Editor’s note: Opinions expressed here are the subject’s own.
Makati City (CNN Philippines Life, June 26) — 29 years ago, the LGBTQIA+ community of Metro Manila decided that they wanted to be heard. With megaphones and banners in hand, around 50 members of the Progressive Organization of Gays (PROGAY) and Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) marched along the streets of Quezon City, in what would now be known as the precursor to the 1996 Metro Manila Pride March.
Their calls for equal rights, demands for systemic change, and efforts to organize echo to this day. In 2019, we saw Pride transform into a powerful march and festival with a record-breaking attendance of 70,000 attendees. And while the pandemic saw Pride adapt into online spaces, the 2022 Metro Manila Pride March showed that the fight was still far from done. Despite the country’s ongoing recovery from the pandemic, an estimated 29,000 individuals took to the streets of Pasay with a clear battlecry: Atin ang Kulayaan.
This year, we’re looking at freedom, not as something to strive for, but rather, as something inherent within us — a reminder that when all of us stand side by side, liberation is possible. With the theme “Tayo ang Kulayaan,” Makati City became the stage for Metro Manila Pride’s protest and celebration. Here, a cacophony of demands can be heard — from the passing of the SOGIE Equality Bill to the protection of LGBTQIA+ activists and even support for the elderly members of the community.
What started nearly three decades ago has evolved into a protest that reverberates and resonates. Several other Pride Marches have also emerged all throughout the Philippines, with Quezon City setting a new record with more than 100,000 attendees. If the continuous growth of Pride is indicative of something, it’s that the community still has to be heard and the government still needs to listen.
We caught up with some of the attendees of this year’s Metro Manila Pride March and Festival to hear why they still go to Pride after all these years, how much has changed, and what changes they want to see next.
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Vee Canapi, 20, College Student (He/Him)
“I decided to go to Pride this year because, as mentioned, Pride is a protest. And of course, I not only want my identity to be seen and heard, but also the calls of the LGBTQIA+ community. I want to be able to share them with a wider audience.
The very issue [that needs to be solved] would be the [delay of passage of the] SOGIE Bill. We really need a bill that protects the entire LGTBQIA+ community. But there are also [issues] with the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA). Because as we know, a lot of US military men who come here to the Philippines abuse and target the LGBTQIA+ community, like with Jennifer Laude who was murdered by a military officer from the US. Also, of course, we need more protection for our queer activists such as Chad Booc who was [killed] by the AFP. The Philippines isn’t exactly the safest place for the LGBTQIA+ community. So we want to build a place where we can live freely and express ourselves more.”
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Mikee Cabusas, 22, BPO employee (He/Him)
“I still go to Pride every year because I have an advocacy, which is to stop the stigma when it comes to HIV, to provide HIV awareness to people, and to spread knowledge about SOGIE. Padami ng padami na rin kasi ‘yung taong pumupunta ng Pride not just to celebrate, but to learn more.
For me, kailangan talaga ipasa ang SOGIE Bill. Kailangan na siya isabatas kasi this is a real issue. There’s a lot of people being discriminated against because of their sexuality. People need to be more open when it comes to SOGIE so that we can understand each other better.”
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Lord Fernandez, 50, IT manager (He/Him)
“It’s fun! And I also do this with my colleagues. We work for Oracle, so this is one of the things that we hopefully do every year.
I noticed that there are more people who are going alone. Kasi the one that we did in Marikina, they were mostly groups coming together and all of that. And then of course, there are more younger people. As I said, I’m 50, right? So, I’m happy to see that the younger generation, the Gen Z, are a lot more comfortable with expressing themselves.
I do want to celebrate the fact that there has been a lot of progress. For example, in my company, we can actually nominate our same sex partners as our health insurance dependents, which was never heard of back in the ‘90s. So even though we’re not legally married, there are these things that the private corporations can actually do for our community. Swerte kami kasi ‘yung company namin can take care and would welcome people like us. Pero there’s still a lot of discrimination in other companies where you can even get fired just because of who you are.”
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Marco Arosa, 26, project manager (They/Them)
“I still go to Pride because it’s still illegal to live my lived reality as someone who identifies as non-binary. [Pride] is still a protest and it’s still something that I have to fight for everyday.
Nothing much has changed. As you know, the SOGIE Equality Bill is still idle in the Senate. It’s still not progressing. But what has changed perhaps is the louder voice of the community in the fight for what is right for us.
One of the things that I experienced in the past is that I was discriminated against in the workplace. I couldn’t work because I was openly out as a non-binary individual. I didn’t feel safe to be a non-binary individual at work where I was singled out because of my lived reality. I think that’ s one of the things we’ll be protected from if the SOGIE Equality Bill gets passed. So definitely, the workplace needs more protections for individuals like me, and I’m sure it’s not just something that only I have experienced. And perhaps there are a lot more people like me who are being discriminated in the workplace.”
