Baguio City holds pride event for equality
Brimming with vibrant colors of the rainbow, proud advocates, allies, and members of the LGBTQ+ community converged at the Olive Town Center and Hotel, June 27, for the SIGLAT PRIDE event with the theme, “Strengthening LGBTQ+ Voices for Inclusive Development”.
The whole-day activity was conducted by the Cordillera Pride Community Leaders (CPCL), in collaboration with the City Government of Baguio and the SIGLAT (Synergize, Innovation and Gravitate Leadership towards Adaptive Technologies) Youth Innovation Hub.
Vic Jimenez, Executive Assistant to the Mayor, highlighted the local government’s ongoing support for policies and programs promoting inclusivity and equality while Van Sanchez, Founder and Executive Director of CPCL, introduced the program’s objectives: to promote unity, advance inclusivity, and advocate for the rights of the LGBTQ+ community.
For his part, Ryan Javier, Program Director of CPCL, reiterated the significance of continued discourse and the role of education in building bridges of understanding within our society.
Learning sessions tackling topics relevant to the community were held including a talk by Althea Marie Latuhan, a SOGIE (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Gender Expression) advocate, about SOGIE 101 that aims to further understand the different identities present in the community as well as embracing diversity.
Paul Brian Baldoza, an HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) advocate from Salakniban, lectured on both diseases and practical ways to prevent these.
He stressed that staying accurately informed is such a strong safety measure itself and helps reduce stigma attached to HIV and AIDS.
Meanwhile, Gianne Janiola, Communicative Director of CPCL talked on mental health and wellbeing in the LGBTQ+ community and conducted an interactive workshop where participants shared personal insights and explored practical strategies to foster resilience and community care in small groups.
Sanchez gave the closing remarks where she reiterated the event’s central theme of building a society where no one is marginalized because of who they are or whom they love.
“We want a community where everyone is celebrated and no one is left behind,” she said. – Aira Guinsayan, Baguio PIO intern / Gaby Keith
