(tense music)

- When I realized that I have a chance to not sing again,

it actually made me sad and depressed

because singing is my life.

(singing in a foreign language)

(upbeat music)

- My name is Angel Bonilla.

I am a professional singer, and I'm a phlebotomist.

I'm originally from the Philippines.

When my mother discovered my talent,

when I was five years old,

I started competing in singing competitions.

When I was on "The Voice," I was very happy.

I became the first trans contestant.

I used to watch reality TV shows from the United States.

It's always a dream come true...

[in Tagalog] that one day when I get to America, I'll get to those stages.

The thing that I love, performing in front

of a live audience is the energy.

It gives me more motivation to belt notes, sing the lyrics.

Every time that people cheering, on me.

♪ Now there is nothing left for me to give♪

I moved to Los Angeles, California to finish my studies.

I decided to get a vocational course

to become a phlebotomist.

And I started working in a hospital for five years.

But one day I realized, if I would like to sing,

I have to choose one, because at the end of the day,

one will suffer, and I decided to choose singing.

After "The Voice,"

I started touring around America and around Europe.

And then all of a sudden the pandemic happened.

I've witnessed people dying and I've never experienced

that kind of situation in my life.

Our country has a shortage of medical staff,

and I think that that's the right time

for me to step forward.

And I decided to become a phlebotomist again.

The day that I contracted COVID,

I started coughing and I started having a horrible headache.

Every time I wake up in the morning, I don't feel myself.

I was throwing up, dizzy, high fever, and no appetite.

I realized that I am a long hauler,

after I was diagnosed of having spasmodic dysphonia.

It is a condition where it technically

paralyzed my vocal chords

and it gives me choking experience.

And sometimes shortness of breath,

it feels like someone's strangling me.

I feel trapped being quarantined at home.

I couldn't see anyone, I couldn't see my family.

And also, it scares me because I don't know if I'm going

to survive or not.

If I didn't have Mother Karina's support,

I don't know what's going to happen to me.

And I don't know if I can go through with this.

Mother Karina is my community mother.

She has always been there since day one.

She's very supportive to the trans community

and she helped a lot of people, including me.

- [in Tagalog] Angel, my daughter,

I know you can make it.

You got this. We're all here for you.

I am Karina Samala, I am a proud transgender woman.

I've been working with this community for over 25 years now.

Okay, and it started way back when I was going out

in the streets, driving to really reach out

to the community members.

They all come up to my car, and ask, you know, we need help.

And they started calling me Mother.

We have lost a lot of our community members

because of COVID.

And so it really hit us tremendously.

- [In Tagalog] Mother, thank you for bringing me Salabat.

It's helping me recover.

- It's good that you're drinking that. It will do you good.

This is passed down from our ancestors.

It will help you heal your voice.

- Making Salabat reminds me of my grandmother.

When I was young, she would make Salabat for me

so I can bring it to singing competitions,

concerts, and school events.

Salabat is a boiled ginger that sometimes you can put honey

or brown sugar with it. Salabat is a very good remedy

for throat inflammation.

So every day I would always drink Salabat

before I do my vocalization and before I sing.

(singing)

[In Tagalog] When I found out the possibility

of losing my voice,

I was scared

because every time that I sing, I feel powerful.

And without my voice, I am powerless.

After six months from the date that I got sick from COVID,

I still experienced the neurological symptoms,

but right now I go to speech therapy twice a week

and I feel more comfortable singing now.

♪ Never thought I'd sing again, but here I am ♪

- As a long hauler, everyday before I sleep at night,

I would see myself standing on stage in front

of the large crowd.

[In Tagalog] The applause when they're screaming my name,

it gives me the motivation

so I can persevere with my dream.

♪ And I'll make it through, I'm here ♪

(orchestral music)