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‘We need hope now more than ever, because there are real harms that continue to happen when protections are not provided’
Hi there!
Yesterday, June 24, was a quiet morning for the Rappler newsroom in Pasig City that suddenly received a shot of pink upon the arrivals of Akbayan Representative Perci Cendaña and Bataan 1st District Representative Geraldine Roman.
Both wore pink for our “Be The Good” episode, where I was to interview them about the fate of the SOGIESC equality bill – legislation that would protect all people of diverse sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sexual characteristics (SOGIESC) from discrimination and harassment.
Versions of the bill were approved at the committee level in both the House of Representatives and Senate, in the 19th Congress. But they were never discussed at the plenary level. In the Senate, the bill was reverted to the committee on rules, while at the House, the bill remained tagged as “unfinished business.”
Despite the failure to pass this over two-decade old anti-discrimination bill, the mood of my one-hour discussion with Cendaña and Roman was one of hope and optimism. Between the 19th Congress and 20th Congress, an unexpected development is injecting energy into the movement for SOGIESC equality: the 2025 election results.
“Maraming politiko sa House ang nagulat (Many politicians in the House were surprised),” said Roman.
“Mayroon palang tinig na nagkakaisa na nagmumula sa kabataan, na tila nagsasabi (There is one voice coming from the youth that seems to say), ‘We want change. We are not in agreement with many things that are happening in society as a whole…and we want change. And this voice cannot be ignored,” she continued.
More than wanting change, a key ingredient to passing progressive laws is finding allies and mobilizing together.
Cendaña, whose party, Akbayan, topped the party-list election, draws lessons, and hope, from the two-decade journey of the reproductive health bill toward legislation. He spoke of the need to widen the advocacy base for the SOGIESC equality bill in the same way women’s rights groups reached out to other social movements like labor unions and health advocates.
“In the case of SOGIESC equality bill, there’s a very promising base among young progressives whether they’re in school or in communities, or in the House. And especially because of the results of the election, nakita natin na may ganoong power (saw see that such power exists),” he said.
It’s this newly-wielded power that gives Roman and Cendaña hope for the SOGIESC equality bill in the 20th Congress, where a new set of lawmakers will convene to pass laws that should reflect the aspirations of the Filipino people.
And the Filipino people are not one homogenous bloc, but diverse – coming from different walks of life, perspectives, beliefs, and backgrounds. What I took to heart from the interview was the need to reach out to as many different groups as possible, to find common ground and work together toward a shared vision. The “Be The Good” interview airs on Friday, June 27, at 7 pm. Watch it here.
I realized this lesson can apply to all advocacies, including press freedom and helping newsrooms survive. As I said my goodbyes to our two guests, I felt a surge of hope and energy that there is much still to be done, and we should get cracking on it.
We need hope now more than ever, because there are real harms that continue to happen when protections are not provided. On Monday, former journalist and human rights activist Ali Macalintal, who was also a trans woman, was shot dead in General Santos City.
Her murder shows how impunity continues to thrive, throttling our collective progress as a nation.
The Pride Month of June may be coming to an end, but the fight to secure freedoms and protections for all Filipinos continues.
What’s cooking?
Our Front Page Hot Take question this week is about the impact on the Philippines of the Israel-Iran conflict. What do you think?
[Newsstand] Four types of senator-judges
Veteran journalist John Nery analyzes the behavior and words of senators in terms of their appetite for trying Vice President Sara Duterte in an impeachment court.
– Rappler.com
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