ILGA Representatives Meet with Elected Officials of the Philippine's Government

In Quezon City yesterday, Rosanna Flamer-Caldera the ILGA Co-Secretary General and Patricia Curzi, the ILGA Women’s Project Officer had the unique opportunity to meet with lawmakers of the Philippine Congress.

Earlier, at a flag raising ceremony at City hall, the presence of the delegation from ILGA was welcomed by the Mayor and city councilors to Quezon City. The Mayor Sonny Belmonte met with the ILGA delegation and members of CLIC, Progay and Cebu Pride. “We encourage all sexual orientations and gender identities here in Quezon City. In fact we host and finance umbrella NGO’s that work on gender related issues,” he said.

“We are honoured that you have taken the time to meet with us sir, and we congratulate you and your city on your open stance on LGBT issues and your support of gender programs as part of your understanding of LGBT issues here,” said the Co-Secretary General.

Later at a meeting with representatives Lisa Maza, Satur Ocampo, Josefina Joson and Teofisto Guingona III from the Philippines Congress, ILGA and representatives from the Philippine organizations stressed the need to recognize LGBT and their issues in the Philippines. CLIC’s (Can’t Live In the Closet) research on ‘Domestic Violence in same sex relationships’ was also discussed and enthusiastically received by the Congresspersons.

The representatives were also made aware of the ILGA Asia Regional Conference, which will take place in Cebu, the Philippines in June 2005 and were invited to speak at the conference. They unanimously pledged their support for the conference as well. “We were all encouraged by the response these people had to our requests and their willingness to further LGBT causes within the Government. I was also so heartened by the fact that we were able to actually meet with Government officials for informal meetings. A thing that is unheard of in many countries in Asia and elsewhere,” Rosanna said.

“I was pleasantly surprised to note how many initiatives are taken by organizations here in the Philippines on gender-related issues and how well they are received by Government representatives who take the time to meet with them, discuss and give their commitment to these initiatives,” observed Patricia Curzi. Congresswoman Lisa Maza, and Congressman Satur Ocampo later, presented the International Lesbian and Gay Association to the Philippine Congress at the House of Representatives.

“It was a great honour for ILGA to be recognized by the government of the Philippines. I am sure it was the first time an LGBT organization was made welcome by the House and Speaker. Amidst a sea of over a 1500 spectators and over 200 representatives of the Congress, the International Lesbian and Gay Association was asked to be recognized and our group was asked to stand and wave to the crowd to acknowledge who were. We were all very moved and very proud,” said Rosanna.