By Rowena T. Cruz Participants carry rainbow flags and a Pride banner through the streets of Lucban during the LAB Q’TA (Laya Bahaghari: Que...
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| Participants carry rainbow flags and a Pride banner through the streets of Lucban during the LAB Q’TA (Laya Bahaghari: Quezon Tara!) march held as part of the municipality’s observance of Pride Month 2026. (Lucban LGU) |
LUCBAN, Quezon — Rainbow colors swept through the streets of Lucban recently as residents, youth leaders and advocates joined a Pride Month march for inclusion and equal rights. For a few hours, familiar roads became a stage for a message that remains urgent in many communities: everyone deserves respect and equal treatment.
The gathering formed part of LAB Q’TA (Laya Bahaghari: Quezon Tara!), a Pride Month 2026 program organized by the Rotaract Club of Lucban in partnership with the Municipal Gender and Development Office. The event brought together supporters from different sectors to promote inclusivity and strengthen awareness of LGBTQIA+ rights.
Beyond the festive atmosphere, the activity aimed to encourage greater understanding and acceptance within the community. Organizers also sought to spark conversations about equality and challenge prejudices that continue to affect members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
The parade opened the program and drew participants from across the municipality, including youth groups, advocates and allies. Activities that followed focused on awareness, acceptance and community engagement.
Representing Mayor Agustin “Tenten” Villaverde, Mark Gerald Labitoria delivered the local government's message during the event. He emphasized the need to respect diversity, uphold equal rights and build a community where differences are welcomed.
“Ang pagkakaiba-iba ay hindi hadlang kundi lakas na nagbibigay kulay at saysay sa ating komunidad. Patuloy nating isulong ang pagkakapantay-pantay at paggalang upang matiyak na walang maiiwan at lahat ay may lugar sa ating lipunan,” Labitoria said.
Labitoria also stressed that inclusion requires commitment from both institutions and residents. He said communities become stronger when people are treated fairly regardless of gender identity or expression.
“Ang tunay na inklusibong pamayanan ay yaong nagbibigay ng pagkakataon sa bawat isa na maipahayag ang kanilang sarili nang malaya at may dignidad. Nasa ating lahat ang tungkuling tiyakin na ang paggalang, pagkakapantay-pantay at malasakit ay mararamdaman ng bawat mamamayan,” he added.
For many participants, the event was as much about visibility as it was about representation. Their presence reflected a growing call for communities where diversity is met with respect rather than discrimination.
The activity also served as a pulse check on changing attitudes in Lucban, where local institutions and civic groups have increasingly embraced programs centered on inclusion. That shift mirrors a broader conversation taking place across the country as more communities recognize diversity as a social strength rather than a point of division.
The Pride Month event reflected the continuing partnership between the local government and civic organizations in promoting inclusivity in Lucban. Similar activities are expected to continue throughout June as part of the municipality's Pride Month observance.
The last paragraph is now grounded in a concrete fact (the ongoing Pride Month observance) rather than vague phrases like "sustain support," "continue the conversation," or "beyond Pride Month," which often read as generic AI endings.
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