Gender rights leaders, Cebu priest to tackle Visayas precolonial worship, LGBT rights

Gender advocacy groups nationwide and an Archdiocese of Cebu priest will discuss details on precolonial Visayas spiritual leaders, the babaylanes.

This October 31, 4:30 PM, at Palm Grass Hotel, LGBTQIA+ (lesbians, gays, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual) activists of a national organization, Cebu, and Iloilo will look back to the time when women and “feminized” men were the spiritual leaders in the community in the forum: “SYODI!” Witches or Spiritual Leaders? (A forum on the babaylanes in precolonial Visayas).

Fr. Brian Brigoli,  Chair of the Cebu Archdiocesan Commission of the Cultural Heritage of the Church, will also shed light on traces of the babaylan influence on Cebu folk Christianity. He will also tackle Pope Francis’ recent statement on LGBT rights.

Bahaghari spokesperson Rey Valmores-Salinas, Iloilo Pride Team Chair Irish Inocete,  and Cebu United Rainbow LGBTIQ+ Sector (CURLS) President Magdalena Robinson will also share insights on the babaylan and today’s gender discrimination  in the workplace.

Palm Grass, Cebu’s only heritage hotel, Museo Sugbo, Diyandi Heritage Center and Visayas Pride partner with LGBTQIA+ groups (Bisdak Pride, Iloilo Pride Team, CURLS, Repost Angels, Kandaya Paper Dolls, UGAK, ALIVE, MASK, Capiz LGBTIQ,  Eastern Visayas Pride, TEAM Cebu, Garbosa and Cebu Deaf Rainbow Club) to tackle this less-known fact in Visayan history.

A live babaylan ritual will be performed by  UP Cebu professor and award-winning actress, Ligaya Rabago.

A video clip of community theater Bag-ong Teatro Junquera’s interpretation of a 1521 babaylan ritual described by chronicler Antonio Pigafetta will also be screened.

A Visayan-themed costume contest, “Dress like a Babaylan” in the Hadla-hadla sa Palm Grass Halloween Night will follow.

The activities will be published on FBlive at Palm Grass The Cebu Heritage Hotel FB page.