Day: June 23, 2025

Manila: Martha de la Paz, an outspoken trans woman, has shared her journey of embracing her identity and advocating for the rights of the trans community. She described her initial coming out as a gay boy during high school before fully recognizing her womanhood in college, emphasizing the importance of education, employment, and support from family and friends in her journey to self-expression and a career in public health. According to UN Women, de la Paz began her professional career at the Philippine Department of Health, where she was welcomed and supported by her colleagues. Her experiences there helped her

Quezon City: If we are serious about achieving gender equality, we must recognize all women in their diverse and intersecting identities. You can’t talk about peace and security if queer women and gender minorities are excluded. Gandeza’s advocacy is rooted in his own experience living with what he describes as the benevolent tolerance of queer identities in the Philippines, where acceptance is often conditional. There’s this unspoken rule that you’re okay until someone finds you offensive. And that shapes how queer people move through society, he explains. According to UN Women, working within the National Action Plan on Women, Peace

Zamboanga City: Growing up amid the tumultuous backdrop of Zamboanga City and Basilan Province in Mindanao, Rhadem Musawah witnessed the profound struggles faced by marginalized communities during decades of armed conflict and displacement. “We grew up with bombings, corruption, and human rights violations all around us,” Musawah reflects. “But even within that, LGBTIQ+ people were often the most vulnerable, unseen, and unheard in humanitarian responses and peace processes.” According to UN Women, Musawah’s advocacy today spans the entire nation, though his formative experiences in Mindanao continue to shape his mission. As a queer Muslim advocate, he is committed to supporting

Manila: As a cisgender woman leading within the LGBTIQA+ community, Xyza Ragunjan approaches her role with deep respect and a commitment to continuous learning. Ragunjan, a professional dance artist for nearly 15 years, is at the helm of the House of Mizrahi in the Philippines, fostering a burgeoning ballroom scene that intertwines self-expression, community, and activism. According to UN Women, Ragunjan serves as a mentor and guide for many within the community, particularly young queer and trans creatives, as they explore their identities, career paths, and aspirations. The House of Mizrahi Philippines has become a vital space for these individuals,

Dumaguete: Shamah Silvosa Bulangis, a dedicated activist based in Dumaguete, has been at the forefront of advocating for queer feminism and community leadership in humanitarian work in the Philippines. Bulangis began her journey as an activist at the young age of 14 in Surigao, driven by her desire to challenge the conservative and religious beliefs she was raised with, particularly those condemning the LGBTQ+ community. According to UN Women, Bulangis has been instrumental in creating inclusive spaces for lesbian, bisexual, and queer (LBQ) women and girls through her leadership roles in the Visayas LBQ Network and Girls Congress. These platforms