At the fabulous Music Museum in Greenhills San Juan, TikTok just held their #ForYourPride Find Your Voice Event, where creators showcased their talent, music, self expression and how it is to be empowered. Performances by some of the PH's best TikTokers were done on stage, particularly the ones that are part of the LGBTQIA+ community since this is part of their pride month celebrations.
They also did a pride month runway challenge hosted by drag performer Salmo Nella. Guests came in with their Pridechella inspired outfits and got called in front for games and surprises, it was a pretty fun event despite the horrible traffic caused by some cult in EDSA. The event is also presented by DERMO REPUBLIQ and the folks from TikTok LIVE!
Here are some scenes on video, we have this posted on our TikTok account!
Bea Bautista the Communications Lead at TikTok emphasized that this also gives LGBTQIA+ creators the platform to showcase their talent from singing, dancing, performing and even drag. Aside from that, they also have other things in the pipeline like training teachers about the app and how they can use it for the greater good. To date, they have trained over 200 educators on using social media safely and responsibly, and plan to do more in the coming months.
They are also working with the Department of Tourism soon with their Wanderlust initiative via a creator led series to showcase the beauty of the Philippines. They are doing this to support creators, their interests and advocacy.
Thank you so much to the people from TikTok Live for letting us experience so much fun despite the strong rain. Thank you for giving the community a chance to do it in this grand stage, some of them were so good I'd mistake them for pro recording artists!
Check their tags #ForYourPride on TikTok if you want to see more of the event on the app!
June is Pride Month and with the way things are now, it has to be reiterated, that the occasion is and still is a protest.
It was an opportune time to talk about what the current status of primary concerns are of the community. This is why the folks from Verde Creatives held an event called "Rainbow Voices: Mga Mukha at Boses ng Bahaghari" (The Faces and Voices of the Rainbow). The platform seeks to have a place for community members to talk about what is important, like the good and bad things about what is happening with the LGBTQIA+, brothers and sisters, and the phenomenal horrors on why the SOGIESC Equality bill is still not approved.
I asked them bluntly about how it might have been all frustrating, and they said a resounding YES. Though they assured me, they never will get tired. They promise to continue the fight, but it has to be an effort done with YOU, me and the rest of the community. It'll have a huge impact when we do things together, and I've seen it happen in recent years. I'm glad it's not just the bad things that were discussed, but the good things too.
Here's the talk on video, this was held at the Dark Roast Coffee House in Maginhawa Street, so listen in!
Verde Creatives very own Ms. Bemz Benedito, Ms. Gigi Marie Garcia of the Society of Trans Women of the Philippines (STRAP), Mx. Patrick Espino of LADLAD Partylist, Ms. Venus Ancheta-Lane, an HR Professional who is also part of the Society of Trans Women of the Philippines (STRAP), and Atty. Juliane Paul Tabarangao shared their expertise on the topic to explain where we are and how we are with regards to the causes we need to support.
Ms. Bemz reiterated "LGBT rights, trans rights are human rights. It is still not being accepted, just tolerated. It is important to celebrate Pride, it is a protest, it is important to discuss it, in platforms like Verde, to have a place to discuss things that may not be allowed in public. Thanks for giving us the voice, for letting us fight, to give solutions, but even if the faces have changed, we need to support the cause to protect LGBT or us Filipinos."
Ms. Gigi Marie Garcia adds "It's time for Trans people to change their name, markers and legal ID's for legal gender recognition. This would be a big help and our coalition will be pushing for legislation, government support for the passage of SOGIE bill. We hope this would be enacted as law, while we partner with more people to support our cause. Preferred names and gender identity is important for government transactions, and with it, we get recognized including the non binary individuals too. Our trans sisters even get offloaded because of it. STRAP hold sessions and hear so many stories about it, but names affirm the persona of the person."
Patrick Espino also shared "June is Pride month, but it has been used so many times that it is starting to be used. At times, they still call us names, but where are we now, still not where we want to be. Hate must be eradicated, it must be stopped."
While we are making progress as a society, there is still a long way to go. This effort by Verde Creatives is a really huge help to make those issues and put those points across. I hope this would put an even better perspective on letting all us know where we are, and perhaps find more ways on how we can help. I love how they pointed out that these issues are not designed to mock or put aside the fun during Pride events, because we need to celebrate our huge and small wins.
To be openly out and gay may be quite an easy feat for some, but not for everyone. With a non redeeming society, mostly tolerating folks, r@cists and obvious big0ts around, it's super hard to even exist. It messes up your psyche, less time to understand the situation, yourself, proving how crazy this world we live in, when all they want is the same rights as you do, LOVE, and understanding.
