Gays topbill Santacruzan in MarikinaAuthor: Vincent Silarde
Column: Life & Entertainment It is still hard to pinpoint whether Filipinos accept or reject gays in the society. On one hand, you learn of your neigHBOr who beats up his effeminate son. On the other, gay beauty pageants are a common fixture in town fiestas and noontime shows. Downtown in Marikina, meanwhile, you couldnt get a more affirmative signal of how a community accepts and even look up to gays than how the people of Sta. Elena foreground them in an important tradition. For more than three decades now, the Filipino tradition of Santacruzan has been innovated on by the people of Barangay Sta. Elena to feature gays in the community. Garbed in glamorous evening gowns and jewels, gay participants parade themselves as the different Reynas that characterize one of the most colorful Filipino cultural celebrations. Like their female counterparts in other sagalas, they are escorted and walk under the meticulously styled arkos that edify their reputation. Ronald Ramido, one of the organizers of the event, explains that Gay Sagala in Barangay Sta. Elena was started May 4, 1972 under the administration of Barangay Captain Celso L. Mendoza Sr. The rationale behind this event, Ramido shares, is to give recognition to the contributions of gays in barangay in all of its projects and programs and during barangay fiesta
Captain Mendoza then thought of including them in the tradition. The event is scheduled every fourth day of May under the supervision of Barangay Chairman Celso Mendoza Jr. and architect Ramon Mendoza. Now on its 35th year, it still never fails to draw a big crowd. No less than Marikina Mayor Marides Fernando herself led the presentation of the event to local and foreign audiences including some members of the diplomatic corps. This years event featured 60 participants who joined together and paraded on the streets of Barangay Sta. Elena, proving once more that they are, indeed, queens in their own unique right. Source: Manila Standard Today | 
