Rainbow-hued flags, balloons, and pickets filled the streets of Quezon City on June 22 for the Pride PH Festival 2024, in celebration of Pride Month. The celebration, which was previously named the “Biggest Pride event in Southeast Asia,” saw over 200,000 attendees.
Before the parade started, there were already thousands of people communing around the Quezon City Memorial Circle, where the main stage for the festival is situated. Despite the heat during the day, many joined in on the festivities by visiting the booths set up by various organizations advocating for LGBTQIA+ rights.
Over at the Pride Expo, companies and brands held fun activities where visitors got special merchandise. Meanwhile, the Pride Food and Art Market over at Matalino Street featured shops selling handicrafts, gift items, food, and more.
The march started at around 3 PM, with thousands of LGBTQIA+ members, allies, andsupporters raising their flags and pickets high to amplify the call for equal rights.
Advocates also took part in the programme proper, including Green Peace Philippines, Intersex Philippines, The Psychological Association of the Philippines, Bahaghari, as well as international organizations like The Delegation of the European Union in the Philippines and the Embassy of Spain. These organizations delivered speeches that advocated equal rights,justice, and the passage of the SOGIE bill, among many others.
The event, however, was cut short at around 6 PM due to heavy rains, which “compromised the electrical and sound system” of the stage. With the venue reaching its maximum capacity, many of those who joined the parade also weren’t able to enter the circle to watch the programme.
To this end, the organizers of the festival released an official statement, apologizing for the disruptions and promising to investigate to improve future events.
Amid all the setbacks, the Filipino LGBTQIA+ community showed their strong power in fighting for the equality that people, of all shapes, sizes, and sexual identities, deserve.
