Love Laban’s Program and Creative Director Rod Singh shares how the Pride movement goes beyond a single event, day, and month
“Love is profoundly political. Our deepest revolution will come when we understand this truth.” bell hooks, a writer and social critic, once said these words as an individual who understood that love intersects with politics, race, gender, and class. This same ideology runs deep and true with director Rod Singh who has been devoting her creative energies to fight for love in its all forms, colors, and ways.
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In an exclusive interview with MEGA Drag, she shares how the fight for identity representation—while it is a celebration—is also a protest. Rod opens up how both love and Pride may be rooted from individual stories, but are also experiences that form communities that fight for justice, freedom, and respect together.
A collective call
Like with all things, the 2022 Pride PH festival began with blazing intentions, a flame. Hence, the theme “Alab for Love.” But this year, this same ardor burns stronger, spreading like wildfire. For the festival, the theme is Love Laban—simply straightforward with the intention of the celebration reflected within those two words. Rod mentions, “Last year, we were able to ignite the fire or alab in the hearts of our attendees; and for this year, we, together with the 50,000 expected crowd attending this year’s festival, will use this fire to fight for love. Stronger, together.”
Besides Love Laban being an organized cause by different LGBTQIA+ organizations, it is also supported by the local government unit of Quezon City, where the gathering will take place. The director, along with fellow advocate and organizer Mela Habijan, met with Mayor Joy Belmonte for a dialogue on the event and how to forward a more inclusive and progressive city that recognizes and respects the expression and experiences of one’s identity.
“Posible siya as long as you have elected officials recognizing our struggles as a community. Ang gandang modelo din nito for other LGUs. Tayo sa Pride PH, hindi lang national ang calls at plans natin. Pinupush din natin du’n sa local levels kasi mas nakakalampag natin ‘yung national dahil may existing models ka na pwedeng ipakita,” she explained.
Through Rod’s lens
Being an organizer for Pride events since 2011, Rod describes the feeling as a muscle memory to her, with a hint of nervousness as for any creator with their new and live shows. Further explaining her thoughts on working on Love Laban, she points out, “Siyempre ako, as a director, iisa lang naman ang gusto ko for every audience of a work I directed—that is for the audience to have a one of a kind experience from the show we created for them. It has to be an experience eh, kasi that experience creates a memory that will make them come again.”
“Ito ‘yung pinaka-importante sa Pride. Kailangan bumabalik ‘yung tao, kailangan dumarami. Dahil ang pride bilang protesta ay pagpapakita ng lakas na marami tayo at hinding-hindi tayo mananahimik.
Coming from her alma mater where honor and excellence go hand in hand, Rod made sure that the stage for Love Laban will provide not just quality performances, but also with a progressive and purposeful mission. From supporters to actual community members, from veteran performers to up-and-coming talents, the space welcomes everyone.
“Ito ‘yung pagkakataon na mararamdaman mong ligtas ka kasama ang libo-libong tao sa iisang lugar na pinagbubuklod ng danas bilang LGBTQ, at ng pangarap para sa isang pantay na lipunan,” the director remarks, summing up the magic of Pride.
Creating with love and pride
Fresh from her recent project with Sassa Gurl’s “Maria Hiwaga” music video, Rod also expressed her excitement for the second season of Drag Den. Movies are also part of her plans. As she declared, “Marami pa akong gustong ikwento at makatrabaho, at nag-uumpisa pa lang ako.”
For the younger LGBTQIA+ creatives, the director also offered some advice on how to lay our causes with proper sensitivity and understanding. “Pinaka-importante to write what you know. Hindi lang basta knowing. Importante ‘yung lived experience part. Kasi minsan, kahit you did your research, hindi enough ito to capture the nuances, the dreams, and [the] aspirations part. Intent kasi is one thing, like let’s say the intention is representation. But the question remains: What exactly do you want to represent?
“As I always say, we are the best storytellers of our lived experience. Hindi enough ‘yung basta queer ka. Importante na nailubog mo ‘yung sarili mo sa community. Nakita mo kung saan nagtatagpo ang intersectionality ng mga struggles, kasi ‘di ba, hindi lang naman iisa ang layer ng mga danas natin bilang LGBTQ? Sa huli, maganda na tinatanong ang sarili. Ano kaya ang mararamdaman nu’ng mga taong nirerepresent ko ‘pag napanood nila ang pelikula? Magiging proud ba sila, or mapapahiya?”
While queer talents like Rod today are gaining more spaces and places for expression, the fight is far from over. But as long as the revolution remains, we have more reasons to create with pride and love every single day.
Photos: ROD SINGH (via Instagram)
