UPOU faculty, staff, and students celebrate Pride Month through “Lahad, Layag, Ladlad: Sining bilang Daluyan ng Makulay na Kwento ng mga LGBTQIA+” at the UPOU Mega Learning Hub, UPOU-DICT Building, Diliman, Quezon City on 19 June 2025.
The University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU), through the Office of Gender Concerns (OGC), held the “Lahad, Layag, Ladlad: Sining bilang Daluyan ng Makulay na Kwento ng mga LGBTQIA+” at the UPOU Mega Learning Hub, UPOU-DICT Building, Diliman, Quezon City on 19 June 2025.
The event intended to bring together faculty, staff, and students in celebration of Pride Month to advocate for equality and inclusion.
OGC Director Maria Lourdes Jarabe warmly welcomed the participants.
OGC Director Maria Lourdes Jarabe warmly welcomed the participants with her message, emphasizing the importance of celebrating the diverse identities in the University. She expressed optimism for upcoming events that will engage and empower learners across locations and also emphasized that part of UPOU’s commitment is to advocate for inclusion and equality. “As scholars, we are called to do our part for the community,” she stated. Dir. Jarabe encouraged the students to share thoughts and ideas to foster interactions, and highlighted that beyond the celebration is the advocacy.
UPOU students showcased artistic performances during the event.
Art took the stage during the event with performances from UPOU students that showcased colors of LGBTQIA+. Lara Flynn Gonzaga opened the program with a heartfelt presentation of her work “Ang Litanya ng Liwanag”, a poem inspired by love and reclamation, shaped by someone she loved dearly as well as her personal upbringing. Elisha Montealegre performed a song reflecting on longing and memory, while her original piece “Seryoso” challenged societal attitudes toward relationships and commitment. Elison Exconde & Gigi Constantino performed their renditions of “Raise Your Flag” and “Born This Way,” two anthems of pride and resilience.
John Lloyd Avenido followed with his piece “Isa’t Dalawampu’t Siyam” which explores themes of love and rage. In his poem, the line “Naririnig nga ba ang pagmamahal sa sigawan?” blend imagery of fire and water to express internal and external struggles. Mark John Paul Cabling (Senpai Mark) also performed songs for those in love, including a Tagalog rendition of “Grow Old With You” (“Kasama Kang Tumanda”) and “Ako’y Sayo”.
The event included an open mic segment which gave students like Angela Joaquino, Seanel Cabantog, Sharifah Rayela, and Mnyw Zamora the platform to showcase their musical talents, poetry, and stories of identity, strength, and love.
Office of Student Affairs (OSA) Director Roda Tajon, in her closing remarks, expressed gratitude to everyone who contributed to the event’s success and reiterated UPOU’s continued efforts to create safe and inclusive spaces for all students.
“Lahad, Layag, Ladlad!” is an affirmation of UPOU’s dedication to advocacy, awareness, and art as tools for inclusion. As Pride Month continues, so does the university’s mission to uphold equality and foster engagement among its diverse learning community.
Written by Marinela Hernandez | Edited by Primo G. Garcia and Anna Cañas-Llamas and Office of Gender Concerns| Photos by Anthea Faye Peredo
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