During Pride Month last year, real life couple Liza Dino and Ice Seguerra took chance on a queer theater production of CHOOSING. It's a play about the intricacies of love, relationships, pronouns and queerness. This is under the direction of Dr. Anton Juan. It was unusual, but easy to digest, relatable in so many ways especially for those who lived in the 90's and generations after that. They're having their second run this coming June at the ARETE Doreen Blackbox Theater at the Ateneo De Manila University grounds. We were given a preview of it a couple days ago, and they've done changes to the script and story mostly on Act 3.
A very emotionally charged preview of CHOOSING
Dr. Anton Juan told us "I asked them to ask questions about themselves, I gave them direction of thought. This time it's built on that, and the moment, it's almost like characters start in the middle of their lives and I gave them the ability to gather themselves. This is where the play is being directed and built. It's continuous, and I allowed actors to do that. Theater becomes not just for the stage but for people who watch it. I think the straight sectors would learn the most. It's the freedom of love, it's about choice that makes us free. This is the reason we want it titled CHOOSING. In the world there are so many pronouns. I asked them to bare themselves, we started to talk, the concept of who I am or if I am a goat, abuse, many things that are common to everyone. I like to resurrect the memories, with music, it's beautiful and is like a portal, it becomes vast and bigger. You must be careful in what doors to open and close. Did you notice plays today are choreographed? I look at lines as language and space, how to move, approach, ways to say you love or hate a person. I was trying to distill their lives and what they've gone through."
Ice says "The song is actually a monologue but Liza and Direk Anton felt like we needed it. That was about hypothetical love, we edited it to a song with Vince de Jesus, and it's called 'Lost in Time'. When we came out, there were a lot of people who approached her and just told their stories without even doing it. More than the topics being shown here, is that we always go through these crossroads, we need to talk and get to the bottom of this. Liza and I have been together for a long time, but we are still the same because we talk about it. There is commonality and we could move forward to say what we want to say and stop there without listening to the other party. We talk about it even if it hurts. If you remove labels, the story of Mitch and Stella is universal."
Liza adds "That's exactly how it played out when it happened, that it was not synonymous with cheating. That's whe I realized that Ice was a man. The way they talked about it was just like watching a series. He didn't know where I am coming from, it went to a point that I had to watch it to understand. There's also a lot shared with us by a support group, their discoveries, on how they realize the dysphoria. There's a huge part of this play that I had to re-write especially on the third act, Ice and I are still going through that. We are confused for the most part, but when the opportunity comes we ask where we are and where we need to support each other. It was a blessing that I was the one who wrote it, I couldn't make it concretely talk about transformation. I researched about it so much that I saw how we could no longer be part of that future. You see how emotional we are when we do this. A big issue here also is the voice, it's a huge change and what people go through in situations like these. I hope people see what we struggle about, and the conscious decision to still choose each other despite the trials. I hope this can inspire, see themselves in us, you can't do this alone. This is about choosing to love."
Here's our interview with them after that very emotional preview:
Liza adds "Transitioning needs an entire shift of mindset to become the support system. Sometimes people don't think about that person, because they are also going through something. It's a very complex decision, hence the discussion between Stella and Mitch."
Ice ended the talk saying "I chose her, and she is the only one I wanted to choose. She's the only one who can give me the happiness, the excitement, and safety that I'd want to have. I don't want to share that with anybody else. Anytime we have a discussion, we always go back to asking how we can by happy again, because this is not us right now. That's been our anchor ever since."
Choosing to talk about the feelings we have may be shallow for some, but we all need to talk about it. To resolve conflict in relationships, choosing to talk about the hard things will resolve a LOT. If you want to get tickets to the show, you can get it via the Ticket2Me app or the official website ticket2me.net. Shows will be on June 6th-8th, 13th-15th which are weekends. The Doreen Blackbox Theater is a very intimate venue. Go bring your friends and family along and talk about it after the show. Can't wait to see the changes on the show.
There's no other opportune time to celebrate freedom and self expression than this PRIDE month. Just like the colors of the pride flag, each one takes proper representation, so you can be yourself, and express in many ways without judgement of fear from any oppressor. Just like as Globe always says, "Atin ang Mundo!" (the world is ours!)
Make the celebrations worthwhile by getting involved in the community, join volunteer groups and participate in projects initiated by various LGBTQIA+ orgs and causes you believe in. Don't fret if you're single, the GlobeOne app has restaurant vouchers (if you try spinning the wheel) so you can date yourself at Kraver's Canteen, Flowerstore and more!
