13/06/2026
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
JOSH “NINANG” BARRIENTOS: THE HEART OF SERVICE, THE SOUL OF PRIDE 🏳️🌈
SELFLESS. FEARLESS. UNWAVERING.
In every generation, there emerges a leader whose influence is not measured by titles alone, but by the lives transformed through their compassion, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to service. For the LGBTQIA+ community of Oriental Mindoro, that leader is Josh Barrientos, affectionately known to many as Ninang.
Serving as the President of the Oriental Mindoro Pride Council, Chairperson of Oriental Mindoro Queen, and Chairperson of Lingkod LGBTQIA+ of Calapan (LILAC), Josh Barrientos has become a symbol of servant leadership—one who leads not from a position of authority, but from a place of genuine love for people. Her journey is defined by an extraordinary dedication to family, friends, and the LGBTQIA+ community, consistently placing the needs of others before her own.
What distinguishes Josh is not merely her ability to organize programs, advocate for inclusion, or champion equality. It is her remarkable capacity for selflessness. Time and again, she has quietly extended support to those in need, often reaching into her own pocket to ensure that community members receive assistance, opportunities, and hope. For her, service has never been about recognition; it has always been about responsibility.
Many describe her with a phrase that perfectly captures her character: “Isusubo na lang niya, ibibigay pa niya sa iba.” Such is the depth of her generosity. When others hesitate, she steps forward. When others turn away, she remains. When challenges arise, she carries burdens that are not her own, believing that no member of the community should ever feel abandoned.
Beyond her generosity is a heart marked by kindness and grace. Those who know her best often say that Josh has “walang masamang tinapay.” She approaches every person with respect, empathy, and understanding. Regardless of background, status, or circumstance, she chooses dialogue over division, compassion over judgment, and unity over conflict. Her ability to uplift others without seeking anything in return has earned her the trust, admiration, and affection of countless individuals throughout the province.
Under her stewardship, initiatives have evolved into movements, gatherings into communities, and aspirations into realities. She has helped create spaces where LGBTQIA+ individuals can stand proudly in their truth, knowing they are seen, valued, and celebrated. Through her vision and dedication, she has become not only an advocate for equality but also a beacon of hope for those who have long searched for acceptance and belonging.
Josh “Ninang” Barrientos exemplifies the highest ideals of leadership: courage tempered by humility, strength guided by compassion, and influence exercised through service. Her legacy is not merely found in the organizations she leads or the events she spearheads—it is written in the countless lives she has touched, empowered, and inspired.
She is more than a leader.
She is a nurturer of dreams, a champion of dignity, a voice for the unheard, and a living testament that true greatness is found not in what one keeps, but in what one willingly gives away for the benefit of others. Through every act of kindness and every sacrifice made in silence, Josh Barrientos continues to embody the very essence of public service, proving that leadership at its finest is, and always will be, an act of love.
