Quezon City continues its endeavor to spread Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) awareness through the search for the next Queen of Quezon City (QQC).
After thorough screening, 24 candidates have been officially chosen to take part in this year’s pageant and compete for the title.
The candidates, all residing in Quezon City comprise of Erwina Tirambulo from Talayan Village; Redj Daria Espinosa from Brgy. Tagumpay; Ehm-jay Buena Tuazon from Brgy. Loyola Heights; Terresa Caranzo and Samantha Garcia from Brgy. Bagong Silangan; Louise Manalo from Brgy. San Roque, Cubao; Avah Torres Pineda from Brgy. Pag-ibig sa Nayon; Angel Artita from Brgy. Bagbag, Novaliches; Shine Rodriguez and Jhade Ellorin Soberano from Brgy. Bagong Pag-asa; Naomi Fontanos from Brgy. U.P. Village; Denine Palacio from Brgy. Mariblo; Keith Legara from Brgy. Talipapa, Novaliches;Casey Banes Paculan from Brgy. Piñahan; Scarlet Alcaraz and Yanyan Idalia from Brgy. Commonwealth; AndreaJustine Aliman from Brgy. Sacred Heart; Nica Kate Sapinoso Brgy. San Roque, Cubao; Jhonna Castro from Brgy. Holy Spirit, Maria General from Brgy. Nagkaisang Nayon; Summer Lariosa from Brgy. Dioquino Zobel; Rami Hannash from Brgy. Sta. Lucia, Novaliches; Ghen Antolin from Brgy. Sta. Monica, Novaliches; and Pamcee Vera Perez from Brgy. Gulod, Novaliches.
The candidates were screened by a community led by Teresa Mariano, the QC Chief of Staff for Administration; Police Senior Inspector Rene Balmaceda, the first openly transgender cop in the Philippine National Police (PNP); and Andrew de Real, TV director and writer of Godfather of Malate and King of Comedy Bars.
From these candidates, the city will choose a new “Queen of Quezon City”, who will receive P300,000. It will also choose its new court, which will include “Lady Equality,” “Lady Respect,” and “Lady Pride,” who will each receive P100,000.
The candidates will be judged according to their physical qualities – beauty, intelligence, and personality – and readiness to embody the ideals of the LGBT community.
The pre-pageant was held on Oct. 15 and the journey of the candidates will culminate on Coronation Night, Nov. 10, Saturday, at the University Theatre, Diliman, Quezon City.
The pageant offers a platform for the LGBT community to empower themselves and stop the discrimination they have continually faced, focusing on the virtues of respect, equality, pride, and empowerment.
Through this pageant also, Quezon City aims to emphasize the city’s role as a pioneer in the promotion and advocacy of gender fairness and equality among its residents and all Filipinos.
The city marked a big step in creating a gender-fair and gender-sensitive environment when it passed ordinance no. 2357 or the ordinance providing for a comprehensive anti-discrimination policy on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression (SOGIE) in 2016 with its corresponding Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).
Visit https://www.facebook.com/queenofquezoncity/ for more details.