she is a young woman who is making her place in the world - and making a difference along the way.*
