Camille Naredo

Article (news)

Komiket Pride

Lyza Aquino

ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- Members of the LGBTQIA+ community flocked to Centris Elements in Quezon City on Saturday for a series of events marking Pride Month, highlighted by Komiket Pride, an annual celebration of Filipino comics, art, and creativity.The event featured around 4,000 merchants showcasing a wide array of LGBTQIA+-themed artworks, comic books, T-shirts, accessories, clothing, jewelry, and other creative products.Among the highlights were works by renowned Filipino comic artists, including Gwenevie Quiambao, Tobie Abad, and Renren Galeno, among others, who were present during the event.In line with Pride Month celebrations, many of the featured comics centered on LGBTQIA+ themes, including boys&#x27; love stories and other queer narratives.This year marks the fourth edition of Komiket Pride.One of the participants was Filipino designer Jodinand Aguillon, a former Komiket customer who is now a merchant at the event.&quot;Kasayahan, kabaklaan, just celebrating pride month and Filipino pride as well. I want people to unlock a memory or predict a future for themselves where they are free and free to be who they are,&quot; Aguillon said.&quot;It&#x27;s my first time, but I frequent the Komiket Pride and Komiket events as a customer at first. I&#x27;m so thankful for the Komiket community for welcoming us. It&#x27;s overstimulation in such a great way,&quot; he added.When asked about his message to the government regarding the proposed Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) Equality Bill, which has yet to be passed into law, Aguillon said: &quot;I think it&#x27;s great that we gather and celebrate our (LGBTQIA+) community for a month, but I think it&#x27;s something that we need to be aware of — protection and rights should be upheld 365 days a year. Being queer doesn&#x27;t happen within a timeframe; it happens as part of your life.&quot;According to Sely Kyle, this year&#x27;s event exclusively features LGBTQIA+ merchants.&quot;Today we have Komiket Pride today and tomorrow, it&#x27;s actually 100% LGBTQ merchants. Sinusuportahan natin silang lahat, ang kanilang creativity, ito ang kanilang spotlight since it&#x27;s Pride Month. We are very happy to share, here at Komiket we have over 4,000 merchants,&quot; Kyle said.&quot;Marami na rin tayong creative people in different communities. Isa sa mga sinusubukan naming gawin ay make sure they all have space. Makakalakad ka talaga. We do a 70-30 rule, 70% original art and 30% fan art.&quot;Kyle also urged government leaders to recognize the contributions of the LGBTQIA+ community: &quot;A message to our government, sana makita ninyo talaga kung ano ang naibibigay ng mga community po lalo na ang LGBTQ community. They have so much to offer and so much creativity. Sana nakikita ninyo kung gaano sila sobrang nakakapagbigay ng saya sa iba&#x27;t ibang mga tao lalo na sa mga Filipino.&quot;<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1781341141652viber_image_2026-06-13_16-13-29-866.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Some of the art and merchadise available at Komiket Pride in Quezon City, June 13, 2026. Lyza Aquino, ABS-CBN News"/>Some of the art and merchadise available at Komiket Pride in Quezon City, June 13, 2026. Lyza Aquino, ABS-CBN News</div>Meanwhile, Kris Porio emphasized the organization&#x27;s mission of promoting Filipino comics and original local art.&quot;Ang Komiket po talaga, our advocacy is for comics creators, for original Filipino comics and Filipino art. Ang highlight natin of course, for Komiket Pride ang mga LGBTQ comics,&quot; Porio said.&quot;May iba&#x27;t iba tayong komiks na LGBTQ, so ito siya, 150 pesos lang yung Pride issue. Gusto namin itaguyod yung pride for Filipino comics. Sobrang accessible and affordable.&quot;Porio also expressed concern over declining reading habits among young Filipinos: &quot;Problem ngayon sa Pilipinas ang literacy. Lahat ng mga bata ang gusto ngayon ay YouTube, cellphone. We hope that they&#x27;ll fall in love with reading all over again.&quot;The event also provided a platform for LGBTQIA+-owned businesses, including Barbiero Barbershop, which promotes community service through a hair donation drive.&quot;We are Barbiero Barbershop, the Philippines&#x27; first queer barbershop. Right now, we have an existing hair donation drive. Sa mga clients na gustong mag-donate ng buhok, mga 10 to 12 inches, normally we transfer them to our partner na gumagawa ng medical wigs,&quot; said owner Ryen Paul Sumayao.Sumayao said the business was established in April and aims to provide care and support to fellow Filipinos: &quot;We started in April this year. As a queer barbershop, we feel like we should have a stand in providing care sa ating mga kapwa Pilipino.&quot;He also underscored the importance of LGBTQIA+ visibility and the passage of the proposed SOGIE Equality Bill.&quot;I think as a queer-owned business mahalaga na visible kami sa madla. I think malayo na rin ang narating pero marami pang trabahong gagawin. Kailangan na mapasa ang SOGIE Bill,&quot; Sumayao said.Organizers said Komiket Pride continues to serve as a platform that celebrates Filipino creativity while providing greater visibility and opportunities for LGBTQIA+ artists, creators, and entrepreneurs.

Members of the LGBTQIA+ community flocked to Centris Elements in Quezon City on Saturday for a series of events marking Pride Month, highlighted by Komiket Pride, an annual celebration of Filipino comics, art, and creativity.

Members of the LGBTQIA+ community flocked to Centris Elements in Quezon City on Saturday for a series of events marking Pride Month, highlighted by Komiket Pride, an annual celebration of Filipino comics, art, and creativity.

'Celebrating Pride Month': Hundreds gather at Komiket Pride in QC

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

BINI

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

People, Culture, and Events

'Celebrating Pride Month': Hundreds gather at Komiket Pride in QC

Lyza Aquino,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 13, 2026 06:10 PM PHT

Read More:

Pride Month

Komiket Pride

Quezon City

LGBTQ

art

comics

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

Sign Up

I have read and agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy.

Haven't received our newsletter?

Check your inbox to verify and confirm your subscription.

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.