Over 80 queer artists, creatives and entrepreneurs participated in Komiket Pride 2025, which took place in two weekends and venues — from 6 to 8 June at Ayala Malls the 30th in Pasig City, and from 13 to 15 June at Ayala Malls Market! Market! in Taguig City — in celebration of LGBTIQ+ Pride Month.
Komiket, an organization which promotes and publishes Filipino komiks, as well as puts up fairs and conventions showcasing the artform and recent works, has been mounting Komiket Pride since 2023 to highlight LGBTIQ+ artists and creatives and provide venue for and uplift LGBTIQ+ voices and stories. These creative expressions have long been marginalized and erased. Moreover, the fair was also meant to provide opportunities for LGBTIQ-owned businesses.
In this year’s Pride Month, there is more focus on LGBTIQ+ entrepreneurship with events and activities such as Qwarta Merkado Bazaar at Farmer’s Market in Cubao, Quezon City, from 7 to 10 June; Queerlayaan: A Pride Celebration and Art Market Year 2 of Sticker Con MNL at the Unilab Bayanihan Center in Pasig City on 14 June; the Pride Expo at Pride PH Festival at University of the Philippines Diliman on 28 June; and QueerCon: LGBTQIA+ Business Expo of the Philippine LGBT Chamber of Commerce at Ayala Malls TriNoma in Quezon City from 20 to 21 June, touted to be the first expo dedicated to queer business in Southeast Asia.
Komiket Pride concentrated more on the visual and literary arts as well as merchandise design and crafts-making by mostly young creators such as Cinnamyon_Glaze, Albert Raqueño, Kulas, TITAPADTHA, Nonadraws, Kwago Studio, Twilight Zone, Juswaaa, Riesolai, Alice Awfulstars, Peachycorner, Gigi Chan, Artbypranpip, Eunickorn, Studio Ren, Nicci Escario, Hulyen, Mark Fermil, Mommymakes, and LumenIzampel.
The market offered prints, stickers, jewelry and other accessories, trinkets, keychains, toys, tote bags, t-shirts, komiks and many others. Some artists were on hand for commissioned sketching and drawings made on the spot.
Aside from the market, Komiket Pride also prepared a program consisting of talks, launches, panel discussions, readings of works, performances, and other activities. At the opening, solidarity messages were delivered by organizations Dakila Artist Collective and Metro Manila Pride, which also had a booth to raise funds for their Pride events.
The talks and panel discussions included the Creator Spotlight series that featured Jet Tan of Budd, Sammy of Gay Pride Rats, and Taro Taro Bozzu; “Transformations in Philippine Romance through Queer Comics” by Dr. Khursten Santos of Blush Convention; “HIV 101” by Courage Care; “Personal Safety and Communicating Boundaries” by Matt Alea of Transmasculine PH; “Body Positivity: Building A Positive Body” by the Philippine Bear Community and Mr. Bear International Michael Olle; and about queer romance with hopeful endings with authors Mina V. Esguerra, H. Bentham and Bridgette Bautista from Romanceclass Books.
Attendees enjoyed the panel-by-panel reading of Gigil: A Sapphic Anthology by Astigmata Studios and Nish, and live readings of Ang Klasmeyt Kong Krosswise by Tsambolero and Alapaap: A Collection of Filipino Boys’ Love One-Shot Komiks as well as the drag performances by Cleo De Nile and Andy Crocker, and a musical performance by Yago Yanong.
Kannah Kisaragi of Rainbow Pages and Pulsar Press presented their newly released comics, Memoire En Photos, and Nashenzo from Cebu launched his Boys’ Love komiks, A Couple Series Between Two Bisaya Men.
Fairs such as Komket Pride, which combines art and entrepreneurship, are much welcome endeavors for a sector that is often economically disadvantaged because of discrimination. They serve as vital platforms for visibility, empowerment, and economic inclusion, allowing queer participants to connect, thrive, and celebrate their identities through enterprise. By supporting these events, we help create a more diverse, equitable, and vibrant business landscape for all.