Born with a rare birth defect called hypospadias, Kristel Lumabao was raised as a girl by unsuspecting parents.
The 19-year-old teenage boy who is currently taking criminology in Laoag, Ilocos Norte discovered his true gender when he reached puberty.
According to his mom Erlinda, Kristel was born with a female organ. Because of this, she and husband Joel raised him as a girl and even made him wear dresses and flower crown.
“Pero habang siya’y lumalaki nag-iba na kasi… Walang ovary at saka uterus,” Erlinda told GMA 7’s 24 Oras.
Kristel began noticing the unusual changes in his body when he was in high school. Instead of having monthly periods, Kristel’s body became masculine in shape. He also began developing a deeper voice and growing mustache.
Through a recommended genetic test called karyotyping, they were able to confirm that Kristel is indeed a man.
Since then, Kristel’s family has accepted his true gender identity. His father Joel, who is the happiest among them, is thankful for having a son.
“Nagpapasalamat ako sa Poong Maykapal dahil nagkaroon ako ng lalaking anak. ‘Di ko alam kung gaano ako kasaya,” he said.
Meanwhile, Kristel, who is happy despite being raised as a girl, intends to have his name changed to “Ice Krystler.”
Watch Krystel’s video below.
What is hypospadias?
Affecting four in every 1,000 newborn boys, hypospadias is a birth defect of the male urethra in which the urinary opening is not at the correct location of the head of the penis. Instead of being located at the tip, the urethra can be found on the underside of the penis.
Although the cause of hypospadias is unknown, it results from the failure of the urinary channel to completely tubularize to the end of the penis.
About 10% of individuals with hypospadias have multiple abnormalities. For most cases, it is the only abnormality observed.