The LGBTQIA+ community and allies unite! For the first time, the Manila Pride Ball will be held on June 1 at 9:00 p.m. at the Newport Mall at Newport Worlds Resorts in Pasay City. It will be the first event that launches the month-long celebration of PRIDE in June and is organized by three of the leading LGBTQIA+ entertainment companies—FIRE AND ICE MEDIA, ZEEN MAGAZINE, and THE IDEA FIRST COMPANY—in partnership with KAO MANILA.
Envisioned as a Prom Night with the theme “THIS IS OUR PROM” at the Kao Night & Day Club in Newport Mall, the Manila Pride Ball invites the community and allies to relive and experience a prom worth remembering. It aims to break heteronormative traditions that have made school dances a fraught experience for some. “In light of everything that’s happening in the world now, it is important that our community celebrates Pride Month this June — and that means all of the month. We should always kick off the month this way because there are corners of society where our LGBTQ+ siblings are being told to be silent. This is our way of reminding them to stay strong and that we are here and we deserve to celebrate who we are,” said Director and Producer Perci Intalan, President and Co-Founder of The IdeaFirst Company.
As for Fire and Ice Media, which will be producing the day’s event, CEO Liza Diño-Seguerra said, “In hosting [the Manila Pride Ball], we are creating an all-out gender-inclusive and LGBT-affirming event that gives a chance for our community to express themselves, dress up, and celebrate their individuality. This can be a powerful and empowering experience for our members, particularly those who may have been made to feel ashamed or marginalized in the past.”
“We know that some LGBTQI+ youth do not fit these molds when it comes to self-expression. Additionally, some of our youth are bullied in school and have to be home-schooled, so they don’t get a prom experience. This prom is for anyone and everyone who wants to retake that experience and celebrate it as they are. Think of it as a high school prom redo,” added music icon Ice Seguerra, who will direct and perform at the event. Drag Race Queens Precious Paula Nicole, Viñas Deluxe, and Brigiding will also be featured in the opening performance.
Partner Zeen Magazine’s EIC, Mark Ghosn, also shared their support for the event. “Zeen is a platform that is committed to celebrating diversity and giving visibility to those who deserve to be seen. We are dedicated to engaging with companies and organizations that share our cause. Together, we’re creating a space where everyone belongs,” he said.
