2010 Pride March Philippines

The 2010 LGBT Pride March will be observed in the light of HIV AIDS World Awareness Day. The theme "One Love: Stop AIDS, Promote LGBT Human Rights, Keep the Promise" acknowledges the LGBT Community's proactive role in advocating HIV AIDS awareness.

The Manila Pride March gathers LGBT groups and individuals once a year to promote solidarity within and outside the community. It creates a safe space where LGBTs and their supporters can raise pressing issues. By tradition, Manila Pride March coincides with Human Rights week, to affirm the specific rights claims of the LGBT community.

This year’s theme, “One Love”, pushes for unity. The diversity of the LGBT community is apparent, but this diversity comes at the price of political differences as well. However, this year’s March encourages everyone to view those differences as celebratory instead of damaging; that those differences are merely proof of the community’s dynamism. “One Love” also looks at how it is still possible to see points of convergence and collaboration despite differences.

If you are interested in participating you can register in this link:http://taskforcepride.blogspot.com/2010/11/registration-forms.html

For Organizations who have registered on-line:

• Send us a rough estimate of the number of members who will join the march on or before November 27, 2010.
• Send us a digital copy of your organization’s logo (in jpeg format and in high resolution) on or before November 27, 2010.
• Let us know whether your group will have a float and also the size of your float on or before November 27, 2010. You may use cars, pick-up trucks or jeepneys. But due to parking constraints, the use of vehicles bigger than a 6-wheeler truck is not allowed.
• Send a representative of your organization to the pre-Pride March General Assembly, which will be held on November 27, 2010.
• Bring a banner to identify your organization.
• Prepare a chant to make our march fun and festive, but please remember to respect other groups' beliefs, identities and expressions.
• Prepare parade paraphernalia such as rainbow flags, pom-poms, placards and others to make our parade colourful and alive. The use of recyclable materials is highly encouraged. The use of confetti is strongly discouraged by the Quezon City Government to keep the streets clean.
• Use of firecrackers or fireworks is not allowed.
• Do not bring, use or display firearms, explosive devices and other dangerous weapons.
• If there are children below the age of 18 years old joining your group, make sure that there are adults who are available and capable to ensure their safety and security.
• Please arrive early and approach the registration booth. Assembly time is 2:00 p.m. (1400 hrs) at Tomas Morato corner Scout Lozano (near BPI and Starbucks). The stage will be located at front of Zirkoh and Alba Restaurant.


For Individuals who have registered on-line:

• Please arrive early and approach the registration booth. Assembly time is 2:00 p.m. (1400 hrs) at Tomas Morato corner Scout Lozano (near BPI and Starbucks). The stage will be located at front of Zirkoh and Alba Restaurant.
• Please attend the the pre-Pride March General Assembly, which will be held on November 27, 2010.
• Bring your fanciest costume, or a mask in case you are not yet out.
• Do not bring, use or display firearms, explosive devices and other dangerous weapons.
• You will march together with the wonderful Task Force Pride Philippines team.

Details of Pre-Pride March General Assembly:

Venue: Carlos Albert Session Hall, 3rd Floor Legislative Wing, Quezon City Hall (use the center entrance)
Time: 1:00 p.m (1300 hrs)
Attendees: QC Agencies, ASP, representatives from participating organizations, TFP

Parade Route:

1. Start Point: Scout Lozano street corner Tomas Morato Avenue (stage area)
2. Tomas Morato Avenue
3. Left at Eugenio Loped Drive
4. Right at Scout Albano street
5. Left at Panay Avenue
6. Left at Timog Avenue
7. Right at Tomas Morato Avenue
8. End Point: Scout Lozano street corner Tomas Morato Avenue (stage area)

Directions Going to the Parade and Program Venue:

The assembly area and the program will take place along Tomas Morato Avenue near corner of Scout Lozano. Those who will be using public transportation, the following are the recommended directions:

From EDSA MRT Kamuning Station – a) Take a taxi or b) Ride a tricycle with the signage Barangay South Triangle and tell the driver to drop you off at Tomas Morato corner Scout Madrinan, and walk from that point to Scout Lozano.

From EDSA MRT Quezon Avenue Station – Ride a tricycle with the signage Barangay South Triangle and tell the driver to drop you off at Tomas Morato corner Timog, i.e. near the Boy Scouts Rotunda and Imperial Palace Hotel.

From EDSA corner Kamias Road – Ride a jeepney going to Pantranco/Welcome Rotonda and alight at McDonalds near corner Roces Avenue.

From Timog Avenue corner Quezon Avenue – Ride a jeepney going to Project 2 and 3, and alight at Tomas Morato.

(click to enlarge image)

Contact Information:

If you have further queries or to send the necessary information such as list of participants, organization’s logo and information the float, feel free to contact Ryan Silverio, Co-coordinator for Membership and Participation (ryansilverio@gmail.com / taskforcepride@gmail.com / 0927-4783918) or visit http://www.taskforcepride.blogspot.com
See you at the parade!

