Respondents also expressed that they feel a sense of community given the number of community activities and organizations focused on equality and inclusion.

Aside from issues directly related to gender, economic issues such as inflation and wages, and even foreign policy (i.e. Jenifer Laude and VFA), were brought up by Bahaghari as those that came up in their report.

MJ Castequista now tackles the suggestions of the themes based from community insights.

A community workshop will now be held where participants are able to engage in sharings and discussions of different community experiences.

Community organizations and advocates gather together for the workshop segment.

Groups are beginning to conclude their workshops and prepare to share the insights they’ve gathered.

Jia from PANTAY and Rianne from PUP Kasarinlan starts the sharing. They stated that there are still discrimination from professors and students despite the leniency of the policies of their university. Rianne also highlights that transgender students are still being policed.

Jia highlights that they hopeful towards the elections as there are progressive senators that entered the top 12 as well as Akbayan who gained 3 seats in the House of Representatives. However, remain to be vigilant in the passing of SOGIESC Bill.

Group 1 theme suggestion for the MMPride: "Ang kulay ng liwanag" which suggests a hopeful vibe after the 2025 election

For Group 2, they discussed various struggles of the LGBTQ community, both inside and outside. An example of this would be transphobia within the community itself and the struggles of queer people in schools and workplaces (i.e. employee welfare in BPOs)

They also called for the inclusion of trans women in the Magna Carta for Women. Likewise, the group also believes that there is opportunity for queer people to participate in decision-making within government.

They also laid out the different activities nationwide for pride month.

Group 3, represented by Reyna from Bahaghari and Ave from Wika presents the challenges of the community namely; lack of acceptance, domestic funding for health, inclusive school movement.

Group 3 also advocate for call of child care, this is in line with the growing volume of cases of HIV from the youth. They also raised the concern of the 30% of overvotes this 2025. She added that we should delve into the discussion of elections. Lastly, they also raised the entry-level salary wage increase.

The group’s suggestion for the theme is “ Resbak pa rin: Call for Pride, Fight for all” highlighting that there is hope in “liwanag” but the community are still ready to stand up against the issues.

They concluded their sharing by tackling about education discussion about SOGIE, right conduct and proper dictation within the community, focusing on what Pride is all about, and the SONA Participation since for the past addresses, the community hasn’t been mentioned as the activities the community should prioritize.

The sharing now goes to the participants attending via Zoom. Group 4 emphasizes the need for inclusive and comprehensive language within the community (e.g. Not leaving out the A in LGBTQIA+). This inclusivity should also be observed in drafting relevant laws. One of the participants from the group also said that there needs to be more promotion for community pride activities.

When it comes to elections, the group is disappointed but not surprised. However, they also remain hopeful given that some candidates, both progressive and those who could be potential allies, gained seats in the legislature.

"Sana di makalimutan ang essence ng kulay ng pride, ng community, na cinecelebrate natin, na ipinaglalaban natin," Lia, a member of the group, said when talking about the theme recommendations.

In line with inclusivity, the group also calls for pride events and activities to be inclusive to PWDs such as the establishment of spaces for the deaf community.

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So nice to meet everyone at the meetup today!

MJ Catequista reminds the attendees by reminding that Pride should be a year-long. He added that Rappler with strive to have regular community meetings

Neon Hernandez of MMP encourages the public to send in donations to further support the organization and the different activities they have to offer to further amplify the pride advocacy.