At a recent event I get to open and took the opportunity not only to highlight the event and the Pride businesses but also shared my views of the current state of Pride in the local community. Over the past few months I’ve been observing and taking in a number of LGBTQ+ issues and thought of a platform where I can voice out and provide call to action statements. So when this task landed on me, I thought it was a perfect opportunity. It was a challenge to connect the event proper to the issues but as I have the talking points already in head, it only needed some organization and story flow to captivate the audience. It took me hours to draft, while it doesn’t need to be perfect, it just need to be relatable and coming from a genuine place.

Here’s the draft which just went on to only a couple of minor editing. The statements shared here are of pure personal insights and does not necessarily reflect the views of the organizations I am involved with.

“Good morning po Everyone!

First off, maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat, for coming here sa ating Hataw Para Sa Pride event, this is brought to us by Rotaract Club of Metro San Pedro and PayPal Pride Manila. Thank you so much for registering and accepting our call of invites, sa ating mga manlalaro’t volleyball players here, to our Small Medium Businesses who are either LGBTQ+ owned or proud Allies, sa ating partner clinics Saving and Improving Lives (SAIL) and to San Pedro Treatment Hub, to the rest of audience, special guests, and our exceptional volunteers here – thank you po for coming today. And of course, how can I not give thanks to our amazing and talented Drag Artists – Maxie, Khianna, and Angel! and to their hardworking Maxie Productions and sa lahat po ng bumubuo ng ating Grand Kickoff Show, thank you so much!

How excited are we na mapanood and cheer for our Queens as they perform live and to lipsync for their legacy!?! Woohoo!!! Konting wait pa po!

Of course, after our Grand Kickoff Show, ang tunay na hatawan ng bola ang mananaig as our six volleyball teams battle it out to be the winning team this Hataw Para Sa Pride one day mixed volleyball tournament, may we all have fun and all the best to our players.Now as we appreciate a world-class performance ng ating Queens, get competitive at kilatisin natin ang laro at galing of our volleyball players, may it also inspire and give us a realization na even though ang laban nating Philippine LGBTQ+ community and Allies for a progressive future ay malayo pa, unti-unting natin syang naipapanalo.

But how can we get there? Ano ba ang pagiging progresibo?

Last elections, I was like, “I’m done, ayoko na bumoto, Pilipinas you’re hopeless!” Hindi ako pipila sa initan ng ilang oras, tapos ang maihahalal din nman ay yung mga may pansariling interest. Ganun din naman, bumoto or hindi, ikakaltas pa rin sa sahod ko ang tax and other contributions, na kung saan saan din napupunta? Diba?! Who can relate?

Now before I continue, some of you might say, “Ano ba yan ang aga aga bakit politics ang topic, Opening Remarks pa lang?” or ” Sis, Drag Performance or volleyball game ang pinunta ko dito, wag mo haluan ng politika.” Well…sis, newsflash! Everything is political. How we go about our daily lives is influenced by politics. Your Grab, Angkas, jeepney, MRT, or bus fares going here sa venue are dictated by politics. Your breakfast, lunch, snack, or dinner amount is influenced by politics. Your skin care and make up prices are affected by the economy as influenced by politics. And did I mention, our salaries are taxed? And businesses must pay taxes. So yes, sis – everything is political.

And it is high time na bumoses tayo.

So back to my story – As you know weeks before the elections, political support for LGBTQ+ issues arise and questioned. The LGBTQ+ community had dividing opinions pa nga. I said to myself “Sige, why not this election, I vote for the LGBTQ+ and other marginalized communities.” So, I did some research and come the election day, I voted. And as soon as partial tallies came in, together with you and the rest of the Philippines, I was shocked, and somewhat in a positive way.

Because there is hope left.

There is hope left to those rainbow kids and teens that are being bullied for just being who they are, that someday the institutions that are built to educate ay magkaroon ng programs to protect them.

