Who’s the fairest of them all?
The Transpinay of Antipolo Organization (TAO) has announced the scheduled crowning of the Queen of Antipolo for 2013 this May.
TAO is an Antipolo-based group established in 2006 by five transpinays – Kristine Madrigal, Alexis Garcia, Em Bayubay, Jersey Paceno and Shane Marie Madrigal – to help push for gender equality in the Philippines. While largely composed of transpinays, as well as other members of the lesbian, gay and bisexual community, TAO is actually open to all persons regardless of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, ethnicity or religious affiliations, as long as they believe in the TAO advocacy and are willing to support the organization.
According to Shane Marie Madrigal, president of TAO, the winner of Queen of Antipolo 2013 is eyed not only to become the new face of the organization, but is also hoped “to become a role model to her fellow transpinays,” she said.
The winners will represent the city of Antipolo in the Queen of Rizal 2013, and will represent TAO and Antipolo city in a national pageant. The Queen of Antipolo 2013 will also receive P20,000.00; the first princess, P15,000.00; and the second princess, P10,000.00. All the elimination rounds winners received P2,000.00 each.
For Madrigal, beauty pageants remain important in pushing for transpinay rights, particularly in increasing awareness about them and their issues. “(Beauty pageants) still serve as a platform for us transpinays to be heard,” she said.
Queen of Antipolo 2013 is scheduled on May 2, 2013, at 8.00PM, at Ynares Center in Antipolo City. Admission is free. Everyone is allowed to vote for their favorite candidate upon entering for the winner of the People’s Choice Award to be handed out during the night.