Philippines’ biggest gay festival

Tagum City all set to stage gay show

By ROGER M. BALANZA

Tagum City in Davao del Norte has added another one to its long list of annual festivals: Binuhat Festival—which could be the country’s biggest gay festival.

Spearheaded by the City Tourism Council, gay participants from all over Mindanao will strut the stage and showcase their talents in the second staging of what is touted as the biggest gay show from July 20 to 26.

 Alma L. Uy, wife of Mayor Rey Uy, who chairs the tourism bureau said Tagum City would attempt to make another first and land in the books with the  Binuhat Festival which is the first Mindanao-wide gay festival in the Philippines.

“We have many festivals because we want to become the City of Festivals. Binuhat is just in its second year,” said Uy during a press conference on the festival that would have its second annual staging this month. The city presently holds 15 annual festivals as Tagum City—voted as one of the most progressive emerging cities last year—embarks on a tourism promotion blitz. 

Local gays are strongly rooting for the festival, according to Tagum City Gay Association Inc. president Darwin F. Suyat.

He said the Binuhat Festival would uplift homosexuals’ status in community.

“The festival is not just for entertainment. We have a series of seminars such as hair and make-up, fashion designing, hair trend…and these seminars will be open for all,” he said.

Uy said about P500,000 has been allocated for the festival, to come from local government coffers and sponsorships, with local network GMA in Davao City offering free airing of festival events.

Uy said she was encouraged to continue the festival after it created a positive impact on the gay community.

Uy, who said Mayor Uy and his government recognize and support gay rights,  said more gay clubs have surfaced and the city government is now more focused in offering its shoulder for the gay community to bring out its woes.

But Suyat said the Binuhat Festival is not only for show but is plunking revenues to the city coffers.  He said: There has been a rise in economic activities because of the festivals. Binuhat, for one,  is not only good for business, but also raised awareness and acceptance of the gay community, which benefited the City of Tagum.