Putting the Heart in the Art in PUP Pride 2019

Words & Photos by: Raizza Dauz

“Gender is a construct,” “When I come out, I…” “Ball,” “Micro aggressions,” “Safe spaces,” These are topics that was showcased in the PUP Pride 2019 art exhibit last March 6-8 at Conference Room B, Charlie del Rosario Building.

“When I Come Out, I…” is the first thing you will see when you enter Conference Room B at Charlie del Rosario Building. The audiences are encouraged to write something on the black wall, telling what might happen if they come out to their family and friends.

Spearheaded by PUP Kasarianlan, they indeed delivered a fabulous three-day event to celebrate PUP Pride 2019 with the theme, ComeUnity for Solidarity. With the wordplay in community, the LGBT student organization wants people to come and unite for equality.

After last year’s diverse celebration, the goal for this year’s celebration is being united in order to achieve solidarity. However, this event is not just about celebrations and empowerment. As a community, they aim to attain harmony through one’s involvement as they give their substantial efforts for them to be heard.

For the first day of their diversity dialogues held at Museo ni Mabini, the topic was about Being Gay and Not Okay: The State of Mental Health and People with Diverse SOGIE. With Riyan Portugez as their speaker, catering the interested students, they tackled about issues of day to day struggles of the LGBT community.

The audience has also learned about gendered spaces, nature of spaces, and evolution of spaces with their second speaker, Migi Remolador who talked about Designing the Interiors of Acceptance: Safe Spaces.

On their second day, the organization had opened their interactive art exhibit. The goal for the audience was to know what will happen and has happened to people with diverse SOGIE when they come out and how important safe spaces are to them. They highly encouraged the audiences who checked out the art exhibit to take photos and videos of their experience.

“Ball…” the 2nd interactive art that the audiences experienced as they were lectured about the underground party happened in the LGBT community back in the 80s and 90s. They danced, wore costumes, and let themselves lose a bit while feeling the music.
“Micro aggression…” In this 3rd exhibit, PUP Kasarianlan has showcased a little bit of micro aggressions that the LGBTQIA+ community experiences in their day to day lives. We might not know it, we may unconsciously say it and not mean it, but we have to be careful on the things we tell to them.
“Safe space…” The 4th exhibit contains UV backlight and artsy background that the audiences were able to take a photo with. This is where the audiences can feel safe, and secure, and happy with their fellow dear ones and breathe a little.
“Tear it apart…”  is the last interactive art that you will see inside the building. The audiences will cut one puzzle piece in the art, hence tear it apart, once the pieces are gone, it reveals “Gender is a social construct” leaving an impression to the audiences to have an open-mind with the fellowmen.

But the fun did not end there. On their second day, they also had a movie night at the College of Communication Carpark and showcased Black Mirror’s hopeful episode from season 3, San Junipero.

On the last day of PUP Pride, the Diversity Dialogue and Art Exhibit were still happening but the audience has been waiting for the Pride March. They have marched inside the PUP campus, aiming to be the space of celebration and political expression for the students who are part of the LGBTQIA+ community. This event is one of the safe spaces of PUP Kasarianlan, where it provides for them to be who they are and celebrate their diversity as an individual.

Rainbow Flag Overload: Rainbow flags are raised during the Pride March, shouting “Makibeki, ‘Wag ma-shokot” as a sign to end homophobia and to accept the community as who they are. Albie Rebalde, an LGBTQIA+ advocate also marched in full femme look, with a sign on the back saying, “Protect Trans Kids.”

Drag Cartel Runner-up, Mrs. Tan delivers death drops while performing and Andy Crocker with her Catriona Gray drag, performing a universe-like comedy lip-sync with Alicia Keys’ Girl on Fire .

A lot of happy faces and diverse audience were at the solidarity concert which happened at the open court, with lip-sync performances from Drag Cartel runner-up, Mrs. Tan, Andy Crocker, the audiences laughed and cheered for the death drops and witty gestures. There was a lip-sync performance also from the audience, where Albie Rebalde and Marky Babalian battled each other with Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way.”

Albie Rebalde and Marky Babalian, during their lip-sync performance of Lady Gaga’s Born This Way.

Louise Meets of Word Anonymous had also made the audience’s hearts flutter with her lovely spoken word poetry. Caila Tibayan of PUP Kasarianlan had serenaded the audience with her renditions of Bad Romance, Tadhana, Officially Missing You (which was requested by the audience), and Shallow. And for the last performer, singer- songwriter, busker, and straight-ally, Angelo Bernales sang his original heart-wrenching compositions.

Pouring her heart out: Louise Meets from Word Anonymous during her spoken word poetry that made the audiences smile and hug their friends by her lovely delivery.

The event ended with a video greeting taken by the organization, photo-ops with pride flags, and dancing.

Caila Tibayan of PUP Kasarianlan and singer-songwriter, busker, and straight-ally, Angelo Bernales ends the night by serenading the audiences with their awesome performances.

This is the time where we need to indeed come as one and unify for equality. It’s time for our fellow people with diverse SOGIE to be truly accepted for who they are as a person and not only being tolerated just because the government said so. Happy International Women’s Month and Happy Pride, everyone!

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