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ACC’s GAD Office Celebrates Pride Month: Promoting Inclusivity and Empowering Voices

by Rogie C. Beringuel

Joining the International Pride Month Celebration 2024, Abuyog Community College (ACC) Gender and Development (GAD) office, with its goal to promote awareness and celebrate gender diversity and inclusivity, hosted a celebration on the light to π‹π’πŸπ­ π„π―πžπ«π² π•π¨π’πœπž, featuring Hair and Makeup Artistry workshops on June 21 at ACC gymnasium.

The said event was spearheaded by Dr. Junielito Espanto, GAD coordinator and was graced by the resident local hairstylist-trainor, Ms. Jessa Manaog, makeup artist-trainor, Mr. Ritche R. Deloria, and Mr. Ric P. Jervoso, who also served as workshop facilitators.

Additionally, participants of the program included students from Gender and Society class, BSIT 2A, BSIT 2B, BSIT 2C, and from Trains and Issues class, BSED major in Social Sciences.

In the stead of Dr. Clemelle L. Montallana, college president, Dr. Espanto, in a welcome remark, mentioned how the event is a milestone for the GAD office to conduct the first-ever Pride Month Celebration.

He also shared the importance of the said celebration not only for those part of the LGBTQ+ community but for all genders.

“𝐼𝑑’𝑠 π‘›π‘œπ‘‘ π‘œπ‘›π‘™π‘¦ π‘“π‘œπ‘Ÿ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ 𝐿𝐺𝐡𝑇𝑄 π‘π‘œπ‘šπ‘šπ‘’π‘›π‘–π‘‘π‘¦ π‘œπ‘“ 𝐴𝐢𝐢, π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ 𝑠𝑑𝑒𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑠, π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘“π‘Žπ‘π‘’π‘™π‘‘π‘¦ π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘ π‘‘π‘Žπ‘“π‘“ 𝑏𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑑 𝑖𝑠 π‘Ž π‘π‘’π‘™π‘’π‘π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘‘π‘–π‘œπ‘› π‘œπ‘“ π‘’π‘šπ‘π‘œπ‘€π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘šπ‘’π‘›π‘‘, π‘Ž π‘π‘’π‘™π‘’π‘π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘‘π‘–π‘œπ‘› π‘œπ‘“ π‘–π‘›π‘π‘™π‘’π‘ π‘–π‘œπ‘›β€”π‘šπ‘’π‘Žπ‘›π‘–π‘›π‘” π‘‘π‘œ π‘ π‘Žπ‘¦ π‘›π‘œπ‘π‘œπ‘‘π‘¦ 𝑖𝑠 𝑙𝑒𝑓𝑑, π‘’π‘£π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘¦π‘π‘œπ‘‘π‘¦ 𝑖𝑠 π‘€π‘’π‘™π‘π‘œπ‘šπ‘’.”

Meanwhile, Mr. Lito V. Topia, in his keynote speech, emphasized how important it is to really lift up voices. He said, “π‘‡π‘œ 𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑑 π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘£π‘œπ‘–π‘π‘’ π‘œπ‘“ π‘Žπ‘› π‘–π‘›π‘‘π‘–π‘£π‘–π‘‘π‘’π‘Žπ‘™ 𝑖𝑠 π‘›π‘œπ‘‘ π‘œπ‘›π‘™π‘¦ π‘’π‘›π‘π‘œπ‘’π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘”π‘–π‘›π‘” 𝑏𝑒𝑑 π‘Žπ‘™π‘ π‘œ 𝑙𝑒𝑑𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 β„Žπ‘–π‘š out, 𝑏𝑒𝑑 π‘›π‘œπ‘‘ π‘œπ‘›π‘™π‘¦ 𝑙𝑒𝑑𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 β„Žπ‘–π‘š π‘œπ‘’π‘‘ 𝑏𝑦 β„Žπ‘–π‘šπ‘ π‘’π‘™π‘“ π‘Žπ‘™π‘œπ‘›π‘’ 𝑏𝑒𝑑 𝑙𝑒𝑑𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 β„Žπ‘–π‘š π‘œπ‘’π‘‘ π‘‘π‘œπ‘”π‘’π‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘€π‘–π‘‘β„Ž π‘¦π‘œπ‘’.”

Moreover, in an interview with some of the participants regarding the importance of lifting every voice, Ms. Rose Mie Novio BSED 2A shared, “𝐼𝑑 𝑖𝑠 π‘–π‘šπ‘π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘‘π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘‘π‘œ 𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑑 π‘’π‘£π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘¦ π‘£π‘œπ‘–π‘π‘’ π‘“π‘œπ‘Ÿ π‘’π‘£π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘¦π‘œπ‘›π‘’ π‘‘π‘œ 𝑏𝑒 β„Žπ‘’π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘‘ π‘™π‘Žπ‘π‘– π‘›π‘Ž 𝑖𝑑 π‘Žπ‘‘π‘’π‘› π‘šπ‘”π‘Ž 𝐿𝐺𝐡𝑇𝑄 π‘˜π‘Žπ‘¦ π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘’ π‘π‘Žπ‘šπ‘Žπ‘› β„Žπ‘–π‘Ÿπ‘Ž π‘ π‘’π‘”π‘Žπ‘‘ π‘˜π‘Ž π‘Žπ‘π‘π‘’π‘π‘‘π‘’π‘‘. π‘†π‘œ π‘šπ‘Žπ‘  π‘–π‘šπ‘π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘‘π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘π‘’ π‘›π‘Ž π‘π‘Žπ‘šπ‘Žπ‘‘π‘–π‘Žπ‘› 𝑔𝑒𝑑 π‘›π‘Žπ‘‘π‘’π‘› β„Žπ‘–π‘Ÿπ‘Ž, π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘’ π‘›π‘Žπ‘‘π‘’π‘› β„Žπ‘–π‘Ÿπ‘Ž 𝑖-𝑗𝑒𝑔𝑑𝑒 π‘˜π‘Žπ‘¦ π‘ π‘’π‘”π‘Žπ‘‘ β„Žπ‘Ž π‘Žπ‘‘π‘’π‘› π‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘¦’π‘Ÿπ‘’ π‘Žπ‘™π‘ π‘œ β„Žπ‘’π‘šπ‘Žπ‘› 𝑏𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑔 π‘€β„Žπ‘œ 𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑑 π‘‘π‘œ 𝑏𝑒 β„Žπ‘’π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘‘ π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘‘π‘œ 𝑏𝑒 β„Žπ‘’π‘™π‘π‘’π‘‘.”

Indeed, the event became an avenue that promotes and celebrates diversity and inclusivity, lifting every voice to be heard and enhance skills in Hairstyling and Makeup Artistry. In his closing remarks, Dr. Espanto expressed his gratitude to all those who took part and made the event possible.