All posts by UPCWGS

Unity Statement for Pride Month 2023

The story of Pride in 1969 is nothing short of similar from today’s reality. It was 54 years ago when the Stonewall Inn was raided by state forces that ignited the riot and the tradition of protest that we commemorate to this day. Decades passed and yet we battle with the same enemies, we fight against the same oppressive mechanisms, and we continue to highlight the most fundamental truth behind our Pride: that we are humans – dignified with rights, capable of loving and being loved, and united in respect, acceptance, and inclusivity.

The history of the Pride movement in the Philippines is both our cornerstone and legacy. At the time when women’s spaces were threatened, the lesbians organized and marched forward. When gay identities came at the cost of barely liveable wages, rising taxes, and other economic concerns, and the entire LGBTQI community was forced into a life of hate, discrimination, and violence, the queer community came together and brought the struggle to the streets. To this day, that story prevails.

Our enemies of equality have harnessed their political powers to push our rights aside. Under another Marcos, there is nothing to expect but criminal disregard and heinous negligence of our calls for equality. The contentious Maharlika Investment Fund was certified as urgent, all the while our queer siblings are discriminated against, ostracized, and killed.

In the floors of the Philippine Senate, Sen. Joel Villanueva continues to place his outdated views and the queer community at odds; totally eliminating the fact that religion is not the enemy of equality and that equality, is in fact, its virtue. His apparent political maneuvering of the SOGIESC Equality Bill is a grand display of erasure, persecution, and killings of people’s narratives and experiences of bigotry, indifference, and discrimination. We are only demanding for security, safety, and justice from people that terrorize our spaces and realities.

With the interests of the ruling few being prioritized over those who put them in power, gender-based violence, rampant human rights violations, and the same culture of systemic abuse haunts every crevice of Philippine society. Our united front of diversity, acceptance, and inclusivity has honed itself to a considerable potential against this loud, oppressive minority. Now more than ever, we must struggle to defend Pride and save equality from these enemies of equality and convince all Filipinos that equality, diversity, and acceptance are what we all deserve. We have reached many milestones but we are also bound to making greater history. Until we make Pride and equality our reality, until all of us are free.

We, as the undersigned student councils, LGBTQI organizations and allies for equality, denounce any and all forms of SOGIESC-based discrimination and human rights violations. We stand united in demanding for safe and democratic spaces capable of promoting and advancing protections for everyone, most especially women and the LGBTQI community.

We call for the immediate passage of the #SOGIEEqualityBill. Laws that defend and protect the lives of gender minorities from discrimination and hate have been long overdue.

To our lawmakers and champions of equality, you are accountable to your sworn duty of passing legislations representative of our needs. Heed the call of the Filipino people: make our Philippine society free from the terror of being victimized through discrimination, violence, and killings on the basis of SOGIESC. How many more of us have to die? #SOGIEEqualityNow! #JusticeForAllTransLives! #AntiHateCrimeLawNow! #StopKillingUs!

To local government offices, it is your mandate that our safety and security be protected at all costs from any and all possible threats within our immediate local communities. In the absence of a national legislation protecting us from SOGIESC-based discrimination, we urge all local government units to pass Anti-Discrimination Ordinances and other local legal mechanisms that will ensure protection from SOGIESC-based violence.

To the University of the Philippines System Administration, and the administrative bodies of all other public, private, educational, and/or corporate institutions, you have the power to dismantle existing SOGIESC-repressive policies that police our existence and deny us access to services and opportunities we need to survive. Create new policies that are gender-sensitive and gender-transformative. Together, we can help shape a society that is equal, equitable, and just for all.

To all the sectors of Philippine society, join us in our mission to defend Pride and save equality. Given our different struggles, we unite and meet at intersections. And, these intersections are testament that the fight for LGBTQI rights is a fight for ALL human rights. As we condemn SOGIESC-based discrimination and violence, we condemn ALL forms of discrimination and violence.

As we march for queer liberation this year, we march for the liberation of ALL!

Defend Pride! Save Equality! Pass the SOGIESC Equality Bill NOW!

#SOGIEEqualityNow

***

Ang naratibo ng Pride noong 1969 ay hindi malayo sa reyalidad ngayon. 54 na taon na ang nakalipas noong nilooban ang Stonewall Inn ng mga pulis na nagpasimula ng riot at tradisyon ng protesta na ginugunita natin magpahanggang ngayon. Ilang dekada na rin ang lumipas ngunit nakikibaka pa rin tayo kontra sa mga dating kalaban, nakikipagtunggali pa rin tayo laban sa parehong mga mapaniil na mekanismo, at patuloy nating idinidiin ang pinakapangunahing katotohanan sa likod ng ating Pride: na lahat tayo ay tao – ginagalang nang may karapatan, kayang magmahal at mahalin, at nagkakaisa sa pagrespeto, pagtanggap, at pagiging inklusibo.

