The just-concluded season opener of this year’s Pride Celebration was a huge success.  Not only was the launch of the Manila Pride Ball well-attended, based on the venue’s overflow crowd and on the personalities and celebrities who came out as allies supporting the event, but it also drove home the message of acceptance and equity that the LGBTQIA plus community has long been fighting for.

Ice Seguerra together with his wife Liza Dino-Seguerra and friends Perci Intalan and Jun Lana were the people behind the event, which is the first of its kind in the country.

Ice Seguerra (left) and Joee Guilas

“I really want to do something na prom kasi nga bubog ko sya.  Lalo pang na reinforce yun nung I watched the movie Prom.  The Manila Pride Ball will be your kick-off party.  Every year, every June 1, we will have Manila Pride Ball,” shared Ice, who also took the staging as an opportunity to re-write a rather forgettable part of her own life narrative: “Ang theme is the Lost Prom and to me, it is very meaningful.  I am one of those people na prom is a very special night, pero I didn’t get to enjoy it because of all the restrictions.  I wore a dress and had a boy date.  It sucked.  Through the ball, we will try to re-write the memories,” he added.

Some of the public attendees

Among those who participated in the party held at the Kao Manila in Newport World Resorts, Pasay City were premiere drag performers Divine Divas, Social Media’s King of Catwalk, Sinon Loresca, Miss Universe Philippines 2020 4^th runner-up, Billie Hackenson and host of actors and actresses from the B-L genre.

Sinon Loresca (left) and RS Francisco (center)

Businesswise, the Manila Pride Ball turned out to be a huge success as well, reaching an “All Seats Taken” status even before the gates of Kao Manila opened: “Nakakatuwa nga kasi it was a short time lang nung napagdesisyunan naming na gagawin naming talaga ito.  We had less than a month from announcement to the event pero we were able to sell the seats, everything,“ Ice said.

From the looks of it, the event is just the start of something big, especially, in the years to come.

“The event’s goal is really just to celebrate who we are.  Be who you are.  Bring that person you love on a date for your prom.  We want this to be bigger and bigger, pero inclusive talaga,” Ice stressed, adding: “I just want people to have a good time.  Kahit medyo cheesy yung theme natin, we just want to enjoy and re-taking our lost memories.  The memory that haunts us.”

While there may be some people who still felt inhibited to show up and participate in an event such as the Manila Pride Ball, Ice is hoping it will be a catalyst for people to find the courage to eventually live freely and live their truth.

“I know there are a lot of things that hinder us from coming out.  I hope and I pray that you will find it in your heart na listen to your inner voice and that inner voice is that one that if followed will make you happy.”