Yours truly,
Task Force Pride Philippines

2010 Pride March

Task Force Pride 2010 presents One Love

Good day everyone, Task Force Pride will be moving the 2010 LGBT Pride March to Tomas Morato in Quezon City on December 4, 2010. The decision came after the QC Mayor's Office and Social Hygiene Clinic expressed interest to support the LGBT community's annual celebration.

The 2010 LGBT Pride March will be observed in the light of HIV AIDS World Awareness Day. The theme "One Love: Stop AIDS, Promote LGBT Human Rights, Keep the Promise" acknowledges the LGBT Community's proactive role in advocating HIV AIDS awareness.

The Manila Pride March gathers LGBT groups and individuals once a year to promote solidarity within and outside the community. It creates a safe space where LGBTs and their supporters can raise pressing issues. By tradition, Manila Pride March coincides with Human Rights week, to affirm the specific rights claims of the LGBT community.

This year’s theme, “One Love”, pushes for unity. The diversity of the LGBT community is apparent, but this diversity comes at the price of political differences as well. However, this year’s March encourages everyone to view those differences as celebratory instead of damaging; that those differences are merely proof of the community’s dynamism. “One Love” also looks at how it is still possible to see points of convergence and collaboration despite differences.

The schedule for December 4 will be as follows:

2:00 pm - registration

3:00 pm - formation

4:00 pm - 6:00 pm - Pride March

6:00 pm - 9:00 pm - HIV AIDS awareness and Diversity Advocacy

9:00 pm onwards - Solidarity and Pride celebration

For More info, visit http://www.taskforcepride.blogspot.com

For inquiries, please email us at taskforcepride@gmail.com

-TFP

On Long Distance Relationships

A year ago, before leaving this blog, I was in a long distance while studying to finish my degree. Yes! Dagat ang pagitan namin ng partner ko that time. And the only means of communicating is internet and sometimes, cellphone.

To start with is our story, a very long one, but I had to keep it short:

I met him online and he was interested in me and sooner he will be in the Philippines. He is a Filipino too, not a foreigner. Suddenly, I figured out that he has a boyfriend. So I backed off. But we kept our communications open and we met. Little by little I realized that he doesn't have a boyfriend, he has boyfriends, yes PLURAL FORM OF BOYFRIEND. One by one, I knew them: some by names, and others personally. Knowing his status, we still dated because he is very kind and we share the same interests in music and arts. Then we became partners and he swore to me that he will not have other guys other than me. He broke up with his five (5) boyfriends and chose me (5 talaga?!). Then he flew back to where he lives in Europe.

And here are some of the dilemmas I encountered:

First Dilemma is our time zone. in which my time is ahead of his time. Try to think of this, I had to wake up or stay up to 3am just to chat with him because that is his free time. Sometimes I sleep at 6 in the morning. Bongga di ba! Considering that I am a student that time. Well, I was the one adjusting. So consequences are, I had to go to practicum with little sleep or worst, no sleep at all. I had NO time for other things such as blogging and online gaming.

Second Dilemma is "SEX". I had to be contented watching him on webcam jerking and me showing him what I am doing at the same time. Ay mga 'teh! Di ako nagmamalinis. Yes! I am doing it because I had to do it. Sometimes I can't do it because my brother is inside my room and I tried to make him understand that but he seems to be so eager on doing it.

Third Dilemma is emotional drama. Since he is older than me, I had to overcome his strong personality and understand what he is going through. Sometimes he will start the conversation by saying that he is not in a good mood, then, I will eventually lighten up the conversation. Sometimes, I will see him crying on cam because he is not feeling OK and my job is to cheer him up. Being alone in a foreign country is really frustrating.

Fourth Dilemma is miscommunication. Again, since our conversations are via online specifically in YM, we usually get a lot of misunderstanding because he will tend to interpret my messages in a wrong way. Sometimes showing your opinion on a specific subject matter gives him an impression that you are boasting. Even explaining is so hard because you are not talking personally with an eye-to-eye contact. At the end of the day, we tend to have an argument because of miscommunication.

Last Dilemma is infidelity. Worst dilemma of them all, despite the fact that I am trying hard to be so faithful, I didn't know what the person is really doing since I am not beside him. As in F*CK. I tried to use my tactics to know what he is doing and I realized that he is having an affair with other guys online too.

Then he broke up with me by using another alibi and not accepting the fact that he was unfaithful. I never met him again personally because I hate what he did. He had some items with me and my brother gave it to him because I really don't want to see him anymore. :) I blocked him in my FB and YM because I don't want to see him and his pictures with his new partner.

So as for me, Long distance relationship entails a lot of adjustments like being more patient, loyal, and understanding. I am not implying that all stories are like mine, BUT, it is a reality that it can happen to anyone else who are engaging into LDR. To continue my story, I am in a relationship right now and we will be turning one year on November. Well, that's another story.

Am I officially back into blogging? We'll see. But I assure you, I have a lot of stories to tell. :)