𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵
𝐂𝐀𝐏𝐈𝐓𝐎𝐋 𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒 𝐔𝐏 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐄 𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐇 𝐀𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐂 𝐄𝐎 𝐒𝐈𝐆𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆
The Cebu Provincial Capitol radiated in vibrant rainbow hues as Gov. Pam Baricuatro led the ceremonial lighting of Pride colors outside the Capitol building, marking the conclusion of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Summit 2026 and officially welcoming Pride Month.
The celebration followed the historic signing of Executive Order (EO) No. 29, also known as the “Right to Care” policy. The landmark measure recognizes designated care partnerships, ensuring that Cebuanos are not left alone during illnesses, emergencies, or medical crises simply because their caregivers do not fall under traditional or legally recognized definitions of family. (See separate post about EO details)
In her address, Gov. Baricuatro reaffirmed her commitment to building an inclusive Cebu where all residents are treated with dignity and respect.
“Every Cebuano deserves respect. Every Cebuano deserves dignity. And every Cebuano deserves to feel that they belong,” Gov. Baricuatro said.
To kick off Pride Month, various Cebu-based organizations and local government units gathered for the third edition of the DEI Summit at the Capitol Social Hall on June 1. The event was organized through a collaboration among the Cebu Provincial Government, through the Cebu Provincial Youth Development Office (CPYDO), the Cebu City Anti-Discrimination Commission, Junior Chamber International (JCI) Cebu Lakan Bahaghari, and One Pride Mandaue. Also in attendance were Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival and Miss Charm Philippines 2026 Apriel Smith.
EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS
More than 100 participants attended the summit to discuss Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC), legislative protections, and the broader social impact of DEI initiatives.
Mikee Pepito-Empaces, youth focal person for the CPYDO, welcomed participants and expressed gratitude for the strong turnout. She said it reflected growing community support for inclusion and equality.
The educational sessions covered topics ranging from foundational concepts to institutional action. Advocate Chase Go opened the discussions with “Understanding SOGIESC: Foundations of Gender and Sexual Diversity,” where he explained the distinctions between biological sex and gender identity while addressing the stigma traditionally faced by members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Building on this foundation, Joshua “Ozzy” Bacal of the Philippine Financial & Inter-Industry Pride (PFIP) explored the economic value of inclusion through his presentation, “Foundations of DEI and Why It Matters for Social and Economic Progress.” Bacal highlighted how diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) policies contribute to organizational success by unlocking overlooked talent pools. He also pointed out the importance of institutional investment through inclusive school policies, anti-discrimination legislation, and grassroots support.
The summit examined the evolving legal landscape for LGBTQ+ rights.
Atty. Lorie Archival led the session “SOGIESC Rights in Action: From Local Ordinances to National Law,” providing participants with an overview of existing legal frameworks and local protections designed to combat discrimination.
Meanwhile, Dr. Christian Emmanuel Enriquez, president of Mister Gay Sugbo, engaged participants in an interactive activity during his session, “Creating Safe and Inclusive Spaces at Home, in School, in the Workplace, and in the Community.” The activity showed that a majority of participants had, at some point, felt unsafe because of their gender identity, underscoring the continuing need for systemic change.
For many young attendees, the summit served as a meaningful platform to reflect on the progress and challenges of queer advocacy in Cebu.
Errika Mangyao Arsua, a 19-year-old returning participant, said he observed a significant increase in the event’s visibility and reach compared with previous years. She said the gathering reinforced the movement’s core mission, emphasizing that Pride Month is not merely a celebration but an ongoing advocacy for the LGBTQIA+ community.
First-time participants also contributed intersectional perspectives to the discussion.
Carlos Yan, a 21-year-old student from UP Cebu, described the summit as an opportunity to engage with leaders working to create safer and more inclusive spaces, while Benjamin Angelo Daroy, 19, said that gender liberation is closely linked to broader social equality. He called for greater unity within the LGBTQIA+ community, adding that internal divisions can hinder efforts toward collective liberation. /𝑪𝑨𝑷𝑰𝑻𝑶𝑳 𝑷𝑰𝑶 𝒗𝒊𝒂 𝑪𝑵𝑼 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒔 𝑪𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒏 𝑱𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝑳. 𝑴𝒂𝒏𝒍𝒆𝒈𝒓𝒐, 𝑲𝒂𝒓𝒐𝒍 𝑱𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒑 𝑻𝒂𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒆, 𝑨𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒏 𝑹𝒖𝒔 𝑻𝒂𝒑𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒂𝒏, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑨𝒕𝒂𝒔𝒉𝒂 𝑲𝒆𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒏 𝑷. 𝑰𝒕𝒐𝒍
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