First Gender Festival Boracay a Success

BORACAY ISLAND — As GADVOCATES, the 1st All Gender Festival Boracay, a movement for ALL GENDERS to stand together as allies successfully launched the inaugural 1st All Gender Festival Boracay, which concluded with immense success after drawing men, women and the LGBTQIA++ crowds from August 28 to 30, 2026, primarily staged at the island’s famous windsurfing hub, Bolabog Beach.

The landmark celebration served as the formal launching pad for the newly organized Boracay United for Gender Alliance and Equality (BUGAE) Coalition: Boracay Women Producers Cooperative (BWPC) or popularly known as Pinay Boracay and the Federation of Women Associations in Boracay and Malay (FEWABOMA) in partnership with the local government unit of Malay, the Provincial Government of Aklan, the Barangay Balabag Council and Pag IBIG Fund.

Supported by the Municipal Youth Development Office (MYDO), Boracay Blooms, Inc., Red Lace Boracay, Bukay Community Teen Center, Men Opposed to Violence Everywhere (MOVE) Aklan Chapter, Boracay Island Livelihood Motorbike Owners and Drivers Association (BILMODA), Caticlan Boracay Transport Multi Purpose Cooperative (CBTMPC), Small Players Association of Boracay (SPAB), Sand Castle
Makers Association, LRN Property Developers Corporation, Hue Hotel, Nature’s Spring, Museum Shine, Southwest Tours, AKELCO MCOO District 10, Cathy’s Bistro, GMarket, Brgy. Manocmanoc and Brgy. Yapak, all working alongside established men, women and LGBTQIA++ groups, professionals, and local youth leaders. The newly minted coalition aims to champion inclusivity, diversity, and mutual respect across the entire island community.

A Celebration of Diversity and Youth Advocacy

The groundbreaking event brought together student representatives from local high schools, alongside delegates from the three key barangays of Boracay Island (Balabag, Manocmanoc, and Yapak).

The festival featured a diverse mix of advocacy-driven and creative competitions designed to promote Gender and Development (GAD) principles. Under the technical guidance of the BWPC GAD Consultant and Adviser Hon. Cristina Daguno- de Josef, Malay Sangguniang Bayan Youth Committee Head Hon. Hope Pagsuguiron and Malay Youth Development Office OIC Ms. Neeja Taunan, the festival kicked off with highly engaging youth events under the overarching theme, “Beyond Labels, Beyond Limits: Youth Building a Gender-Equal Malay.”
Honoring the Festival Champions

The youth competitions showcased immense artistic and intellectual talent, with the delegation from Lamberto H. Tirol National High School bringing immense pride to their institution by securing top spots across major events:

Poster Making Contest

(1st Place): Edgie Paul G. Villorente (Coached by Shezell G. Salibio)

Quiz Bee Competition (1st Place): Ryza Reign Garan and Kristine Nea B. Torneo (Coached by Min Hana B. Millares)
Essay Writing Contest (3rd Place): Angela Taneo (Coached by Jeasalyn C. Lomugdang)

The Search for Mr. Gender and Development (GAD) Ally Boracay 2026

One of the major highlights of the weekend was the glamorous and highly anticipated Search for Mr. GAD Ally Boracay 2026. Hosted in partnership with the prominent local venue Museum Shine Boracay, the competition provided a platform for individuals to advocate for gender-responsive development.

The pageantry drew extensive coverage from local networks like the Paradise Cable Television Network (PCTV) and saw intense community support as candidates— including prominent advocates from uniformed services personnel like the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) (ASN Gabrielle De Castro and ASN Bryson Pacia), Philippine National Police (PNP) (PSSG Jemar Claridad and PAT Eric John Dago-oc), Bureau
of Fire Protection (BFP) (FO1 Vince Sebido and FO1 Ruperto III Retubis) and representatives from Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA) (Aux Jayson Melano), BILMODA (Reynaldo Maming), and the Sand Castle Makers Association (Adrian Fernando Dela Cruz) —showcased their intelligence, platform, and dedication to social equality. The organizers noted that all the participating men truly shined by
utilizing their platforms to champion safety, respect, and gender equality across the island.

The first crown of the Search for Mr. GAD Ally Boracay 2026 went to ASN Gabrielle De Castro of PCG. BFP FO1 Ruperto III Retubis 1st Runner Up, PNP PSSG Jemar Claridad 2nd Runner Up, PCGA Aux Jayson Melano 3rd Runner Up, PNP PAT Eric John Dago-oc 4th Runner Up and BILMODA Reynaldo Maming as Mr. Charity having the highest in ticket sales.

Festival Theme and Core Objectives

Guided by the overarching theme, “Celebrating Positive Masculinity” the festival was established with clear social and development milestones:

Promoting Inclusivity and Equality: Fostering a progressive beach environment where all individuals, regardless of gender identity, feel safe, seen, and respected.

Empowering Local Youth: Providing student leaders and regional representatives a platform to engage directly with Gender and Development (GAD) principles.

Advocating Sustainable, Inclusive Tourism: Transitioning Boracay’s identity toward socially responsible tourism that celebrates diversity alongside natural heritage.

A Diverse Lineup of Beachfront Activities

The three-day festival was packed with interactive, community-driven events that blended advocacy with creativity:

Community Talks: Interactive youth leadership forums and panel discussions focused on breaking gender stereotypes, establishing safe spaces, and legal protections under local GAD codes.

Sand Castle Art Installations with GAD Quotes: Renowned local sculptors created magnificent sand masterpieces along Bulabog Beach, meticulously embedding powerful advocacy quotes on equality and respect into the sand structures.

Arts and Shell Crafts Decoupage Demo Making: Led by the island’s community entrepreneurs, this interactive session taught participants the art of upcycling local materials and beach shells into functional decoupage crafts, promoting sustainable livelihoods.

All Gender Bazaar: A vibrant community market setup along the beachfront showcasing products, food, and handmade crafts from local small businesses, women’s groups, and diverse artisan networks.

Zumba Fitness Sessions: Energetic high-octane fitness sessions brought tourists, advocates, and locals together on the sand, emphasizing health, wellness, and unity through dance and movement.

Setting a New Precedent for Boracay Tourism

While Boracay is globally renowned for its summer festivals like Love Boracay, the All Gender Festival marks a progressive shift toward social advocacy and inclusive sustainable tourism. Local officials and BUGAE President Dannie Solidum expressed optimism that this would become a mainstay annual calendar event, positioning Boracay not just as a world-class beach destination, but as a beacon of progressive and safe spaces for all genders in Western Visayas.

“We believe everyone deserves respect, equality, safety, and love—regardless of gender or identity in the premier tourist destination of the Philippines and a family destination as well. A truly great family destination is one defined by security, wholesome values, and the absolute protection of every child, woman, and individual who walks its shores. When families visit our island, they aren’t just looking for sun and sand—they are looking for a safe, harmonious community where respect is a way of life. Let us redefine gender dialogue not as a point of division, but as a bridge for protection, peace, and shared community values.” said BWPC Chairperson Desiree Segovia who initiated the organizing of the 1st All Gender Festival Boracay