Ang kasaysayan ng Pride sa Pilipinas ay parehong haligi at pamana. Sa panahong ipinagkakait ang mga espasyo sa kababaihan, sumulong at nakimartsa ang ating mga kapatid na lesbiyana. Noong ang pagiging bakla ay kapalit ng hindi nakabubuhay na sahod, tumataas ang buwis, at iba pang pang-ekonomikong suliranin – noong ang buong komunidad ng LGBTQI ay napuwersang mabuhay nang nakararanas ng poot, diskriminasyon, at karahasan – ang sangkabaklaan ay nagbuklod upang dalhin ang pakikibaka sa lansangan. Hanggang ngayon, ito ang kwento natin na nananaig.

Sa kasalukuyan, inaabuso ng mga kalaban ng pagkakapantay-pantay ang kanilang kapangyarihan upang isantabi ang ating mga karapatan. Sa ilalim ng isa na namang Marcos, walang maasahan kung hindi ang kriminal at karumal-dumal na kapabayaan sa ating mga panawagan para sa pagkakapantay-pantay. Ang kataka-takang Maharlika Investment Fund ay pinapatotohanang kailangan ng agarang aksyon habang ang mga kapatid natin ay nagiging biktima ng karahasan, kalupitan, at kamatayan.

Sa loob ng Pambansang Senado, si Sen. Joel Villanueva ay patuloy pa ring pinagbabangga ang konsepto ng pananampalataya at mga institusyong kakabit nito sa konsepto ng pagkakapantay-pantay; tuluyan niyang binubura ang katotohanan na ang pananampalataya ay hindi kalaban ng pagkakapantay-pantay at ang pagkakapantay-pantay ay hangarin din naman ng pananampalataya. Ang kanyang kapansin-pansin na pagmamaneobra ng SOGIESC Equality Bill ay isang malaking pagpapamalas ng kanyang pagbura, pang-aapi, at pagpatay sa mga kwento at danas ng mga tao sa mga kamay ng mga hipokrito, mapanghusga, at mapaniil. Ang hinahangad lang naman namin ay ang makamit ang aming seguridad, kaligtasan, at hustisya mula sa mga taong mapanupil.

Sa pagbibigay ng mas malaking pagpapahalaga sa interes ng iilang naghahari-harian kaysa sa pangangailangan ng mga taong dapat nilang panagutan, nananaig pa rin ang parehong kultura ng sistematikong pang-aabuso, karahasan batay sa kasarian, at pagyurak sa mga karapatang pantao sa bawat sulok ng lipunang Pilipino. Ang ating nagkakaisang kalasag ng pagkakaiba-iba, pagtanggap, at pagkasamu’t-sari ang pumanday sa natatanging potensyal laban sa umaalingawngaw at mapaniil na iilan. Ngayon at higit kailanman, kinakailangan nating ipagtatanggol ang Pride at iligtas ang pagkakapantay-pantay mula sa mga kalabang mapang-alipusta. Marami na tayong mga naipanalo ngunit patuloy pa rin ang ating pagsulat ng isang malaya at mapagpalayang kasaysayan. Hanggang ang Pride at pagkakapantay-pantay ay ganap nang reyalidad, hanggang lahat tayo ay ganap nang malaya.

Kaming mga lumagdang konseho ng mag-aaral, organisasyong LGBTQI, at kasangga ng pagkakapantay-pantay ay nagtatakwil ng lahat ng uri ng diskriminasyong batay sa kasarian at lahat ng porma ng paglabag sa mga karapatang pantao. Tumitindig kami nang sama-sama para sa paniningil ng mga ligtas at demokratikong espasyo na kayang nagtataguyod ng proteksyon para sa lahat, lalong-lalo na ng mga kababaihan at kabahagi ng komunidad ng LGBTQI.

Nananawagan kami sa agarang pagpasa ng #SOGIEEqualityBill. Ang mga batas na nangangalaga sa mga buhay ng mga gender minorities mula sa diskriminasyon at poot ay matagal na dapat naming natatamasa.

