Category Archives: LGBT

First-Ever Same-Sex Marriage In The Philippines!

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – It may be purely symbolic, but the Philippines has finally recorded its first-ever same-sex marriage. And how appropriate that it was between two celebrities – broadcast journalist Atom Araullo and famed lawyer Tony La Viña.

The two exchanged vows at the Quezon City Hall with no less than gay-friendly Mayor Joy Belmonte officiating.

The marriage will surely be challenged all the way up to the Supreme Court, but it could go down in history as the catalyst for the legalization of gay marriage in the Philippines.

As expected, the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines will join in a class-action suit to invalidate the marriage.

Leni Robredo To Drag Artist Pura Luka Vega: “Thanks, But No Thanks”

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Filipino drag artist Pura Luka Vega is reportedly planning to take legal action against the series of “persona non grata” declarations issued by more than a dozen cities in the country. The declarations were an offshoot of Vega’s drag performance dressed as Jesus Christ, singing along to a rock version of “Ama Namin” (The Lord’s Prayer).

To formalize her intentions, Vega posed in front of the Department of Justice in a pink ensemble which many say is a direct message of her support for Leni Robredo who is expected to run for senator in the 2025 Philippine elections.

But when informed about Vega’s selfie, the ex-Vice President said, “Thanks, but no thanks,” adding that she has changed colors from pink to blue in anticipation of a more effective and successful campaign.

Many will recall that during the 2022 presidential elections, Robredo chose pink for her campaign color, shifting away from the Aquino yellowism under which she ran for and won the vice presidency.

Miss Universe Philippines Protests Inclusion of Miss Netherlands In International Beauty Pageant!

MANILA, Philippines (Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – The Miss Universe Philippines (MUP) Organization has filed a protest against the inclusion of Miss Netherlands in this year’s Miss Universe Pageant.

Rikkie Valerie Kollé has been named Miss Netherlands 2023, becoming the first transgender woman to take the title.

But she will not be the first openly transgender contestant in Miss Universe. Angela Ponce became the pageant’s first out trans contestant when she represented Spain in 2018. 

This year’s Miss Universe Philippines Michelle Dee has come out publicly as bisexual, but MUP told The Adobo Chronicles that she is still a biological woman unlike Kollé and Ponce.

MUP is also invoking FOI (Freedom of Information) to demand that the Miss Universe Organization disclose all 2023 Miss Universe contestants’ gender status.