11th International Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR Week at UP)

Help spread the message of compassion, love, respect and equality for all:

To participate or for inquiries, contact STRAP Secretary Ms. Mae Emmanuel Hernandez at (mushy.mae@gmail.com).

BEER Naked: UP Babaylan - Los Banos Launch Party!

Be part of the biggest and hottest LGBT Party in Laguna, only from the best and biggest LGBT organization in LB, UP Babaylan - Los Banos. See you guys there! Woot! Woot! (^_^)

Buy tickets before its all gone! Only a few tickets left. Get them now!

Chok - 0917 807 0187

OUT is IN

An Alternative Classroom Learning Experience on Coming Out
Presented by UP Babaylan
20 Aug 2009, 1-4PM, Palma Hall Rm 410

Speakers:
Eric Manalastas, Professor, Dept of Psychology
Humphrey Gorriceta, HIV/AIDS activist and Manager, Manila Contemporary Gallery
Naomi Fontanos, Member, Society of Transsexual Women of the Philippines
Drei Castillo, Member, UP Babaylan
Dr Benny Lascano, Office of Counseling and Guidance

UP Babaylan - Los Banos Launch Week Street Painting

As part of UP Babaylan - Los Banos' plan to increase buzz and awareness about the new LGBT organization in LB, they conducted a street painting activity. Founding members and officers of UP Babaylan - Los Banos gathered last August 19 in front of the Humanities Building of the LB Campus, where they made a 5 X 8 foot street painting of Out Now. This marked the Organization's first step towards the biggest celebration of diversity and gender equality in UP Los Banos. Congratulations UP Babaylan - Los Banos!

Birth of the Makiling Goddesses

Last August 1 2009, the slopes of Mt. Makiling gave birth to a new milestone in the long struggle for gender equality in the Philippines. UP Babaylan - Los Banos was established.


50 brave individuals from the University of the Philippines - Los Banos came together and went through an orientation, intensive training and a series of modules from Babaylanes, the alumni network of UP Babaylan, and composed the Founding Members and Officers of UP Babaylan - Los Banos.





After the Induction of the Founding officers, the members of UP Babaylan - Los Banos, UP Babaylan, and Babaylanes Inc., celebrated the night away in a true blue Babaylan tradition of free flowing drinks, sumptuous buffet feast and pool party.




Watch out for the UP Babaylan - Los Banos' Launching Activities

August 19
Org Shirts and Street Painting
Humanities Building

Aug 25 - 28
UP Babaylan Exhibit
Humanities Building

Sept 2
BEERNAKED Launch Party
IC's Bar

Sept 7
Symposium
"Girl, Boy, Bakla, Tomboy: Exploring the LBGT Society"
Entom Lecture Hall

Sept 8
Pink Film Fest
Analysis of the LGBT Cinema
Entom Lecture Hall

Sept 15/16
Icebag / Elbi Pie: Stories of UPLB Encounters
Java Avenue

Babaylanes.org NOW ONLINE!

BABAYLANES.ORG

Babaylanes Inc. is the first and, so far, the only LGBT education initiative focusing on developing the capacities of LGBT communities in campuses to enable them to organize effectively, raise the consciousness and awareness of LGBT students, and foster a sense of solidarity and community.

Babaylanes Inc. is the alumni association of the University of the Philippines (UP) Babaylan. Founded in 1992, UP Babaylan is the first officially recognized LGBT students’ organization not only in UP Diliman but in the whole country. Also, it is one of the most established and oldest LGBT organizations in the country. In 2007, the more than a hundred alumni of the organization have committed to expand their advocacy work beyond UP by assisting LGBT students’ organizing initiatives in other schools through Babaylanes Inc.

Babaylanes Inc. aims to share lessons in LGBT student organizing, raise the level of consciousness of LGBT students about their rights and sexuality, and serve as a center for leadership for the various LGBT communities in campuses across the country.

