Marikina City. Metro Manila Pride is all set for this year’s Pride March and Festival on June 29, 2019, fists raised with the theme #ResistTogether. The Pride March and Festival will be held at the Marikina Sports Center, with gates opening at 12 noon for an afternoon program. The 2-kilometer march itself begins at 4:00 PM, circling around main thoroughfares Sumulong Highway and Shoe Avenue. An evening program follows from 6:00 PM, and closes at 11:00 PM.
Why we march: #ResistTogether for Human Rights
Pride is about creating a safe space for the LGBTQIA+ community to come together to rally against oppression–especially as Filipinos of diverse SOGIESC continue to experience discrimination, and the SOGIE Equality Bill remains in limbo for 19 years.
This year, rounding up the “together” campaign–from 2017’s #HereTogether, to last year’s milestone #RiseUpTogether, which drew a crowd of 25,000–#ResistTogether is all about going back to the roots of the Pride march as a protest. Through the years, it has become known for its rainbow flags and creativity; this year, we remember that behind the bright colors and music, behind the cheering and chanting on the streets, Pride is a human rights protest.
Pride is Community. Pride is Protest.
“Pride exists because of the community; it is BY the community, and FOR the community. But it goes beyond that,” says Nicky H. Castillo, overall co-coordinator and co-head of the communications and campaigns committee of Metro Manila Pride.
“It is a human rights movement––and as such, is a call for active solidarity with other marginalized communities. As human rights spaces across the region continue to shrink, it becomes even more pressing that, at Pride, we come together to resist oppression and
social injustice in all its forms, and through it, push for cultural and legislative change.”
The Pride March and Festival honors all the activists and advocates that have paved the way for the march to even exist today. Calling on those who stand by our side in protest, #ResistTogether shares the platform with some of the many community organizations that make up the community and its allies, such as Human Rights organizations, Student and Youth organizations, HIV and AIDS advocates, Workplace Diversity communities, Mental Health and Peer Support groups, Arts and Culture communities, Government and Foreign Embassies, the Media, and Grassroots Organizations.
#ResistTogether March and Festival Program
Apart from the march and the various solidarity speeches from communities, #ResistTogether will also feature a host of activities. The Proud Street Fair features a select number of concessionaires and merchants owned by LGBTQIA+ entrepreneurs. Various groups will hold discussions and workshops on a variety of topics pertinent to the community at the Hang Outs Educational Discussions tent.
The #ResistTogether afternoon and evening programs, on the other hand, include a wide variety of artists–from drag performers such as Lady Gagita and Sky Teotico; dance and theater groups such as The House of Mizrahi, TFX, and the Care Divas; spoken word artists Alfonso Manalastas and Juan Miguel Severo; as well as musicians and singers Oh! Flamingo, Pinopela, Matthew Chang, and Zsaris. The day closes with a dance party and DJ sets by special guest DJ Katie Kace of EuroPride Vienna 2019, and Filipino circuit DJ Deej Diaz.
Expecting to draw a crowd even bigger than last year’s 25,000, this year’s #ResistTogether hopes to create an even bigger impact for the LGBTQIA+ community.
“Pride doesn’t end at the Pride March. It continues on as we go back to our homes, our schools, workplaces, and communities,” says Loreen Ordoño, overall co-coordinator and co-head of the partnerships and resource mobilization committee shares.
“As long as the culture of discrimination against Filipinos of diverse SOGIESC persists, and as long as our government continues to delay passing pieces of legislation that address this, we will resist.”
As we join the Pride March and Festival on June 29, we go back to our roots of protest, remembering those that came before us and standing tall for those that march with us. And together, we remain steadfast for those that will continue the resistance after us.
The #ResistTogether 2019 Metro Manila Pride March and Festival is supported by the following: 235 individual Pride Fund donors who Made Pride Happen; Platinum Partners TaskUS, FRONTROW, P&G Gable (powered by Pantene, Olay, and Downy), Food Panda; Major Partners Black Box Collab Inc, Havaianas, Durex, REDDOORZ, AXA Philippines, and SIP Purified Water; Minor Partners Adobo Connection, Asurion, BLUED, Teleperformance, Telstra, Telus; Marketing Partners Canva, Moonleaf Tea Shop, Nectar Nightclub, Sakay.ph, The Addlib Studios, Sebastian’s Ice Cream, Kapuwa Bistro + Pub; Research Partner Rainbow Rights Philippines; and Media Partners Chalk.ph, Click The City, InqPOP!, Inquirer.net, JAM 88.3, LikeFM 105.9, MYX, Rappler Move.Ph, Status Online, Tilt Asia, and Young Star.
FOR INQUIRIES, CONTACT: Communications and Campaigns Committee [email protected]