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Katrina Oberio, 24, fresh graduate (She/Her)
“It’s our first Pride [together] and it means a lot to me. It’s also nice to be surrounded by everyone who thinks the same. You can feel the inclusivity. And it’s nice to have a place where you feel like you really belong and that you’re safe.
There’s a lot more people [at Pride] now. I think people are more open about it now. There are more personalities who are very vocal about the advocacy compared to the years back.”
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Arien Divina, 18, student (They/Them)
“Pride is one of the ways that I celebrate myself, being queer, and being a part of a very diverse community. First and foremost, Pride marches exist for a reason. Pride has always been a protest and will always be a protest. I believe that we all have to fight for our rights. We have to protect LGBTQIA+ lives. And as long as those are not yet [achieved], there will always be pride. There will always be something to fight for. There will always be something to stand up for.
I don’t think a lot has changed yet in terms of our constitution and the community. But I think for this Pride, I’ve become more excited in comparison to the previous ones. This is because I’ve met more queer friends since the last Pride.”
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Xandi Espiritu, 62, self-employed (She/Her)
“[I still go to Pride] to raise our voice, to fight for our rights, and to enjoy and celebrate the Pride March with our LGBTQIA+ family!
Para sa mga ka-age ko, financial support sana [ang mabigay]. Kasi, I live alone na. Wala na akong kapamilya. Wala akong siblings, and ulila na ako sa father and mother ko. Wala naman akong naging asawa at siyempre wala rin akong naging anak. Solo flight na ako sa buhay. Kung halimbawa magkasakit ako, wala akong makakaramay. So kung sana, may financial support kami.”
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Ayla Valbuena, 20, Student (They/Them/She/Her)
“I still go to Pride because — despite us having such a loud [presence] — we still have to fight for the minorities who are not being heard. We are here to show [everyone] that we should not leave the minorities behind, that every single person who identifies under the LGBTQIA+ community should be welcomed.
I think [an issue in the community] is internalized homophobia; because even though we have such a large population who are already out and say that they’re part of the LGBTQIA+ community, there are still those who are ashamed of [themselves]. Without this event, we would rarely see people who are out and proud of their sexuality, who show their true colors no matter what they identify as. I hope that with this Pride and with every other celebration in the future, these different problems can be eradicated.”
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Nahia Lloren, 23, fashion designer (She/Her)
“I believe that as long as there are still people who are discriminating against the LGBTQIA+ community, it’s important that we attend Pride. This is to make sure that our voices are heard, and to ensure that we have more rights and less discrimination in our society.
My outfit represents precolonial Philippine fashion. I’m a precolonial fashion revivalist. So I mostly showcase and promote precolonial attires because it’s not as well-known as compared to Filipiniana. And also to really show how much our ancestors actually revered and respected us prior to colonialism. Hence why I wanted to make a statement to show that our identities have always been around since the beginning of time and that we’re are not going anywhere.”
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GJ Montecarlo, 36, HR admin (He/Him)
“Going to Pride is my way to show kung ano ako — this is to celebrate Pride and freedom, as well as to encourage other organizations, individuals, and allies to attend these events.
Actually, compared to nung nasa Marikina pa, parang lumaki na [ang Pride]. And then after the pandemic kasi nagbago siya, kumonti ulit yung mga tao. However, nakita ko ngayon since simultaneous yung celebration natin, kapag pagsamasamahin mo pa rin, ganun pa rin naman yung impact niya.
With the help of Pride, ‘yung mga issues like discrimination and lack of acceptance sa public [ay masosolve]. Kasi as of now, marami pa ring discrimination eh, either sa religion or sa politics. Meron pa ring mga hindi nakakatanggap sa atin. This is an eye opener for all of the Filipinos. This is one way na pwedeng sabihin sa kanila na hindi tayo sakit na dapat nilalayuan.”
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DJ Enguero, 28, design engineer (He/Him)
“I still go to Pride to enjoy ‘yung atmosphere, yung happiness. Like, everyone here just smiles at everyone. Nakakamiss kasi siya lalo na most of our society is just tolerating us. So iba ‘yung feeling ‘pag nandito ka. You can just be yourself or be whatever you want, and people will just smile at you.
I think last Pride hindi masyadong kita and andun lang kami sa may Pasay, but I think it made a little bit of noise naman. So yeah, I think we’re still here to make our voices heard, to be accepted and not just tolerated.
First of all, I think [kailangan] ‘yung SOGIE Bill and I think ‘yung access to sex education. Kasi it just doesn’t protect gay people, but everyone no matter what their SOGIE is. Lalo na pagdating sa sex hygiene. So I think dapat early on, matuto na sila on what to do and what to prepare for.”
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Cookie Bacalla, 28, preschool SPED teacher (They/Them)
“Kasi maraming frontliners ang LGBTQIA+ community tulad ni Ka Aries. Isa siya sa mga advocate na nagpupush istop yung reclamation sa Manila Bay kasi umaangat na sila ngayon dahil sa dredging operations sa Cavite. Marami kasing LGBTQIA+ ang naaapektuhan nito.
