Rainbow Graduation in Manila Highlights Philippines’ Struggle with Modernity

On a vibrant June day last year, student members of the LGBTQIA+ community gathered in Quezon City, Metro Manila, to celebrate a “Rainbow Graduation.” The event, captured in striking images of joy and defiance, symbolised more than academic achievement; it represented a broader struggle within the Philippines as the nation grapples with its transition to modernity. Against a backdrop of global influences and local traditions, the country finds itself at a crossroads, navigating tensions over identity, diversity, and social equity.

The Rainbow Graduation on 22 June 2024 was a poignant display of resilience for a community often marginalised in a predominantly Catholic society. Yet, as attendees donned rainbow sashes and cheered for a future of inclusion, the event also underscored the Philippines’ complex engagement with a globalised world—a dynamic that shapes debates over legislation, cultural norms, and social progress.

Modernity and Its Discontents

Modernity, as a concept, is neither uniform nor universally embraced. In the Philippines, it manifests as a tension between traditional hierarchies—rooted in family, religion, and inherited status—and modern ideals of individualism, rational decision-making, and functional differentiation. Sociologists like Niklas Luhmann describe modern societies as decentralised, with autonomous systems such as politics, law, and media interacting independently. Yet, in the Filipino context, this shift is far from seamless.

The country’s history of colonialism, coupled with its integration into global economic and cultural networks, has created a unique path to modernisation. Urbanisation and industrialisation have reshaped cities like Manila, while digital connectivity exposes younger generations to global movements for equality and diversity. At the same time, deeply ingrained social structures—often tied to religious and familial values—resist rapid change, creating friction over issues like gender identity and sexual orientation.

Events like the Rainbow Graduation highlight this divide. For many young Filipinos, embracing modernity means advocating for personal freedoms and challenging fixed hierarchies. But for others, it risks eroding cultural and religious foundations that have long defined national identity. This tension is not unique to the Philippines; it mirrors global debates over how societies balance progress with tradition.

Wokeness as Critique

In the Filipino context, the concept of being “mulat”—a local term for an awakened consciousness to systemic biases—parallels the Western idea of “wokeness.” It reflects an awareness of structural inequalities, whether tied to gender, class, or colonial legacies. For the LGBTQIA+ community, being “mulat” means exposing and challenging norms that exclude or stigmatise non-conforming identities.

Yet, this critique of modernity’s failures often meets resistance. Modern institutions, such as education and governance, promise equality through meritocracy, but they frequently obscure persistent disparities. Access to opportunities remains uneven, particularly for marginalised groups in rural areas or conservative communities. The Rainbow Graduation, while a celebration, also serves as a reminder of the barriers that remain—legal, social, and cultural—in achieving true equity.

Proposed legislation around LGBTQIA+ rights, such as anti-discrimination bills, has sparked heated debate in the Philippines. Advocates argue that such laws are essential to address systemic exclusion, while opponents claim they undermine traditional values. This push-and-pull reflects a broader struggle to reconcile modern ideals of fairness with historical norms, a dynamic playing out in legislative chambers and public discourse alike.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Focus

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, while more formalised in Western contexts, are gaining traction in the Philippines through grassroots movements and civil society efforts. Events like the Rainbow Graduation are, in essence, acts of DEI—public assertions of identity that demand recognition and inclusion. Yet, as in other parts of the world, these efforts face backlash from those who view them as threats to established power structures.

In the United States, DEI programs have become lightning rods for political opposition, with critics arguing they compromise merit-based systems. Similar sentiments echo in the Philippines, where some leaders and commentators frame diversity advocacy as a foreign imposition, disconnected from local realities. This critique, however, often overlooks the homegrown nature of such movements—evident in the pride and determination of students at the Quezon City event.

The backlash against DEI, both globally and locally, risks reversing hard-won gains. Modernity, while transformative, has not fully dismantled entrenched inequities, and efforts to address these gaps remain imperfect. In the Philippines, the absence of comprehensive legal protections for the LGBTQIA+ community—such as marriage equality or anti-discrimination laws—illustrates the limits of modernisation without deliberate policy intervention.

A Fraught Transition

The Philippines’ journey toward modernity is fraught with contradictions. On one hand, global influences—through media, technology, and international advocacy—have empowered communities like the LGBTQIA+ to demand visibility and rights. On the other, local resistance, often grounded in religious and cultural conservatism, poses significant obstacles. This dynamic is evident not only in events like the Rainbow Graduation but also in broader societal debates over education, family structures, and gender roles.

If modernity is defined by functional differentiation and individual autonomy, as Luhmann suggests, then the Philippines is still in transition. Traditional segmentations—based on clan, religion, and inherited status—continue to shape social interactions, even as urban centres and younger generations push for change. The concept of “alternative modernities,” proposed by some theorists, may offer a framework for understanding this process. It suggests that modernisation need not follow a Western blueprint but can adapt to local histories and values.

For the students celebrating in Quezon City, this adaptation is personal. Their graduation was not just a milestone but a statement—a call for a modernity that includes rather than excludes, that values diversity over conformity. Whether this vision will take root remains uncertain, particularly as legislative and cultural battles loom on the horizon. If proposed reforms, such as anti-discrimination laws, fail to materialise, the promise of modernity may remain unfulfilled for many Filipinos. (It must be noted that such legislative outcomes are speculative and unconfirmed at this stage.)

Looking Ahead

The Rainbow Graduation of 2024 was a moment of hope amid ongoing struggles. It reflected a generation’s desire to redefine what modernity means in the Philippines—a vision that embraces diversity, critiques systemic failures, and seeks inclusion. Yet, achieving this vision requires more than symbolic events; it demands structural change, from legal protections to shifts in public attitudes.

As the Philippines navigates its complex engagement with a globalised world, the tensions between tradition and progress will persist. For the LGBTQIA+ community, and for broader society, the challenge lies in forging a path that honours cultural heritage while addressing the inequities modernity has yet to resolve. Events like the one in Quezon City serve as both a celebration and a reminder: the road to a truly inclusive modernity is long, but the journey has begun.

The story of the Philippines’ transition is still being written, and its outcome will depend on how these competing forces—modernity, critique, and inclusion—intersect in the years ahead. For now, the rainbow sashes of Quezon City stand as a vivid symbol of what could be, if only the nation dares to imagine it.