QUEZON CITY – In celebration of 2025 Pride Month, the Institute for Labor Studies (ILS) – Gender and Development Focal Point System (ILS-GFPS) successfully conducted its first-ever “Rainbow Rising: Pride Cinema Forum” on June 27, 2025, at the ILS Conference Room in Quezon City.

The forum featured film screenings and open discussions that highlighted the stories and struggles of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Kicking off the event was the full-length feature “Mamu; And a Mother Too,” written and directed by Rodina Singh. The film tells the story of Mamu, a transgender sex worker in her late 40s from Fields Avenue, whose life takes an unexpected turn when she assumes the role of a mother to her orphaned transgender niece, Bona, who is just beginning to explore her own identity and sexuality.

Following the screening, participants engaged in an insightful discussion with Director Singh, who shared her creative process, inspirations, and the challenges she encountered while making the film.

In her message to the audience, Director Singh said, “To all the Mamus and Bonas out there—keep dreaming. I am a dreamer myself, and I always say na patuloy kang mangarap, magmahal at mahalin, at manindigan sa iyong karapatan bilang manggagawa at bilang tao.”

The second part of the activity featured the screening of two LGBTQIA+ short films: “Nandito Naman Tayo Para sa Isa’t Isa, Diba?” directed by Gilb Baldoza, which tells the story of a gay drug-dealing couple celebrating their anniversary amid the country’s war on drugs. This was followed by “Sunugin ang Aparador (Burn the Closet!)” directed by Gio Potes, which portrays the story of a factory worker who survives a fire and the gay hairdresser who cares for him during his recovery.

This was followed by an open forum and discussion facilitated by Ms. Athena Son, lead of the ILS-GFPS Technical Working Group on Policy, Advocacy and Communications. Both segments allowed ILS employees to reflect and share their thoughts and personal insights on the themes of acceptance, identity, and workers’ and human rights portrayed in the films.

The Rainbow Rising: Pride Cinema Forum forms part of ILS’ continuing efforts to promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace, and to raise awareness on the realities faced by LGBTQIA+ workers.

As a long-standing ally, ILS remains committed to advocating for equal rights, opportunities, and protections against discrimination for all workers, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation.

For more information on our research and initiatives on gender and other related topics, visit: https://linktr.ee/ILSDOLEOfficial

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