The Magdalo

𝐅𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄 | 𝗟𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗛𝘂𝗲

“𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮. 𝘐𝘵 𝘰𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘴 𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘛𝘺𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘦𝘧𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵. 𝘐𝘵 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘴, 𝘪𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘴. 𝘈𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦. 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝘀𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝗿.” - Nemik's Manifesto [Andor]

There comes a time in life that 𝗮 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲. A single small noise remains loud in the midst of silence. A single small flame can start a fire and spread in minutes. A single small stand can disrupt the illusion of control in a matter of seconds.

Exactly 128 years ago, Filipinos fought for the right to be free from under the controlling thumb of the Spaniards. The declaration of independence on the 12th of June 1898 became a symbol of resistance against oppression and a testament to Filipino's desire for liberty. The streets once filled with the blood of fallen heroes and countless unnamed warriors, now painted with colors – to honor those who have fought valiantly for a free Philippines, for a free Filipino.

Today, that same desire for freedom echoes in the stories celebrated during the LGBTQIA+ Community's Pride Month. For many members of the community, 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆. It means 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗲𝗱. It’s about expressing one's identity without being called an abomination. Basically, it’s being accepted for who they are. It is a different struggle from that of the revolutionaries of old, yet it roots from the same seed bore from fear and ignorance.

It may seem out of touch to correlate Pride Month with the celebration of Independence Day, but these occasions, though it may seem unrelated, beats a common thread: 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗼𝗺. 𝗜𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲. 𝗜𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗿𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗲, 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗯𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝘀𝘆𝗺𝗯𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗲. It is a promise that even dark times shall pass and the world will no longer be consumed by darkness.

And that is what we are fighting to this day. It was more than which restroom to use or which pronoun one person prefers most. It's about recognizing that even in a box of crayons, there are different shades of hues in a spectrum of colors. Difference, as it so happens, is seen as an enemy – a need to extinguish, to prevent, to demonize. 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲, 𝘄𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲, and that is far worse than being different.

𝗪𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘁𝘀. Armed with nothing but signs and voices, fighting for the rights of Filipinos for their identity. For their sexuality. For their freedom to love who they wish to. For the people who took their own lives just because they cannot live their lives of being “normal” in the eyes of society. For a cause that transcends more than themselves. For freedom from corrupt politicians and narrow-mindedness. 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳. 𝗜𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲, 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴.

Ignorance is bliss, as the saying goes. Ignorance is just as same as being silent, and it kills more than sharp words and flying stones. 𝗦𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲. To be free is to acknowledge that change is necessary, that conflict is unavoidable. However, 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝗱𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘁, 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿. It is found not only in a nation's sovereignty but also in the right of every individual to be seen, heard, and respected.

𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗱, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗹𝗼𝘂𝗱𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝘁 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘆, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝘁 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲.

✍️: Patrick Michael Yu
🖼️: Lou Aleijah Lim

𝟭𝟮𝟴 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗼𝗺 🇵🇭✨

Today marks the 128th anniversary of our nation's declaration of independence. A reminder of the blood, sweat, and sacrifices made by our heroes to secure the liberties we enjoy today.

Let us honor their legacy by continuing to uphold truth, justice, and true freedom in our everyday lives.

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas! ✊

𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗨𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗡𝗼𝘄! 🎓✨

Congratulations to the High School Class of 2026! 🎉 All your hard work and late nights have finally paid off. Wherever your next journey takes you, your Emilian community is incredibly proud of you. Toss those caps high!

Padayon, Graduates! 🌟

𝐅𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄 | 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗯𝗼𝘄 𝗪𝗮𝘀 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀

Every June, rainbow flags bloom across the streets and flood social media feeds. Pride Month arrives as a season of visibility, community, and celebration. But before Pride became a parade, it was a 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁. Before the rainbow became a symbol of joy, it was a banner of 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲.

Before rainbow banners waved freely in public spaces, there were people who risked ridicule, discrimination, violence, and even arrest simply for demanding the right to exist. The freedoms many LGBTQ+ Filipinos enjoy today were not gifts handed down by a more tolerant society; they were victories won through 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗹𝗲.

But why do we celebrate Pride in June?

The answer begins in 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟭𝟵𝟲𝟵, when patrons of New York City's 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝗻 resisted a discriminatory police raid. Their defiance sparked a movement that would echo around the world—including in the Philippines.

