Take Pride Concert 2022: University celebrates Pride Month, welcomes newly-formed LGBTQIA+ Organization

The University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP), Cagayan de Oro Campus celebrated its first LGBTQIA+ themed concert, Take Pride Concert 2022, prompting a more diverse and socially inclusive community in progress.

Held last July 22,2022, the 400-person event was one of the Federation of Accredited Extracurricular Student Organisation (FAESO), together with Andam Higala’s projects of Take Pride with a three-month duration.

Take Pride is a celebration that gathers the LGBTQIA+ and Allies of the community. This will serve as an avenue to promulgate the presence of a gender-diverse and inclusive organization that helps especially the young queer students in the university. Activities included in this project are; Launching and Pagsabot Series 1: SOGIESC; Pagsabot Series 2: LGBTQIA+ Rights; Organization Development Training; and Pride Walk and Take Pride Concert.

Performers from the university showcased their talents at the event namely, the Playmakers, Clique Point, Sanghimig Chorale, Shania Obidos, Charry Dequinion, Bob Alberca, Sheendale Franco, and WildKard as guest performers headed by Mr. Jay Salaga.

Along side with this, the purpose of this event introduced the creation of a new student organization, officially named USTP Balangaw, that promotes gender, diversity, and social inclusion inside the university. As a soon-to-be-organization, headed by the elected officers namely Eji Quiem, Laster Reyes, and Anthon Jaudian, the President, Vice President, and Secretary respectively.

As the organization is currently on the accreditation process, the founding members hope by carrying out its programs and activities in accordance with its defined plans for A.Y. 2022-2023 to flourish and broaden its purpose to the community, in particular by contributing to the welfare of all Trailblazers inside the USTP-CdO.

by Vic Anthon T. Jaudian