There is hope left that someday queer couples can care and decide for their partners kapag critical medical emergencies kahit hindi sila taga Quezon City or San Juan.

There is hope left for our transwoman friends to receive neither harassment nor discrimination just because they want to exercise their basic human right and have a safe space in a restroom!

There is hope left that someday cisgender or straight individuals can file a complaint if they are harassed or discriminated as gay or lesbian, because they will also be protected if the SOGIESC Bill is passed. Yes po, the SOGIESC Bill is a legal protection for all.

Ah yes, the SOGIESC Bill, as we enter the 20th Congress, muli po sya ihahain sa House of Representatives, hanggang Senado, at mga committee. So maybe, just maybe, this time, finally ay ma-isabatas na sya. This time, tayo naman ang mananalo.

How to win? We need social pressure. We are now in a critical strategic point na kapag nagkaisa ang actions and voices natin for the next months and years mararamdaman ng policy and lawmakers natin ang bigat ng ating LGBTQ+ advocacy. Kung nabago ng Youth Magic ang takbo ng last elections, what more the next 2028 elections? Dahil lalong mas dadami ang youth voters. Kaya’t napaka-importante ng boses natin ngayon hanggang sa mga susunod na taon.

Paano maging progresibo? Here’s what we can do –

1.) Be open and pag-aralan po natin ang ating mga advocacies, let us do our part in educating ourselves so that we can educate others especially our sphere of influence, sila ang ating magiging Allies. We have some helpful references at that table where you can scan the QR code, those are just some of the many studies and guides sa Philippine LGBTQ+ advocacy.

2.) Bantayan at suportahan ang mga politiko especially the ones who are championing our cause. Just because elections are done eh hindi na tayo mag-mamasid, binoto man natin or hindi. Now is the time to challenge. Kung wala pa, nailalakad ba ang mga antidiscriminatory ordinances at our own respective cities/municipalities? Or kung meron na ito ba ay naipatutupad ng tama? Bumoses tayo.

3.) Let us support and be respectful with each other sa LGBTQ+ community. Alamin natin ang kwento ng isa’t isa. Here sa Philippines, ang isang transwoman na hindi nakapag tapos ng high school at walang trabaho ay iba ang lived experience sa isang transwoman na may business na kumikita ng 7 digits a month. Ang isang lesbian na lumaki at nagttrabaho bilang isang mangingisda sa isang maliit at liblib na bayan ay iba din ang lived experience sa isang lesbian na director sa isang multi-national company at naka tira sa isang exclusive village sa siyudad. Unfortunately, kahit within our community apektado tayo ng oppressive systema tulad ng classism. Let us hear each other’s stories para mas maintindihan pa natin ang pinadadaanan ng isat isa. Today is a very good opportunity to do that.

Tumulong tayo para suportahan mabawasan ang HIV/AIDS stigma sa community natin by inquiring paano tyo makaktulong sa mga programa ng SAIL at ng San Pedro Treatment Hub.

Aside from purchasing goods sa ating small businesses here, let us check ano ang wins and challenges nila as an LGBTQ+ owned business or as an Ally. One sad reality is that a store in Shopee/Lazada can be reported and banned because they are simply selling Pride merchandise. Asan ang hustisya doon?!

Shout out here sa Golden Bekis as their sales help the livelihood and welfare ng ating elderly LGBTQ+ community, some of their items are hand made by our elderly LGBTQ+ community.

The choice is ours mga ka-Pride. Namulat na po tayo, hwag na tayo pumikit at mag bulagbulagan pa. Let us own our Pride advocacies and live by it day by day, malayo ang mararating natin.

Tayo po ay lumaban para sa pag mamahal. Tayo po ay tumindig para sa ating basic human rights. Ipanalo po natin ang ating Pride community, kapit-kamay with our Allies and supporters!

Maraming, maraming salamat po! and again, welcome to our Hataw Para Sa Pride Event!”

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