It’s been half a year since the first time I walked along Taft without a bra on but the feeling of empowerment I felt that day is still very much familiar. It was never planned nor did I have any intentions to do it prior to that day. Sure, Ive read articles and blog posts about #freethenipple but it was never considered until that day when laziness got the best of me. i was still so groggy from sleep (or lack thereof) and i can’t remember why but i was so tired that day and my back still hurt from wearing wires. So I gave myself a smirk in the mirror like I was plotting a rebellious act against an empire and asked, “Why not give it a try?” I felt so naive at that moment, going back and forth to the mirror to ask myself, “girl, we really doin this? u sure? like a hundred percent??????” I’m not even gonna elaborate the ways i tried to prevent my nipples from poking through my shirt. Too embarrassing. In the end, I wore a rather thick sweater and braved the 37 degree heat of my lovely Manila. It has been one of the most liberating thing Ive ever experienced. It didnt start from there, though. I went back to wearing it but after a few days, I decided that the feeling it gave me was so surreal it wouldve been so selfish of me not to allow myself that everyday. That following week, I stopped wearing them completely.

     Im not gonna lie, it was very uncomfortable at first that I couldnt focus properly and kept going back to the bathroom to check that my nipples werent giving a show. But even so, it wasnt the kind of uncomfortable that made me want to quit. It was more along the lines of "alright, this is what the start of every process feels like. It should be fine soon.” The feeling of power it gave me was so much greater than the discomfort. But I learnt along the way that it’s not the make-all and be-all thing. Saying it made me accept my body would be wrong because Ive always been in good terms with it, except those bad days we all have from time to time. But it certainly made me feel closer to myself and i have never been this happy with my chest. I feel so empowered. I feel as though I am drunk off adrenaline, a rebel on the loose everytime I go out. But this is so much more than rebellion or teenage girl against society's stereotype and standards. It’s so much more than that.

    It feels like it was years ago when I last wore it. It used to be such a given and normal thing for me but I remember trying on one in November and I nonchalantly and I completely wore it the wrong way, throwing it back like how you would wear a vest. I couldnt stop laughing at myself. Working out has never been a problem, because firstly I dont work out. HAHAHAHHA im kidding anyway. I mostly do yoga and very minimal cardio, running and jumping. I wore bras at first while at it but in time, when my body has adjusted and was accustomed to it, I could work out brafree and without problems. I wear nonwired ones  from time to time when I want it to look a certain way (wink wink) and if you’ve been following me on snapchat, you know how obsessed I am with my bralettes. But aside from that, Im mostly free everyday. I mean, Im not here to flash my nipples or something. I’m more aware of what I wear now.

    After joking around and asking me which celebrity am I copying, my mother's only concern was it sagging. In fact, that was the argument of my friends and relatives when I told them about it as well as the internet's when I read articles and watched videos. Im going to tell you what I told them and what every girl who've gone braless has to say— it has nothing to do with sagging. If anything, it helps the muscles in the breasts learn to do its job. Imagine it like this, it’s like that parent who spoonfeeds their kids everything so they grow up lazy and with minimal knowledge anything about the real world. Muscles wouldnt develop/work if bras are always there to support the weight. If it doesnt have that support, it’ll know and do it’s job. Our bodies are freaking amazing, dont you think? I think I explained it in a rather childish manner but all im saying is, bras weaken the ligaments that help lift the chest on its own. Here’s an article to support that and maybe explain it properly.

        This post wasnt intended to make anyone feel bad or encourage others to “free the nips” in any way. If I convince one, that's awesome. But the main purpose for me writing this is that I just wanted to share my story and hope that along the way, I inspire and inform others that wearing bras doesn’t have to be obligatory, that you do have a choice. You’re free to ditch it and do so unapologetically. The same way youre also free to wear it if you want even with so many articles telling you how ridding yourself of it is the only way to feminism. It irks me that there are people who force it on another and make them feel as though they are violating their beody in some way if they don't burn their bras. Id like to advocate that bras are a personal choice and preference. Some people wear it because it makes their lives easier, especially those with the bigger ones. Others because they have been used to it and others simply because they want to. I am in no way implying that this is the only way to own yourself, or even that you are not yours in the first place. I think it is better to say that we should all stop demonising bras and/or making it so much of a big deal because it really doesn’t make sense to me. It was never my intention to say that I’m better than those who do war bras nor that I’m more liberated/freer because duh, theres so much more than just basing those on whether these boulder holders are on your chest or nah. I think of it more like a jewelry? You can wear one if you want but it’s not necessary. At least that’s how I view it. I just can’t speak for those with bigger and heavier chests because I know bras tame dem boobiez and make your lives easier. Let’s respect our differences, including our choices, beliefs and even the bodily aspects. And hey, some bras can be cute and make you feel so sexy you can take over the world with your boob power.