Sa mga mambabatas at mga kampeon ng pagkakapantay-pantay, maging tapat kayo sa mga sinumpaan ninyong tungkulin. Magpasa ng mga batas na kumakatawan sa mga pangangailangan namin. Pakinggan ninyo ang mga daing ng mamamayang Pilipino: gawing malaya ang lipunang PIlipino mula sa takot na magiging susunod na biktima ng diskriminasyon, karahasan, at pagpatay batay sa kasarian. Ilang buhay pa ba ang kailangan mawala? #SOGIEEqualityNow! #JusticeForAllTransLives! #AntiHateCrimeLawNow! #StopKillingUs!

Sa mga lokal na gobyerno, mandato niyo ang mapangalagaan ang aming kaligtasan at seguridad sa lahat ng pagkakataon mula sa kahit anong posibleng banta sa loob ng aming lokal na komunidad. Sa kawalan ng pambansang batas na pumoprotekta laban sa karahasan batay sa kasarian, inuusig namin ang lahat ng lokal na gobyerno na magpasa ng mga Anti-Discrimination Ordinances at iba pang lokal na mekanismong ligal na magpapanatili ng proteksyon ng lahat laban sa karahasang pangkasarian.

Para sa administrasyon ng sistema ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas, at sa lahat ng kabilang sa mga pampubliko at pribadong mga pamantasan, institusyon at korporasyon, may kapangyarihan kayo para buwagin ang mga namamayaning represibong polisiyang batay sa SOGIESC na pumupulis at nagtatangi sa amin sa mga serbisyo at oportunidad na kailangan namin para mabuhay. Bumuo ng mga bagong polisiya na sensitibo at mapagpalaya sa kasarian. Katuwang ang isa’t isa, kaya nating humubog ng isang lipunang pantay, makatao, patas, at may hustisya para sa lahat.

Sa lahat ng sektor ng lipunang Pilipino, samahan niyo kami sa aming misyong ipagtanggol ang Pride at iligtas ang pagkakapantay-pantay. Kahit pa man tayo ay may iba’t ibang binabaka, nagkakaisa at nagkakatagpo tayo. At, ang mga tagpuang ito ay tanda na ang paglaban sa karapatan ng LGBTQI ay paglaban sa karapatang-pantao ng LAHAT. Sa ating pagkondena ng mga diskriminasyon at karahasan batay sa kasarian, kinokondena rin natin ang LAHAT ng uri ng diskriminasyon at karahasan.

Sa pagmartsa natin sa kalayaan ng sangkabaklaan, nagmamartsa tayo para sa kalayaan ng LAHAT.

Ipagtanggol ang Pride! Iligtas ang Pagkakapantay-pantay! Ipasa na ang SOGIESC Equality Bill!

#SOGIEEqualityNow

Pride PH 2023: Love, Laban

Join us tomorrow, June 24 (Saturday), at the Quezon Memorial Circle to reach for the rainbow and make a difference. Catch the many wonderful colors of pride from 10:00 AM onwards as we celebrate pride with Pride PH: Love, Laban

Paint the Rainbow

Join us on 20 June 2023 (Tuesday) for the start of Paint the Rainbow. Together, let us find rainbow connections as we paint along the University of the Philippines Center for Women’s and Gender Studies (UPCWGS) and UP Palma Hall as a community.

UPCWGS Street Painting and Rainbow Crosswalk Opening
UPCWGS Grounds
10:30 AM onwards
UP Palma Hall Grand Street Mural Painting
M. Roxas Street
2:30 PM onwards

NOTE: We recommend bringing extra clothes to protect from accidental paint splatters. 

Found the Pot of Gold: Pride Bazaar

Dare to reach the end of the rainbow?

There is nothing to fret about because at the end of the rainbow, you will find our pot of gold. 

 Come join us at the University of the Philippines Center for Women’s and Gender Studies (UPCWGS) Grounds this 20-23 June 2023, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM for a Pride Bazaar.

Let us show our love and support for locally made and queer-supportive businesses.

Once upon a Pride: Tales from the Queendom

Once upon a pride, we bring the children along with us as we venture into the beautiful stories of queer lives.

Queens have come near and far to make this a reality and so we proudly present: Tales from the Queendom. Find us at the Kalinga Day Care Center, Area 1, UP Diliman, Quezon City on 19-20 June 2023.

Mapping Pride: Call for Stories and Spaces

The spaces we take up are a testament to our existence. As we show the intersection of physical spaces and our lived experiences, we tell the world: we have been here; we will always be here; and we will continue to exist.

In celebration of Pride Month, let us map our experiences, and tell the world of the places in time where we felt safe, accepted, loved, and all the messy things in between – the places that have genuinely given us a sense of pride.

