16/02/2026
The Dipag Rainbow Collectiveโs gender advocate, Ms. Arvin Laranjo, delivered a talk on the topic of Gender and Social Inclusion for the Zamboanga del Norte Learnersโ Convergence at Makayla Hall, Mibang Hotel, Dipolog City today, February 16, 2026. We thank the Zamboanga del Norte Schools Division and its Youth Formation Division for inviting the Dipag Rainbow Collective as their resource speaker, and for spearheading this inclusive and SOGIE-affirmative activity for the incumbent SSLG presidents and advisers across the province.
With the strong chant of โ๐พ๐๐๐, ๐พ๐๐๐, ๐พ๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐บ๐ผ๐ธ!โ from the learners, it signified that they were able to grasp the concepts of Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity,and Expression-Sexual Characteristics (SOGIE-SC). Ms. Laranjo affirmed, โ๐ฟ๐บ๐ต๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ โ๐ข๐๐๐-๐๐๐๐๐๐ โฆ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ก ๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ก ๐ค๐๐กโ ๐ข๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ก๐๐๐.โ
During the Q&A, Christianne Aey Campilan (she/her), 18, an SSLG President of Labason Integrated School, shared her insight: โ๐๐๐บ๐ผ๐ธ-๐๐ถ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐ ๐ฟ๐บ๐ต๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐ข๐ก ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐. ๐ธ๐๐๐๐กโ๐ฆ, ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ก, ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐ ๐ โ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ โ๐๐๐๐ก๐ .โ Ms. Laranjo ended the talk with a meaningful quote, โ๐๐๐ข ๐๐๐โ๐ก โ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐กโ ๐๐กโ๐๐๐ , ๐๐๐๐๐ข๐ ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐๐๐ ๐ข๐๐๐๐ข๐ ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐ค๐ ๐ค๐๐ฆ.โ boosting the confidence of every learner to be themselves and be proud of who they are.
In a panel discussion, Ms. Laranjo shared her experiences as a gender advocate and the challenges she encountered as a transgender woman. However, she faced them with a silver lining, finding the beauty in everyoneโs heart and educating them through her advocacies. The discussion ended with respect, shaping the learnersโ perspectives and deepening their understanding of various social issues, norms, and misconceptions against LGBTQIA+ members.
Caption by: John Robert M. Villa
Captured by: Wilson G. Velarde, Jr.
Pubmat: John Robert M. Villa & Wilson G. Velarde, Jr.
