June 1 marks the beginning of Pride Month. Its is celebrated every year to commemorate years of struggle for civil rights, and the on-going pursuit of equal justice for the LGBTQIA+ community. With the theme “Samot-saring buhay, Samot-saring kulay”, the Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) through its GAD Focal Point System (GFPS), organized several activities to explore and provide a deeper knowledge of the connection between biodiversity and gender diversity.      

The activities highlighted the diverse range of life forms, both in nature and within human society, simultaneously recognizing and celebrating the richness and uniqueness of gender identities.    

The BMB-GFPS endeavours to create a space where individuals from all backgrounds can interact, share knowledge, and help create a society that is more accepting and peaceful.    

Led by the BMB-GFPS and the Coastal and Marine Division (CMD), a series of mural painting activities on June 3, 10, 17, and 24 were conducted in a joint commemoration of Pride Month and the recently concluded Month of the Ocean.    

The mural was painted on the exterior wall of the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center (NAPWC) and depicts a wide variety of Philippine flora and fauna species.

BMB provides members of the LGBTQIA+ community with a forum to express themselves through such activities to show its dedication as an ally. The artwork symbolizes the office’s effort to be inclusive and to foster a space where everyone feels comfortable, valued, and respected, no matter who they are and where they come from. By bringing people together while acknowledging their differences, the Bureau affirms its mandate for biodiversity.