Taking inspiration from Queering the Map, you may share your lived experiences of pride in the spaces you took up in UP Diliman:

bit.ly/MAPPINGPRIDE2023 
bit.ly/MAPPINGPRIDE2023 
bit.ly/MAPPINGPRIDE2023 

Once upon a Pride

Once upon a pride, in a world full of bigotry, hate, indifference, and discrimination, a strong and united front against the enemies of equality has ensured that our struggle for equality and justice lives on.

Every year, in honor of their long history, they celebrate pride – to remember their stories, to reclaim their spaces, and to fight for their rights. As with every story, we always look back to move forward.

Once upon a Pride proudly presents:

Mapping Pride
June 9-30
Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
Tales from the Queendom | Drag Story Time for Kids
June 19-20
TBA
Found the Pot of Gold! | Bazaar
June 20-23
UP Center for Women's and Gender Studies
Paint the Rainbow | Street Mural Painting
June 20-23
TBA
Queer Voices Unite! | Pride Unity Statement
June 24
Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

Together, let us make the dream of a gender equal, gender responsive, and gender transformative world a living reality.

Call for Research Proposals: 2023 UPCWGS Research Grant

The University of the Philippines Center for Women’s and Gender Studies (UPCWGS) is now accepting proposals for its 2023 UPCWGS Research Grant. The grant seeks to fund cutting-edge research on women and gender in the Philippines.

The UPCWGS will award funding of up to PhP125,000 to four (4) research projects on women and gender in the Philippines. Project duration should be within a four-month period with the start date on 15 August 2023. After that, you will be given two months to write your journal article.

Proposals should follow the format indicated in the PROJECT PROPOSAL TEMPLATE (https://tinyurl.com/UPCWGSprojeprop) and use this CHECKLIST REQUIREMENTS EXPENSES (https://tinyurl.com/UPCWGSchecklist) for their budget proposal. Applicants should also accomplish the ETHICS CHECKLIST GOOGLE FORM* https://tinyurl.com/UPCWGSEthicsChecklist.

Please email your proposals to [email protected], with “2023 UPCWGS RESEARCH GRANT” in the subject line, by 15 July 2023.

Terms and Conditions:

  • One of the project proponents should be a regular employee of the University of the Philippines or a UP contractual employee.
  • Awarded projects will be provided an initial outlay of PhP15,000 at the start of the project. Afterwards, funds will be accessed through reimbursement of allowed costs, provided that proper documentation is submitted.

*A risk is minimal when the probability and magnitude of harm or discomfort anticipated in the proposed research are not greater, in and of themselves, than those ordinarily encountered in daily life or during the performance of routine physical or psychological examinations or tests (National Ethical Guidelines for Health Research 2011).

Creative Workshops with the Children Cluster

When asked how the SRHR workshop for the children cluster was designed, Teacher Buboy shared that, “Paano isi-simplify ang language, kailangan namin maging bata.”

Last 11-12 February 2023, the University of the Philippines Center for Women’s and Gender Studies (UPCWGS) conducted the creative movement, visual, and life stories workshops with the children cluster in pursuit of the arts-based research project.

The arts-based research project aims to pioneer a more innovative, engaging, and accessible approach to the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and gender-based violence (GBV) prevention discourse through its arts-based methodology, while also widening the constituency for advocacy by drawing on the feminist standpoint epistemology to find approaches appropriate for sectors with different perspectives.

The video highlights were developed and produced by the Feminist Media Lab for the UPCWGS and OXFAM Philippines.

You may view the video highlights of the workshops here.

Creative Workshops with the Persons with Disabilities Cluster

Mersey, one of the participants of the SHE Project creative workshops shared that, “ang masasabi ko lang happy, nakikita ko iyong ibang deaf, kung ano ang nararamdaman nila. We collaborate with each other and it’s fun.”

Last March and April 2022, the University of the Philippines Center for Women’s and Gender Studies (UPCWGS) conducted the creative movement, visual, and life stories workshops with the persons with disabilities cluster in pursuit of the arts-based research project.

The arts-based research project aims to pioneer a more innovative, engaging, and accessible approach to the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and gender-based violence (GBV) prevention discourse through its arts-based methodology, while also widening the constituency for advocacy by drawing on the feminist standpoint epistemology to find approaches appropriate for sectors with different perspectives.

The video highlights were developed and produced by the Feminist Media Lab for the UPCWGS and OXFAM Philippines.

You may view the video highlights of the workshops here.