Miss Maanyag 2012
PHOTO COURTESY OF LADLAD CARAGA INC.
As a move to highlight that Pride is also existent outside of metropolitan cities in the Philippines, Ladlad Caraga Inc. has announced the scheduled hosting of the 1st LGBT Pride March in Butuan and Caraga on December 6.
“We decided to host this year the first Pride celebration in these parts of the Philippines to showcase the strength of the LGBT community in our area, while proving that not only the LGBT community in Metro Manila or other metropolitan cities can gather, but that we can similarly do too,” said Ladlad Caraga Inc. founder Ysang Semacio Bacasmas. “We believe that with this, we highlight how we can not only provide entertainment, but also offer social and public service.”
Bacasmas said that organizing the first LGBT Pride March of the region was not easy, with challenges including: securing financial support, and ensuring that the event represents the voice of the LGBT community of Butuan and Caraga. Fortunately, “not only sponsors but also the right LGBT people came on board.”
Pride 2013 events include the LGBT Pride March on December 6, from 5.oo PM, from Butuan City Colleges to the ANHS Ampitheatre of Agusan National High School in Butuan City; hosting of the Miss Maanyag 2013 beauty pageant; and hosting of a show.
“We hope that with these efforts, we will not only convince the public that we are part of the society, but that we can also make it if given the chance,” Bacasmas said.
Ladlad Caraga Inc. continues to eye the development of an anti-discrimination ordinance that it hopes will – in the long run – protect the rights of all LGBT people of Butuan and Caraga.
