by Rafaella Suplico

On a radiant Friday afternoon, the vibrant hues of the rainbow intersect with the deep blue of the sky. The crowd, placards in one hand and colorful flags in the other, prepares to raise their voices in a unified cheer of solidarity. The marchers stand tall with smiles on their faces, rainbow paint on their skin, and a hope for the future—a hope of a future filled with the liberation to love freely.

In great anticipation and chatter, the color of One Big Pride 2024 graced the Ateneo grounds with this year’s theme ‘Love and Liberation.’ The ringing clamor of building a more inclusive Ateneo community was welcomed by the Sanggunian: Commission on Gender Equality, alongside the University Gender Hub and the University Gender and Development Office. 

This month-long celebration of love kicked off with the One Big Pride March that spotlights the spirit of protest, a celebration of the very essence of Pride. The Senior High Building was the meeting point for the marchers to gather and prepare for the trek to Gonzaga Hall. As the sun went down, the crowd’s anticipation reached a fever pitch during the evening concert, which highlighted the talents of emerging queer icons such as Myx Chanel, Your Tita Baby, and Jolly V. After all, One Big Pride (OBP), in all its glory, is a platform—a safe space for belongingness—to be who you are, in a community that accepts, in a community that empowers.

“Karapatan ng Kabaklaan – Ipaglaban”

Among the many lines in the chant that echoed across the Ateneo campus during the march, ‘Karapatan ng Kabaklaan! Ipaglaban!’ resonated deeply with the essence of Pride, embodying the right to love and express oneself freely without constraints or boundaries

 “Pride is a way to protest the rights to our own identities. This march allows me to showcase my own sexuality, along with others who have been through the same experiences I’ve had as a queer person.” These words are from a Pride March goer, Lyn*, who believes that this event is a way for them to amplify their voice and let it be heard. Lyn added, “At the march itself, I felt like I was able to express my identity without the fear of being judged.”

While Pride is often known to be a celebration, there still must be a recognition that the society we reside in still has a lot of inequalities, and that the sense of determination to fight for continues to thrive.

The fight for the right to love was freely ignited by this OBP. Evan Gelilio, a member of the Sandigan Lakambini, remarked, “Para sa akin, I’ve felt the efforts that the school has made to create safe spaces for the LGBTQIA+ community, but that’s not the case for everyone, especially when we go outside of school.” He underscored the importance of the safe spaces agreement and the use of “Mx.” as a respectful acknowledgment of individual identities within the school.

Dignified with vibrant colors and witty placards, the march goers are there for a purpose—a purpose to protest, to be heard and seen, in solidarity striving for a community that is open-minded. While Pride is certainly a celebration, we must also acknowledge that we live in a society still marked by significant inequalities. Yet, for the marchers like Lyn and Evan, the determination to fight for change continues to shine brightly. With a smile on their face, Lyn said, “Sabi nga nila eh: makibeki, at ‘wag mashokot! Always remember that the fight for our rights is never one we face alone.”

“Go Ateneo! One Big Pride!”

From the first One Big Pride celebrated three years ago, has the Ateneo proved to truly be a space of love and liberation? 

The Pride march and the myriad of events that happen within the month of October sends an important message to the students, employees, and staff of the Ateneo: that the institution recognizes and accepts who they are. “One Big Pride is a really big contribution to get that message across to all the members of the school, including people outside of the university.” Kira*, a queer member of the ASHS faculty says.  “For some, it might seem controversial when people come across that a Catholic institution celebrates pride, so the school making its stance with regards to the Queer community is vital.“

They also added that the inclusivity of Pride in the Catholic institution was concretized with a welcoming mass by the Ateneo Department of Theology as a sign of the Catholic’s faith commitment to gender justice, table fellowship, and radical inclusion–that there is a safe space for all in the Church.

With celebration comes education. Beyond initiatives aside from the March, the school also offered educational discussions within the campus such as the ‘HIV Awareness 101,’ and ‘Revisiting Sex Education,’ seminars that aimed to bring light to these topics through an empowering lens. “So, when the University says they practice Cura Personalis, or the Care for All Persons, it’s true—it’s embodied in the celebration of pride for everyone,” Kira remarks.

“Love and Liberation! No Discrimination!”

The invitation for this celebration is one that is inclusive to all persons who want to honor the liberation of loving freely.

 “If we spell out LGBTQIA+, we can sometimes say that A represents allies, the people who want to recognize and celebrate with their peers who are queer. In that understanding, we can say that pride is not only for members of the queer community, but is for all,” Kira adds. They emphasize that the hope for the SOGIE community is for everyone to be an ally. Alongside the marchers carrying these one-liner posters that have more meaning than what meets the eye are also supporters who are there to support the same cause: equality and acceptance for each human being.

As the people proudly profess these words of protest and celebration, the community yearns for the time when everyone can proudly affirm their own identity, without the fear of judgment or rejection. A time when love is celebrated in all its forms, and each person can walk their path authentically. “A celebration of pride doesn’t have to be loud, and that’s okay—it can mean listening to Chappell Roan in your room or secretly owning a pride pin under all the other clothes. Just know that when the time is right, the community is ready to embrace you.”

For some, this march may appear as just another gathering of voices raised in celebration, but beneath the colored banners and spirited chants lies a long-lasting chorus of history, struggle, and hope. Each voice serves as a testament to the ongoing fight for acceptance, equality, and love in all its forms. As we march, we carry not only our own stories but also the legacies of those who bravely faced adversity to bring light for one purpose: to love freely just as anyone else can.

Names marked with an asterisk (*) are pseudonyms and were used in place for interviewees who opted to remain anonymous.