On 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟮𝟲, 𝟭𝟵𝟵𝟰, Filipino activists organized the country's 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗶𝗻 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘇𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆. Yet it was never just a call for visibility. Protesters marched against the Expanded Value Added Tax (EVAT), rising oil prices, and labor injustices, recognizing that 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗹𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

More than three decades later, that message remains strikingly relevant.

Inflation continues to strain Filipino households, transportation costs keep rising, and economic uncertainty affects millions. For many LGBTQ+ Filipinos, particularly those facing discrimination or lacking family support, these challenges often hit harder.

This is why the 𝗦𝗢𝗚𝗜𝗘 𝗘𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹 is more than a cultural debate. It is also an economic issue. Without comprehensive anti-discrimination protections, LGBTQ+ Filipinos remain vulnerable to being denied opportunities, pushed into precarious work, and excluded from the stability that many take for granted. The fight may look different today, but its core remains the same: every person deserves the chance not merely to survive, but to thrive.

𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱.

Every youth who openly joins an LGBTQ+ organization, every couple who walks across the street without fear, and every individual who introduces themselves authentically in a classroom carries living proof of victories won by people they may never know by name.

Pride is often described as a celebration of identity. More accurately, it is a 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝗻𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲.

The courage of those who marched when society demanded silence.
The courage of those who stood their ground when the world insisted they disappear.
The courage of those who risked rejection so future generations could experience acceptance.

What feels ordinary today was once extraordinary.
What feels safe today was once dangerous.
What feels possible today was once unimaginable.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗯𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀. 𝗜𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲.

Carried through streets where people marched despite mockery.
Carried through decades when visibility came at a cost.
Carried by pioneers who bore burdens so that future generations could carry possibilities instead.

Every June, as we celebrate Pride Month, we do more than commemorate history, we acknowledge an 𝗶𝗻𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲.

The greatest tribute we can offer the ones who came before us is not merely to remember their struggle, but to continue the work they began. Because the freedoms we enjoy today were not freely given. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿. 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘂𝘀.

✍️: Constantine K’ B. Del Rosario
🖼️: Lhorena Riz Aguirre

𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊: ALL HAIL THE BACK-TO-BACK CHAMPS! 🏆

The EAC Brigadiers successfully defended their title after edging the Arellano Braves, 70-69, in a thrilling NCAA Aspirants showdown.

The hard-fought victory secured another championship and cemented the Brigadiers' dominance on the court.

(📸: Ryo Jinn Tucay, Jaiziel Baniel, and Mykel Yoshua Cañalita/The Magdalo)

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗔 𝗥𝗨𝗡, 𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗟𝗦! 🫡

Shellshocked the JRU Heavy Bombers, 56–66, the EAC Generals finished 1st Runner-Up in the U-Belt Collegiate Invitational Season 2 today, June 4, at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Thank you, Generals! Fuego Heneral! 🫡

𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐍𝐎𝐖: THE BATTLE FOR THE CROWN IS ON! 🏆

The EAC Generals and JRU Heavy Bombers clash in the Finals Game of U-Belt Collegiate Invitational Season 2, at Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Both squads leave it all on the hardwood as they fight for championship glory. Who will secure the win?

(📸: Ryo Jinn Tucay, Jaiziel Baniel, and Mykel Yoshua Cañalita/The Magdalo)

𝗥𝗘𝗗-𝗛𝗢𝗧 𝗪𝗜𝗡 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗗𝗘𝗙𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗔𝗦𝗣𝗜𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗦! 🏀🔥

The EAC Brigadiers successfully defended their title, surviving a teeth-grinding 70–69 battle against the AU Braves today, June 4, completing a thrilling back-to-back championship run in NCAA Aspirants Season 101.

Congratulations, Brigadiers! Fuego Heneral 🫡

𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐍𝐎𝐖: ITS THE FINAL SHOWDOWN! 🏀🔥

The EAC Brigadiers face the AU Braves in a Championship Match at the Rizal Memorial Complex.

Will the Generals claim the glory and bring home a back-to-back win?

(📸: Ryo Jinn Tucay, Jaiziel Baniel, and Mykel Yoshua Cañalita/The Magdalo)

𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊: In Everything, Give Thanks

Before taking their final bow and stepping into the big stage towards the future, the graduating batch of the High School Department gathered in faith, unity, and deep gratitude at the EAC Sports and Cultural Center, 5th floor Gymnasium for their Baccalaureate and Thanksgiving Mass.

(📸: John Vincent Alapide/The Magdalo)