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'BUDJANG': The blossoming of LGBT in a Muslim Barangay
written by Noemi Santos Abasolo, RN
“BUDJANG”: The blossoming of LGBT in a Muslim Barangay is the official documentary film of Mujer LGBT Organization Incorporated in the recently concluded Southeast Asian Queer Cultural Festival (SEAQCF) 2021 held on February 13 to March 13, 2021. The film was produced by Alvin Toni Gee Fernandez and was directed by Rhadem Camlian Morados.
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“Budjang” came from the Samal word meaning “Lady”. Budjang tells us the story of the blossoming of LGBT people in a conservative Muslim barangay (community) in Mindanao, and highlights their customs.
“When we conceptualized the documentary film together with the ASEAN SOGIE CAUCUS and film activist Rhadem Morados, we felt that it’s time for us to mainstream the life of every person with diverse SOGIE,” shared Fernandez.
While this community has exercised tolerance towards LGBT people, there is still much that needs to be done in order to achieve acceptance and inclusion. Through education about human rights and SOGIE, the community has the potential of becoming a model barangay for tolerance and acceptance of LGBT people in Mindanao.
Official poster of "Budjang". Produced by Mujer LGBT+Inc.
The documentary film was launched on March 19, 2021 at the KCC Mall de Zamboanga Cinema. In collaboration with Wilfredo Aporongao, Gender and Development Head in the City of Zamboanga the documentary was able to have a private screening in the cinema in celebration of Women’s Month.
The SEAQCF is a virtual festival that reclaims, reimagines, and insists on LGBTQ belonging in the region. It features over 30 films, performances, and events by more than 40 queer activities and artists from all over Southeast Asia. Due to the pandemic, the festival was held on various online platforms. The SEAQFC is organized by ASEAN SOGIE Caucus (ASC) with the support of Voice Global, a network of human rights activists from Southeast Asia. The ASC works for the inclusion of Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Gender Expression, and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) in the mandate of human rights duty bearers in the ASEAN region.
