Written by Joven Jacolbia

Queer media personalities starred in the final event of UPM Pride 2021 titled “Rainbow Speaks: Queer Storytelling and Representation in Filipino Media” hosted by Bahagsari UP Manila with the Organizational Communication Society and the Public Relations Student Society of the Philippines-UP Manila last May 19, 2012. ‘The Boy Foretold By The Stars’ director Dolly Dulu, ‘Tala’ songwriter Nica del Rosario, and cinema critic and editor Mikee Inton-Campbell shared their experiences as queer media practitioners in a four-part panel discussion.

Among the topics discussed were the origins of their passion for media, experiences as a queer practitioner, storytelling, and representation. Direk Dolly, who has been part of Ateneo ENTABLADO in her college years, emphasized how queer stories must be told by queer actors and storytellers in order to be authentic. Meanwhile, Nica del Rosario shared how the gender neutrality of pronouns in the Filipino language has helped her integrate LGBTQIA+ inspiration in her work. Dr. Mikee, who is also an OrCom graduate, concluded that we should not be worried about the future of queer representation in media. Instead, she encouraged the audience to continue supporting queer stories and artists and to pay for their content, as Direk Dolly pointed out.

“Rainbow Speaks” is the talk series of UPM Pride aimed to educate students, faculty, and employees about the multi-factorial situation of the Filipino LGBTQIA+ community. This year’s Pride theme “One UPM for Human Rights” is an ode to calls of the UPM community for intersectional equality. You may watch the talk and other events at https://facebook.com/UPMPride.