The Rainbow Blog Philippines

Boom! Ilang oras na lang at 2010 na! Sana sa bagong taong darating ay magkakaroon na tayo ng isang tunay na KALAYAAN! Isang kalayaang pumili ng mga tamang ihahalal sa gobyerno! Isang kalayaan na siyang magsasawata ng korupsyon sa bawat sangay ng ating pamahalaan! Isang kalayaang susupil sa mga taong patuloy na gumagawa ng karahasan! Isang kalayaan na siyang aagapay tungo sa ating tagumpay! Isang kalayaan na magkakalas ng posas sa kamay ng kahirapan! Isang kalayaan na may lakas para harangan ang mga anay ng ating Inang Bayan! Isang kalayaan tungo sa isang pantay na karapatang mamuhay ng tunay na malaya! Isang kalayaan na siyang magbibigkis ng bawat isang Pilipino tungo sa isang mapayapa, masagana at maunlad na Pilipinas! Manigong Bagong Taon!

May this season bring us all joy, love and peace!!!

On Monday afternoon, 14 December 2009, I along with three other STRAP members went to the House of Representatives (see pic above). The Lower House was in joint session with the Senate that day to deliberate on the President's Martial Law declaration in Maguindanao following the now infamous massacre there orchestrated by the powerful Ampatuan clan, said to be very close to the President. The Maguindanao massacre where almost 60 people were murdered in broad daylight including women, journalists and innocent passerby, is now being touted as the defining moment of the morally bankrupt rule of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA). It trumps the other scandals that rocked her administration including the corruption allegations regarding the building of the Macapagal highway , named after her father, the Hello Garci scandal , the ZTE scandal and so many others. While we have rallied against GMA, it was not because of her that we were in Congress last Monday. We were there to have a brief a...

“Opposing grave human rights violations on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity” ECOSOC Chamber, United Nations Headquarters, New York Thursday, December 10th 2009 at 1.15 p.m. – 2.45 p.m Let me begin by expressing my warmest gratitude to the Permanent Missions to the United Nations of Argentina, Brazil, Croatia, France, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden, and to the coalition of non-government organizations defending the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. Thank you for making this event possible and for giving us this opportunity to contribute our voices to this ongoing conversation for change. Our esteemed participants, beautiful beings, and profound expressions of this Universe, a warm, vibrant, and dignified afternoon to each and every one of you! Burned at stake. Strangled and hanged. Raped and shot and stabbed to death. Throats slashed. Left to bleed to death. These are just some of the ways transgender people were killed in different parts o...

This afternoon, Inquirer.net published this article which totally shook me: Solon seeks to criminalize same sex union By Lira Dalangin-Fernandez INQUIRER.net First Posted 12:35:00 12/08/2009 Filed Under: Laws , Congress , Politics , Gender Issues MANILA, Philippines--Describing it as “highly immoral, scandalous and detestable,” a lawmaker on Monday called for the criminalization of gay marriage . In proposing House Bill 6919, Manila Representative Bienvenido Abante Jr. said same sex union “would snap the remaining strand of our moral values.” Abante, a pastor and chairman of the public information committee, said there is no specific provision yet in the Revised Penal Code penalizing persons who enter in same sex marriage or those who solemnize the marriage. “While there is no documented same sex marriage yet in our country, the absence of clear legislation serves as an invitation to same sex marriage,” he said. ...

Miss Gay of the Universe 2010 pageant to be held 2 January 2010 at 8PM in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte. FE Marcos Mini Cultural & Sports Complex (aka the Plaza). Miss Gay of the Universe 2010 will be held in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte this year on 2 January 2010 at 8 PM at the F.E. Marcos Mini Cultural & Sports Complex (aka the Plaza). Here is a clip of last year's Miss Gay of the Universe: Last year, it was well attended -- the audience had over 4,000 people from around the Ilocos region. It was an entertaining and enjoyable event. It was professional. It began on time and ended on time. The judges were impartial and objective and the best, competitive candidate won. The cash prizes were substantial. The final question was: "Krinitiko si Santo Papa sa pagsasabing mga bakla ay danger sa lupa katulad ng global warming. Naniniwala ka ba o hindi?" (in response to this story ) The answers were thoughtful and entertaining and a timely discussion on matters important to gay...

Below is a news article that appeared on Inquirer.net on the day before the March. Enjoy! Gays, lesbians to hold ‘Pride March’ in Manila Friday, 04 December 2009 11:59 Abigail Kwok/Inquirer.net MANILA - Members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community are set to hold a colorful parade Saturday to promote equal rights for all genders in the Philippines. The march is also meant to protest the Commission on Election’s decision rejecting the party-list bid of gay and lesbian group “Ang Ladlad”. This year’s theme, “We Dare. We Care,” signifies the LGBT community’s proactive stance in addressing the human rights issues confronting the sector, according to Great Ancheta, head coordinator of Task Force Pride (TFP) Philippines 2009. “We shall no longer be complacent. We dare to remind the Philippine government and the rest of society that we have an obligation under international human rights law to promote and protect the rights and well-being of all people, including L...

ATENEO de Manila University Professor and gay rights activist Danton Remoto filed his certificate of candidacy (CoC) yesterday, December 1, 2009 as senator at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office in Manila. “I filed my candidacy because we need to inaugurate a new moon in Philippine politics. Kailangan natin ‘yung hindi trapo at hindi dinastiyang politika,” He enthused. Remoto who is the chairman of Ang Ladlad, the national organization of Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Filipinos also filed the groups manifestation of intent to participate in 2010 polls. Ang Ladlad was denied Party-list accreditation by the 2nd division on the grounds that gays are immoral which creates major outcry from the LGBT community in the Philippines and abroad. Remoto is running as an independent candidate but he is open to alliances by any of the political parties which will not ignore the more than four million LGBT voters in the country. “I’m running to win but I’m still open to coali...

...before Pride (see poster below)! See you there!