Pride Press Party 2014: LGBT Community Launches 20th Anniversary of Metro Manila Pride March

Wazzup Pilipinas!
In support of the LGBT community, your friendly neighborhood blogger went out of his way to attend a press launch on a Saturday night. I usually reserve my weekends for family but since it's the first time Wazzup Pilipinas was invited by the organizers, curiosity got the best of us to trek to an unfamiliar territory in Quezon City.


Coinciding with the National Coming Out Day - a civil awareness day that recognizes the bravery of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders in the face of hardships in their everyday lives, Task Force Pride (TFP) Philippines, official convener of the annual community-driven Metro Manila Pride March, launched the 2014 Metro Manila Pride Season with the Pride Press Party last October 11 at the Boho Sarapsody Bistro located in Cubao, Quezon City.

I had a bit trouble finding the place since Boho Sarapsody Bistro was a residential house in Ermin Garcia Avenue renovated as a cool crash and hang-out spot. As indicated on their Facebook page: " In our group of friends, there's always one person in the group who has the go-to house where we are all welcome to crash and hangout. We are that house." True enough, the place seems like your everyday friendly neighborhood's house perked up a bit and added with a bar that serves drinks and surprisingly great meals.

Danton Remoto

Jobert Sucaldito

Liza Dino

Michael Pangilinan

Notable personalities attended the event namely ex-beauty queen Liza Dino (fiancee of OPM singer Aiza Seguerra), talk show host and journalist Jobert Sucaldito, singer Michael Pangilinan (Himig Handog 2014 entry "Pare, Mahal Mo Raw Ako") and journalist Danton Remoto.

"Come Out For Love Kasi Pag-Ibig Pa Rin" is this year's theme and TFP Logistics Head Jade Tamboon thinks it is very fitting to have the press launch that day to support National Coming Out Day.

TFP Partnership Head Red Macalalad says they are declaring the entire Metro Manila Pride season a loving and safe space for heterosexual friends and allies to come out and support the Metro Manila Pride March and the organizers.

The Metro Manila Pride season will be three-month long series of activities. An online photo campaign that's interactive and person-centric dubbed as #ComeOutForLove is among the activities built around the theme. The campaign aims to gather support, acceptance and bravery from both the LGBT and non-LGBT communities.

Communications Head Tao Aves shares that the other activities included in the season are the "#ComeOutForLove Exhibit", the "All Families Day", the "Pride Speaks", the "Solidarity Soiree", and the "Pride Fest Street Fair". All of this leads up to the main events, the annual Metro Manila Pride March and the Pride Party to be held on December 6, 2014 at Malate, Manila.

Learn more about them from their website: http://www.metromanilapride.com or their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/metromanilapride

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