For years, PUP Pride has been a space for queer students and allies to celebrate, learn, and stand together for equal rights in PUP. This year, PUP Kasarianlan, in partnership with the Gender and Development Office (GADO), proudly presents PUP Pride 2025 with the theme, “Tuklas: Paglayag sa Agos ng Kalayaan,” taking place on March 26 to 28, 2025.
This year’s pride continues that mission with this year focusing on the struggles of being both queer and an adult—navigating personal freedom, responsibilities, and societal expectations.
Rowing in solidarity beyond borders
"Tuklas" or "to discover," is the second chapter in PUP Pride’s ongoing trilogy, following last year’s theme that focused on embracing one’s identity. Now, we set sail into deeper waters, tackling the struggles that come with queerness beyond self-acceptance: the challenges of independence, relationships, career, and societal expectations.
And for the first time in its history, PUP Pride supports a beneficiary, Feed Families in Gaza, expanding its advocacy beyond the community of people of diverse SOGIESC. Their initiative, which was launched in March 2024, provides essential aid such as food and basic necessities to the families affected by the crisis in the Gaza Strip.
As a student-led event, PUP Pride has always been rooted in activism, ensuring that voices from all walks of life are heard. This year, we take a significant step forward in showing that the fight for human rights is not limited by geography. The decision to support Feed Families in Gaza reflects our commitment to recognizing that the struggles faced by marginalized communities, in the Philippines or across the world, are deeply interconnected.
Our celebration is built on the principles of resistance and collective action. Just as we push for equality and safe spaces within our own community, we cannot ignore the urgent humanitarian crisis faced by others. Choosing our beneficiary is a statement that our advocacy does not exist in isolation—it is part of a broader fight for human rights for all.
The waves of celebration and protest
PUP Pride 2025 begins with Flag Hanging on March 24, setting the mood for the beginning of the celebration. Queer students and allies, along with the partner organizations, will march around the campus, carrying the pride flag. The march will settle at the main gate, where a mobilization takes place to amplify calls for equality, safe spaces, and justice. Speakers from partner organizations will deliver messages that highlight the ongoing struggles of the marginalized sectors, demanding action and accountability.
After the mobilization, the group will march back inside the campus toward the West Wing of the Main Building, where the flag hanging takes place. This act of raising the pride flag symbolizes the continued fight for inclusivity and rights and marking the beginning of a Pride celebration.
The educational discussions will kick off on March 26 with Usap Tayo: Holy Trinity, which dives into essential conversations about the identity and struggle of a queer individual. The “Holy Trinity” represents the three key topics shaping the queer experience. SOGIESC 101 will explain gender identity and expression, helping attendees understand the diversity within the community.
DEMOS 101 will highlight the history of discrimination, exploitation, marginalization, oppression, and subordination that queer individuals continue to face. With SOGIE Equality Bill 101, the speaker will also break down the long fight for legal recognition and protection of the whole LGBTQIA+ community in the Philippines. Lastly, HIV/AIDS 101 will tackle the common myths and misinformation surrounding the condition helping to spread awareness and fight stigma.
On March 27, Diversity Dialogues will bring discussions on representation, activism, and intersectionality. The first segment, “Gaya sa Pelikula: Queer Representation in Film”, willl look at how queer characters are portrayed in media and how these representations impact society. The second segment, “Grey Skies, Prism Desires: In Light of the Climate Crisis”, will explore the connection between environmental issues and LGBTQIA+ activism, showing how the fight for justice goes beyond gender. And the final discussion, “Sagwan: A Panel Talk on Navigating Adulthood as the Other” will focus on the challenges of queer adulthood, from career struggles to personal growth.
As an ender for this year's pride, the celebration will conclude on March 28 with a Solidarity Concert. The day will start with a pride march extending from PUP Main to PUP Theater at the College of Communication, where everyone will gather under the pride flag and chant their calls. The concert will showcase artists who use their craft as a platform for advocacy, reminding everyone that resistance takes many forms.
All invited speakers and performers are either part of the community or strong allies. Through their art, speeches, and collective action, PUP Pride stands as a powerful call for equality, rights, and recognition for all.
PUP Pride is not just a celebration—it is a protest. Tuklas is open to the entire PUP community and beyond, inviting everyone to stand together in the fight for SOGIESC rights. From insightful discussions at the Accenture Room, PUP Main Building (March 26-27) to a powerful night of music and resistance at the PUP Theater, College of Communication (March 28), Tuklas is a space to learn, connect, and amplify the voices that matter.
Take part in the conversation and show solidarity! For registration and more details, follow PUP Pride on:
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