If all else fails and you don't wanna go out, have a party at home and stream Pride hits from Mother Monster Lady Gaga, Madonna (if you are not married by this time lol), or Cher if you're retired, I'm joking of course! Any track that makes you empowered, proud and eager to spread charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent would do.
If you want to spend the day with bae, go binge watch your favorite BL, GL or LGBTQIA+ series on Netflix, Viu, Amazon Prime or iQIYI. You can subscribe through Globe and watch KDrama series, Hollywood movies all day! Check this for starters https://shop.globe.com.ph/entertainment-subscriptions
Don't forget your LGBTQIA+ content creators on YouTube especially the local ones as they thrive on your support. Be it an ally or part of the community, there's so much love to spread around and it all starts with you!
June is Pride Month and it's always the perfect time to celebrate and push for representation in different fields. This 2022, Globe has always been about "Making Everyday Beautiful" and recently, they released an LGBTQIA+ themed film called "First Move" for their Globe One App. Aside from bringing services closer to Filipinos, they're making it worthwhile creatively and see how they could put the LGBTQIA+ cause in the forefront, and they've managed to put together people in front and behind the camera that also belong in this sector, putting action to words they uttered. For context, the Producer, the stars, the writers and director are LGBT members, and they're putting out a series of commercials that showcase love, relationships, human subjects that also use the Globe One App and the multitude of features it has.
Director JP Habac says "Gone are the days of depicting LGBTQIA+ in sterotypical ways like being flamboyant, girly, or merely driving a Mio. We are taking on this challenge of making it current, including those for bisexuals and lesbians too."
PJB Group Creative Director Bia Fernandez adds "This is our attempt to normalize those in the LGBTQIA+ sector to appear in ads so people can see real life experiences. This is real representation, not just on a single holiday, they are truly part of the brand."
This is a great way to break barriers, and inform people about an app that can monitor data, manage your accounts, avail promos too. Download it through the app store or Google Play. Verify it by registering and putting your one time pin, prepaid or post paid, this takes care of your accounts. Go watch them in Globe assets and online channels.
She's definitely a pop and country icon and who better to celebrate pride month than with Miley Cyrus.
I love shoes so much I have about 140 pairs at home and I don't know how I've been keeping them on the shelves and boxes for so long. Most of my shoes comprise of brogues and if not, it's my everyday staple of Converse Chucks.
Miley isn't just loving thesr pairs but more of endorsing these to get the point across and celebrate with the LGBT community, equality and youth. In her words, she's saying #YesToAll as she believes that everyone deserves an opportunity. The funky colors definitely scream no race, color, ethnicity or gender should be shunned anywhere and anytime. I love her even more just by getting involved in this cause.
Visit converse.com/YESTOALL for more details. Hopefully it would hit the shelves real soon!
We all have LGBT friends. Yesterday when I was in an event, I heard from a man seating in front of me reading aloud a text message he received anonymously, apparently containing some really ridiculous notions about the PINK Film Festival Trinoma, Quezon City and how it will turn the place into Sodom and Gomorrah if they don't stop it from showing films that contain things discussing LGBT on it. They've been fighting for years now, even straight people are supporting them, because ultimately they are seeing them as people, without prejudice to what color, shape or form they are.
Unfortunately, there are still ignorant ones who ridiculously think spreading hate is the solution. We all want to fight for equality in the workplace, at home, and community - and that goes the same with the LGBT sector, they don't want special treatment, they just want what you and I are getting. Yesterday, whilst some government officials were undergoing HIV tests - it kind of struck a cord on me to think how many people are still getting that stigma, either from what they learn from backward thinking folks, or merely not understanding the whole problem at hand. There are a lot of things that contributed to HIV but most of it is because of unprotected thingy.
Tonight, while I was going home from watching Chicago, I met a friend while heading to my place. He's part of the LGBT community and is part of the organizers of this year's pride march. Their theme this year is "Come Out For Love: The 2014 Metro Manila Pride March" and they're in need of support from everyone, LGBT or not, crooked or straight, to head onto Malate in Manila at 2PM. Please register at their event page here and invite yourself, your peers to support the cause. Their build up will start at 2PM and the march will start at 4PM today December 6 (TYPHOON OR NOT, RAIN OR SHINE, THEY HAVE A RAINBOW). All they need is your presence and support. A worthy cause I might add. Think of your friends, all those who have been part of the LGBT community and have done a great deal of good for you. This might be a nice way to give back.
