Writing Portfolio Selected Works written by Angeli Manabat [email protected] Your Guide to the Month of Pride By Angeli Manabat Heads up lesbians, gays, transgenders, and bisexuals! This month of June is the LGBT Pride Month. From Caitlyn Jenner’s coming out to Ireland’s approval of same-sex marriage, there are surely a lot of breakthroughs to celebrate this Pride Month. So bring out you rainbow flags and be loud and proud! The LGBT Pride Month commemorates the historic Stonewall Inn Riot, a historic event in which the gay people finally stood up for the first time to fight for their justice and equality. Way back June 28, 1969, police raided a gay bar called Stonewall Inn located in Greenwich Village, New York City. During that time, it was common for the police to raid gay bars to enforce liquor laws. It was illegal to serve alcohol to gays or for gays to dance with one another. These police raids resorted to violence and inflicted charges to innocent people. Exhausted of what they felt was unfair targeting, the bar’s patronage resisted and fought back. It resulted to series of demonstrations by the gay community against the unjust treatment. It was considered as the awakening of the Gay Rights Movement. Originally, June 28 was the Gay Pride Day, but due to the increase of events on this day, it was eventually extended to the whole month of June. On June 2000, Former U.S. President Bill Clinton issued an executive order stating June as the “Gay and Lesbian Month.” In effort to extend this, U.S. President Barack Obama, proclaimed the month of June as the LGBT Pride Month. All over the world, colorful marches and events are celebrated during the LGBT Pride Month to raise awareness against discrimination and violence to the LGBT members and to promote equality and strengthen their community. One of the most famous events is the annual New York City LGBT Pride Week. The March, The Rally, PrideFest and the Dance on the Pier are the main events for the NYC Pride Week. The March passes by the site of Stonewall Inn where the Gay Rights Movement was born. In San Francisco, California, one of the leading Pride Movement, SF Pride, will hold their annual parade and party with this year’s theme “Equality Without Exception.” Also in San Francisco, a lesbian-led gathering and march called Dyke March is feted. Dyke March also occurs in other countries in Europe. In Berlin, Germany, they celebrate the Christopher Street Day which is considered the biggest festivity for the LGBT in their country. Meanwhile in France, they also rejoice to different LGBT Pride Month events like the Paris Pride or Marche des Fiertés LGBT. In Israel, Tel Aviv Pride Parade is considered as the biggest LGBT gathering in Asia. Here in the Philippines, the LGBT Pride Month kicked off with U.S. Embassy’s #LoveIs Facebook Campaign. The annual Metro Manila Pride will also happen this June. There a lot of other Pride Month happenings coming, so why not participate and show your pride? But, always remember don’t just show your pride this month. Always be proud all year long! Published June 2015 issue, The LANCE Coffees, Canines and Cats: The Complete Combination By: Angeli Manabat What happens if you mix the coziness of a cafe plus the companion of cute pets? The ultimate paradise for pet lovers! Good news for animal lovers out there! Hanging out with your furry friends has never been this cute and convenient. Various pet-themed cafes have been popping up around the Metro. These cafes offer more than just coffees or pastries; you can also play and interact with the animals around the cafe! If you’re in for some treat, here’s a little run-down of these pet-themed cafes: Barkin’ Blends For the dog lovers out there, Barkin’ Blends, a dog-themed cafe based in Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City, recently opened their doors for the canine enthusiasts. Established last September 6, 2014, Barkin’ Blends is the first dog cafe here in Manila. Barkin’ Blends allows their customers to have a sip of coffee while enjoying the company of dogs. More than just the usual cafe experience, the cafe aims to provide relaxation and fun to their patrons through their adorable resident puppies. The cafe is divided into two sections; the dog zone, where you can play with the dogs and the cafe area, where you can enjoy your food and/or wait for your turn to go inside the dog zone. You must pay an admission fee of P180 to enter the dog zone for two hours. The fee is inclusive of one drink. The customers must also sign