Manila LGU commemorates 3rd Summer Pride Event

April 22, 2024

A group of attendees pose in front of the stage of this year’s Manila Summer Pride at the Kartilya ng Katipunan on Saturday, April 20. (Photo by Kenneth Michael Fernando/The Manila Warden)

Manila spearheaded its third Summer Pride event at the Kartilya ng Katipunan in Ermita, Manila, on Saturday, April 20, with the theme “Embracing the LGBTQIA+ Community, Let's stand with Pride: Be Bold, Be You! Manila Summer Pride 2024, go bongga!”

The event occurred two months ahead of pride month in June and is expected to be a signal for all communities to participate in the upcoming events.

“Nangunguna po tayo sa buong Pilipinas sapagkat sa unang pagkakataon, ito po ay magiging hudyat, gaya ng sinabi ko kanina ng iba’t-ibang serye ng ating pagtitipon sa taon na ito,” Ms. Dindi Tan said, president of LGBT Pilipinas, an organization that acts as a national alliance of the LGBTQIA+ community throughout the country.

Meanwhile, Charlie Dungo, the director of the Department of Tourism, Culture, and Arts of Manila, said that the success of LGBTQIA+ members during the barangay elections allowed them to create goals that helped improve the lives of the community members.

These included generating stable jobs with equal income pay and tolerating zero discrimination in lieu of Ordinance No. 8695 or the Manila LGBTQI Protection Ordinance of 2020, signed by Isko Moreno on October 29.

“Isa lang po ang aking request. Ipagpatuloy niyo po ang may respetong paninilbihan sa bawat barangay, huwag niyo pong bibigyan ng dungis ang inyong mga pangalan dahil ito ay pinag-ingatan natin at pinaglaban kaya sana ngayong gabi, sa araw ng celebration ng Manila Summer Pride ay mag-enjoy tayo at angkinin natin ang karapatang ng mga LGBT community dito sa lungsod ng Maynila,” said Dungo.

Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan, one of the people who commenced the event, added that she strongly believed in gender equality.

"Naniniwala ako bilang isang ina na kahit sino ka pa, kahit ano ka pa, may puwang ka sa mundo, may silbi ka sa mundo. Basta't ang pananaw natin sa buhay ay wala tayong tinatapakan, wala tayong pinagsasamantalahan, may paggalang tayo sa karapatan ng bawat isa at may pananagutan tayo sa malayang pamumuhay,” said Lacuna-Pangan, as she stressed the importance of acceptance and open-mindedness.

The event was also open to non-Manileños and was estimated to have 600 people.

First-timers like Bechin, a 22-year-old student from the Pamantasang Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM), felt ecstatic and had faith in the event’s theme.

“Amazing dahil sa mga participants, sa mga exciting na groups. Everyone is equal and that they believe in equality and no discrimination, and that people should stop clinging to dangerous beliefs like not being accepting of LGBTQIA+ children,” Bechin said.

A costume contest was also held among 10 groups, and the group with the best costume will win a prize of P2,000. The event is expected to recur in June.

- Kenneth Michael Fernando & Christian Querol