Love Laban 2: Amid heavy rain, attendees march on

DESPITE the challenges – the long-awaited “Love Laban 2 Everyone” showed that they can’t be stopped, and showed the real “love” and “laban” in any way they could.

In an unfortunate string of events, the attendees had to deal with heavy rain as well as the cancellation of the performances of some of their favorite artists (albeit for good reason.)

This, however, did not stop attendees from making the most out of the year’s biggest Pride celebration, as they continued on to spread the message of love and equality present in every year of this event. 

Despite the gloomy weather, thousands of smiling faces filled the Quezon City Memorial Circle, where the event was held, proving that a little rain won’t stop anyone from supporting their cause and fighting the good fight.

About the experience

Aside from the concert which many were excited for, Love Laban 2 was filled with fun activities and smiling faces. As you enter, you’ll find yourself surrounded by a variety of booths; you could get a tattoo, grab a bite to eat, or buy merchandise representing your community. 

A number of celebrities were also there to show love for the community, such as Ice Seguerra, who even had their own booth at the event.

More than this, however, the QC Circle was of course filled with hundreds of attendees showing their love for the community, freely expressing themselves in the name of Pride.

For this year’s Pride, 33-year-old Jamil was able to march with his company, serving as his first time joining an organization that proves that there are companies who really do empathize with the LGBTQ+ community’s struggles. 

36-year-old Mike Lavarez, on the other hand, was given the opportunity to DJ on one of the floats.

“Joining the parade has been a yearly devotion for me as a proud member of the community,” he explained.

“I do my best to give back.”

One of the highlights of his set was playing a remix he and his friend made of BINI’s hit song, “Karera.” He shared that they’d made this remix specifically for Pride Month, and it was fun seeing everyone singing along, especially to an OPM song.

Mike adds that as a gay DJ, it’s always a proud moment for him to be able to advocate for self-love and to represent his community through music. 

Waldy Guadamor, 34, another attendee of Pride, also noted his appreciation for Mayor Joy Belmonte, in her show of support for the community. 

He explained that there were enough police and security at the event to ensure that Pride would be peaceful and safe for its attendees. 

Pride as a protest

For most – if not all – of the attendees at Love Laban 2, going to Pride is an opportunity to fight for what they believe in. 

24-year-old John Rey Dela Cruz, for example, attended Pride as a means of standing alongside the LGBTQ+ community, fighting for equality with both his partner and friends. 

“The main highlight of the event [for me] was the Pride March itself; seeing everyone representing every color of the rainbow, supporting the cause, uplifting the community, and marching with pride, is always a sight to see,” he shared.

He adds that even though there were some bumps in the road, what they did was still extremely important for the community in creating a venue for them to raise awareness of important causes. 

John Rey also commends the efforts of the organizers, as they continued to make everything happen to the best of their abilities, as well as keep everyone safe.

“Regardless of who the organizers are, my partner, friends, and I will continue to support any Pride event,” he added.

“Pride only happens once a year, and I want to contribute in any way I can.”