a waiver and observe proper sanitation measures before interacting with the dogs. The cafe is a bit small, so if it’s packed, then expect it to feel a little cramped inside. There are a lot of other customers to share the dogs with, so better be patient if you want to play with a certain dog. The cafe features 23 dogs; a Beagle, three Golden Retrievers, an Irish Setter, a Chinese Shar-pei, a Siberian Husky, a Yorkshire Terrier, a Chiweenie, three Lhasa Apsos, a Labrador Retriever, a Pug, three Shih Tzus, three Poodles, a Basset Hound, a Maltese and a Dalmatian. You may play and cuddle with these dogs with all your heart’s content but remember to abide the house rules set by the cafe! If you feel weary after all the playing and petting, the cafe offers a wide range of affordable food and drinks. Their rock salt and cheese dark choco drink is definitely a must try! For the food, try the Marley N’ Cheese (named after the dog, Marley) which is your good ol’ mac and cheese dish. What could ever go wrong when you’re with the man’s best friend? If you’re ready to be surrounded by these amazing dogs, go and pay a visit at Barkin’ Blends! They’re located at 91 Rosa Alvero St., Loyola heights, Quezon City. The store is in front of Ateneo de Manila University and near McDonald’s Katipunan. They are open every day except on Tuesdays from 12 noon to 9 PM. Cat Cafe Manila For those cat persons out there, Cat Cafe Manila is your nirvana. Opened last April 11, 2015, this cozy cafe offers more than just coffees and cat, but also their “catvocacy.” Located in Maginhawa Street, Quezon City, Cat Cafe Manila is the purr-fect hangout place for feline lovers. The concept for the cat cafe originated when owner, Anna Calvo, visited a cat cafe in Japan. There was also a time when she rescued a stray cat in Makati, and from there, she was inspired to open a cat cafe, but with a cause. In partnership with Compassion and Responsibility for Animal Welfare Philippines (CARA), owners, Anna Calvo and Denis Ty, created the first cat cafe in Manila that features stray cats. The cafe currently shelters 14 rescued cats. All of the pusang Pinoy or puspins featured in the cafe are vaccinated and neutered by CARA. One of the “catvocacies” of the cafe is to educate people on responsible pet ownership and raise awareness regarding these stray cats. They also want to let people know that puspins are as good as cats with breed as long as you take good care of them. What sets them apart from other cafes is their advocacy to help these rescued cats to be adopted and find a new home by featuring them in their cafe. If you feel the love of these cats, you may be their new foster parent. Upon entering the cafe, you have to remove your shoes and wear slippers and sanitize your hands. You have to sign the waiver presented in the entrance and strictly follow the cafe rules. There is a P200 charge; half is consumable within any products in the cafe and the half goes to the care and maintenance of our feline buddies. You may stay in the cafe for an hour. The cat cafe felt like a sanctuary. It was generally tranquil. The cats were very friendly and playful. Our feline friends have their own little house, hammocks and giant wheel to play with. One of the cats that piqued the interest of the customers was Peggy, a three-legged cat. Despite having only three legs, Peggy is still lively and adorable as the other cats. Cat Cafe Manila also offers scrumptious treats to eat while playing with these cute kitties. For their drinks, try their bestseller’s Ice Blended Speculoos Coffee. The Speculoos Coffee tasted just right; not to sweet and not too overpowering. You may also try their Lemon, Ginger, Honey Italian soda which is an another best seller. While for the pastries, try their super moist Purple Velvet. Cat Cafe Manila is located at 2nd Floor #189 Maginhawa St. cor. Makadios St., Sikatuna Village, Quezon City. The cafe can only hold 15 guests per hour to maintain a stress-free environment for the cats. To ensure your slot, visit their website to reserve a ticket. They are open every Tuesdays to Sundays, from 12nn to 9pm. Published July 2015 issue, The LANCE A Broader Horizon: A Decade and One for Cinemalaya By Angeli Manabat One of the most awaited Philippine Independent Film Festivals, Cinemalaya, is on its 11th year of opening its doors to local filmmakers. Cinemalaya is back with this year’s theme of “Broadening Horizons,” which aims to showcase more flicks, not just from the local scene, but also from the Asian region.