The amazing LGBT community of Baguio City

I created this blog in order to feature some of the best stories in Baguio City ...my hometown.

 I am one of the few  who have been given the opportunity to get  to know the community.

 I am sharing this information in the hopes of inspiring more people to love Baguio just as much as I do.

 The Philippines while being open to the presence of the LGBT community has yet to fully understand the rights of Lesbians, Gays,  Bisexuals and Transgenders.

There is still much misconception and stigma associated with being part of the LGBT community in the Philippines.

Same-sex marriage is already allowed in 14 countries like Spain, Canada, Belgium,  South Africa, Norway, Sweden,  Portugal, Iceland, Argentina, Denmark, Uruguay and New Zealand. More and more countries are being open to same-sex marriage and relationships just like Thailand.

In the Philippines, while LGBT  people are already being given work privileges, much has yet to be done in order to make people understand that same-sex marriage will not harm anyone.

I am one of the supporters of same-sex marriage, for me we should not be hindering others to experience the freedom we are having. The message of same-sex marriage is all for love. I have seen so many successful and thriving relationships like that of Myke Sotero and Gregory Rugay.

I have attended their wedding, and to be honest it was the most heart warming experience.
Most traditional weddings will be done because the girl got pregnant or the guy is going abroad and a commitment has to be done immediately.
But they have different reasons for marrying...it was apparent that they did it out of love and acceptance.

The marriage ceremony was conducted in Baguio, and I can assure you that each and everyone who has attended felt the love and acceptance by the family members and the people around them.

Much work has yet to be done in order to get to the status that Gays and Bisexuals enjoy in Thailand and other European countries. In the Philippines gays and lesbians will still encounter troubles if they try to hold hands or kiss in public, they will still have issues with property rights just in case their partner dies and a lot of gay men and lesbians are still afraid to go out of the closet out of the fear of being ridiculed. 

One LGBT community group has captured my attention, it was through the efforts of Myke Sotero the pastor of Metropolitan Community Church in Baguio that I got to know them.

 I did not know that such a group existed before, but because their group has been very supportive of environmental causes especially the protest action for the trees against SM City Baguio I was given the chance to meet these wonderful people.

Myke Sotero and his lifetime partner Gregory Rugay are an inspiration to a lot of people in the city of Baguio not just because of the extensive work that they have been doing to defend the rights of the LGBT community but because of their presence in every protest action that  is vital to the city of Baguio.

In truth, I am not a religious person and I disdain attending church activities may it be Iglesia ni Kristo, Born Again Christian,  Catholic Church, Anglican or any kind of established church for that matter.

This bias has existed  for so many years, I hated the feeling of going to church and being ridiculed just because I don't fit  a certain category.

I have attended past churches and they felt so uptight, you had to fit into a certain moral code...something that I never wanted to do.  People should be able to express who they are, they should be accepted for who they are.

While there are some churches  that have good intentions and inspire people I just did not feel accepted.

Which am why despite being a straight individual ... I began to admire the idea that was started by the MCC community church.

Metropolitan Community Church is an affirming ecumenical church  proclaiming God's universal love to all lesbians, gays, Transgenders, bisexuals, queer, intersex and straight people.

Despite using the doctrine and belief of the Catholic Church, they are accepting of people and strive hard not to judge people based on what they do, how they look, what their vices are or who they are in general.

The church is focused on the sole concept of love and sharing.

Why you should attend the MCC community church?

Even if you are a self professed atheist you will enjoy the church activities. One thing that sets this church apart from other churches I have been too is the level of acceptance that you feel.

You won't feel that you are an outsider, the message of the church is focused on love and acceptance. It seeks to do away with judgement or the holier than thou attitude and because of that members are free to share and express who they are.

It is a different type of church community because at the end of the church service, you will feel loved, you can believe in the word "community"

Metropolitan Community Church leaders and members are a creative bunch:

Let's face it some of the most talented people in the world are members of the LGBT community, the same creativity can be felt within the group.

You will never get bored, there are so many exciting characters to meet. There are so many stories you can hear, the church that they have started is very informative.

The members are so creative, they have included activities that will engage the members into becoming active members of the community especially when it comes to participating in a certain advocacy.

As of this moment they still don't have a permanent address for their church services, the services are sometimes conducted in the home of Myke Sotero and Gregory Rugay but on other days it can be hosted by other members.

How is MCC different from other churches?

The church services that they provide has a way of connecting people. Each and every member is allowed to speak their mind.

Members are asked how they have been for the past few weeks, what do they plan to do in the future and they get encouragement and support from the sharing part.

The church service also includes  creative ceremonies and activities. It could be in the form of a tea ceremony or an HIV awareness talk inside a member's house...the church is so open and are even willing to include environmental advocacy into the lesson of the church.

This means  that the members are not stuck with the same ideology or one book, members can actually learn something important after the church service.

After the church service, the members are going to have a pot luck and share even more exciting stories.

The way they have established their church and beliefs is amazing, it means you don't need to be judged to have faith.

They do not need to tell people that they are going to hell or heaven if they are going to do a certain thing. The relationship is not based on fear and ridicule.

Members are not scolded if they like to smoke or drink, because the members know that the fellowship that they have is not about putting an act.

People are welcome to make the changes they want to do in their life without being commanded to do so and because of that they have gained my respect.

Aside from that the members are active in promoting the welfare of others, attending church and having faith does not need to stop in the church.

You need to be able to apply what you have learned in the church and help out your community.

I know someday the efforts of this group will be rewarded, each time I attend I feel a warm feeling in my heart.

I am sharing this in the hopes that someone out there who needs this kind of company will get the chance that I had.

Certain groups in Baguio like the MCC church exists which is why Baguio is one of the most awesome place on earth.