In the light of the lack of organizing initiatives among LGBT students, “Replicating the Babaylan Experience” in other schools is the current flagship program of Babaylanes Inc. Organizing among LGBT students is crucial to the protection of their rights and in providing a social support system by fostering a sense of community.

Goals

• Awareness Raising. Education is crucial in cultivating a responsive and vigilant LGBT community, conscious of their rights and welfare.
• Community Building. The necessary first step in advancing LGBT concerns is bringing together LGBT individuals towards the collective goal of advancing the interests of the community.
• Consolidation of LGBT Communities. Forging links and cooperation between and among LGBT communities is crucial in collectively addressing the community’s issues and concerns.
• Campaign, Advocacy and Mainstreaming of LGBT Concerns. The LGBT community must aggressively address discrimination, bigotry and ignorance by mobilizing support from within the community and from other sectors of society.
• Support for the initiatives of UP Babaylan. Active support is to be extended to the UP Babaylan to strengthen the organization and make more meaningful its organizing, expansion and advocacy efforts.

UP BABAYLAN @ UP Centennial Lantern Parade 2008

Babaylan Alumni Night

Once again the members of the Organization spent a night with their supportive Alumni in a festive party served with free flowing drinks and a buffet of the best dishes that night. A repeat performance of the Organization's previous Androgyny Variety Shows were screened and live dance performance by the members were showcased. Like any other Babaylan gathering, the night will never be complete without the traditional Ligwakan where Juliet was crowned as the Grand Ligwak.

UP Babaylan @ UP Centennial Pride March

More parade photos will be posted soon...

UP Babaylan Statement for UP Centennial Pride March

UP Centennial Pride March

University of the Philippines - Diliman
June 27, 2008

As the University celebrates a century of academic excellence, UP Babaylan celebrates its 16^th year in this ongoing voyage of pride and legacy. A journey punctuated by the struggles and victories in advancing LGBT rights and advocating Gender Equality by the very first and the largest LGBT organization in the academic system of the Philippines. This Legacy of Babaylan produced a lot of firsts in the University’s 100 years of existence.

The first openly gay Chairperson of the University Student Council, Mr. Percival Cendana, is from UP Babaylan. The very resolution that resulted into the establishment and strengthening of the USC Gender Desk is a result of consultations with the members of UP Babaylan, and was championed by Mr. Cendana as well. The first LGBT Student Leadership Congress which involved all LGBT student organizations and NGO’s in the Philippines was organized by UP Babaylan. This congress resulted in the creation of Lagablab, the very organization active in pushing and lobbying for the National Anti-Discrimination Bill. Before this year ends, we will create another milestone. We are pleased to inform everyone that you can look forward to the very first University Gay Games this Centennial year, another gift we offer to UP and its hundred years of Milestones. And even then, we are not done.

Sixteen years. Sixteen very difficult years. Sixteen years of educating Iskolars about Gender Equality and Sensitivity comes with a price. Attempts to stain the reputation of Babaylan came from groups and individuals who don’t share our vision of a progressive society free of injustices based on gender. With each struggle against discrimination and intolerance, Babaylan has come out victorious, and this we owe to the Iskolars who valiantly took the challenge Babaylan offered to them. These Iskolars, who are now our Alumni and Members, continue to be beacons for those struggling against the weight of gender-based injustices inside and out of University.

The struggle towards Gender Equality does not end here. This goes on like a long uncertain road, and we choose to blaze the trail.

Fellow Iskolars para sa Bayan, we invite you to join us as we call for Gender Equality and the end of Discrimination based on genders.

Be one with us, as we celebrate 100 years of Academic Excellence...
Be one with us, as we celebrate 16 years of advancing Gender Equality...
Be one with us, as we celebrate a day of Pride and Legacy...
Be one with us, Iskolars para sa Bayan....
Be one with us.

One Pride. One Legacy.

UP BABAYLAN

A Century Towards Gender Equality.