Join Abra's Penis Festival - ONE DAY only

Bangued, Abra – In time with the celebration of Pride month this year, the provincial government of Abra launched the Penis Festival, a campaign to eradicate the stigma and discrimination of the LGBTQIA community and people who are suffering from sexually transmitted disease.

The launching of said festival was held Friday, June 30, 2023.

It started with a colorful pride march with the LGBTQIA members donning their rainbow color outfits while raising their rainbow flags from the streets of Bangued – from Zone 5 going to Zone 3 where the Abra Sports Complex is situated.

Some also paraded their placards containing messages and information regarding Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Various activities followed which include the Flip Top Battle Grand Finals, Spoken Poetry Grand Finals, Advocacy Film Viewing and Booth Tour.

Likewise, the HIV/AIDS Candlelight Memorial Symbolic Candle Lighting and launching of HIV/AIDS Caravan was held.

In a recent report by the Department of Health, Abra is one among provinces in Cordillera which has the highest number of HIV/AIDS cases, thus a need to educate Abrenians regarding the called disease.

“Currently we now have 117 cases which make us the second in the entire Cordillera with the greatest number of HIV cases. Kaya, we want to address that too,” said Alex Bernal, President of the Abrenian Youth Leaders Association.

He added that prior to the festival, a pre-culmination was conducted, of which, an information education campaign regarding HIV was held in communities and schools.

Activities held during the pre-culmination include Educational Fun Games, Flip Top and Spoken Poetry Contest, and Advocacy Film Viewing.

The launching of said festival is a project by the Provincial Government of Abra– through the initiative of Abra’s so called biggest LGBTQIA allies, Governor Dominic Valera, and Vice-Governor Maria Jocelyn Valera-Bernos.

“As we believe that the youth should be represented and involved in all aspects of society, we take pride in saying that the festival has cost us a lot of our energy, and effort because we believe that every queer Abrenio, and everyone should be celebrated– regardless of their uniquely individual SOGIESC, as well as making sure that everyone is well-informed about HIV,” the provincial government said in a press release.

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