The current political climate only calls for the queer community to be on the forefront of change, organizers and stakeholders of PUP Pride 2023 said on Thursday, March 23, as “hope” took center stage in this year’s Pride festivities.
As prime organizer, PUP Kasarianlan President Joyce Ann Isidro reiterates the three-day event’s unified appeal for basic human rights and the lobbying of House Bill No. 5551 or the SOGIESC Equality Bill amidst constant setbacks from the Senate. “Kahit na nasa gitna tayo ng lahat ng krisis na ‘yon, nagbibigay pa rin tayo ng pag-asa na sa patuloy nating paglaban [...] makakamit natin ang inaasam-asam nating pagkakapantay-pantay na karapatan [at] maliwanag na bukas,” Isidro said. Titled “PAGLAUM: Mula sa Bading, Para sa Bayan,” queer solidarity only unifies us an already marginalized community, PUP Kasarianlan Vice President for Internal Affairs Renzo Dumailang said. “'Paglaum' literally means hope. Gusto namin na ‘yong hope na ‘yon [ay] magmula sa aming mga bading para maipasa namin sa ibang tao–na tayo pa rin ang magtatayo sa sarili natin para sa kinabukasan ng mga bading,” said Tristan Cobalida, PUP Kasarianlan representative and PUP Pride 2023 logistics co-head. “Intersectional lahat ng struggles natin. Ang struggles namin bilang bading, nagma-manifest lang siya hindi dahil bading lang kami, kundi [dahil] mga estudyante rin kami. And ramdam namin iyong intersectionality ng struggles na iyon,” they added. Cobalida also mentioned administrative constraints and “unsupportiveness” from the university Gender and Development Office dealt by the organizing body, as the traditional venue since 2016 which was in PUP Main grounds saw its push towards COC’s Tanghalang PUP. In addition, Gabriela Women’s Party Secretary-General KJ Catequista encourages students to help as resource people during Congress briefs. “Hindi tayo papayag na sa panahon ng isang pasista at diktador na presidente ay i-prioritize ang mga batas na laban sa mga mamamayan over sa mga batas na magsisilbi sa karapatan ng mga members ng LGBT,” said Catequista. National Union of Students in the Philippines (NUSP) National President Jandeil Roperos also pointed out queer integration in protests against mandatory ROTC and jeepney phaseout, the fight for quality education and liveable wage, and more. “Hindi tayo magpapaharang. Hindi tayo magpapakulong sa comfort zones natin. Lalabas tayo para sa ating karapatan. [...] Tayong mga LGBTQIA ay hindi nahihiwalay sa mas malawak na sektor ng ating lipunan. We cement ourselves in the society kasi mayroon tayong ambag,” they said. 𝗔 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗲𝗿-𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁 Notable performances, including Filipino pop girl group BINI and queer musician Pixie Labrador, took center stage in PAGLAUM’s final day of festivities at the Tanghalang PUP in the College of Communication compound. Other performances include PUP-based musical groups Tulos Baybay and PUP Polysound, as well as drag performers: Tracy Audacity, Edsa Xxtra, Eula Hoops, Gabriel Villaruel, and MRS TAN. For the first time since the pandemic, the solidarity concert was held after a pride march from PUP Main en route to Tanghalang PUP. Graphics: Rick Andrei Carigma
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