The first time I experienced Marikina’s gay flores de Mayo was about three years ago when I was still using a Kodak point-and-shoot camera. Was finally able to see one again last night.
Just as a foreword, I am aware that Flores de Mayo and Santacruzan started out as different events. Flores de Mayo was a celebration of the blooming of flowers in May while Santacruzan was commemoration of the search for the holy cross by Emperor Constantine.
And while the annual gay pageant in Marikina is officially dubbed as a Flores de Mayo parade, the fact that there was a Reyna Elena proves that Flores de Mayo and Santacruzan are used interchangeably.
I’m saying this because I know that some people feel strongly about gays parading as sagalas in what is perceived to be a religious pageant. Personally, I don’t see why that should be more objectionable than the crass commercialization of the Santacruzan with beauty queens and showbiz personalities wearing designer gowns for the entertainment of tourists with the money to throw away.
So… we went to watch this year’s gay flores de Mayo in Marikina and it was a fun experience just like the last time. The sagalas were very accommodating — they stopped, smiled and posed for the cameras. Some of these gays looked so feminine and pretty it was easy to mistake them for real females.
20 Responses
Judy Spear
May 5th, 2007 at 4:55 am
1oh my gosh, that was such a treat! Thanks, great pictures.. Judy
mari
May 5th, 2007 at 5:08 am
2hi connie, i enjoyed looking at the photos.
last photo - she looks like gloria romero alright. bingbong crisologo if she has buckteeth and make her a shade darker.
some of them have real boobies ha!
rhodora
May 5th, 2007 at 3:55 pm
3That candidate must be really despeerate! Isali ba naman ang picturen niya sa sagala!
Gloria Romero look alike? Mmm.. I agree with you, Connie. More of Bingbong Crisologo. lol! But in fairness, he looks very elegant, at pinakamatino ang gown. hehehe. The roses even match the color of his dress.
Connie
May 5th, 2007 at 5:06 pm
4I enjoyed taking them too, Judy.
The gays were really accommodating. They wouldn’t resume walking until I had taken all the pics I wanted.
mari, eh pag walang boobies di pwede mag plunging neckline di ba?
rhodora, naku, may “announcer” pa yung candidate ha, na naka-megaphone. Pampasira talaga.
Jayred
May 5th, 2007 at 5:22 pm
5Mas maayos pa sila sa akin.
This reminds me to buy more decent clothes for myself and to pay more attention to my hair.
The one in the first pic is pretty.
rolly
May 5th, 2007 at 11:14 pm
6Isn’t it amazing that my teen aged years had been spent in my parents’ house in Marikina and yet, I have not seen any of this parades? I’ve heard of it before but somehow it did not pique my interest. Bakit kaya? Hindi naman ako homophobic!
Connie
May 6th, 2007 at 1:18 am
7LOL Jayred, there were moments when I got that feeling too. Especially about my hair.
Tito Rolly, eh yung Santacruzan ng mga lola, nakapanood ka na? That’s quite an event din daw although I haven’t seen one. Weekdays kasi eh.
amateur misanthrope
May 6th, 2007 at 8:10 am
8Love the pics!
Ay, Tito Rolly, they are waiting for you.
lady cess
May 6th, 2007 at 1:49 pm
9hindi siya kamukha ni gloria, hihihi.
the gowns in page 3 are like, whoa!!!
rolly
May 7th, 2007 at 12:21 am
10hahaha nice one, amateur misanthrope. I can go with you if you want.
rolly
May 7th, 2007 at 12:23 am
11Another one for lolas??? Now, I have not even heard of that one, connie!
Connie
May 7th, 2007 at 1:12 pm
12lady cess, i was waiting for something to pop out of the tops hehehe
meron for lolas, tito rolly. i’ll ask for the sked.
Chateau
May 7th, 2007 at 3:36 pm
13Oooh, most of them are so lovely and mas sexy pa sa tootong females! *ouch*
On the last photos: Bingbong for sure! Esp when Bingbong was younger and not yet all wrinkled up. hehe
Connie
May 7th, 2007 at 3:40 pm
14Chateau, at yung iba, ang kinis! They really spend on grooming, grabe.
Luisa
May 7th, 2007 at 5:26 pm
15They look every inch a lady..he he he…
KK
May 8th, 2007 at 1:54 am
16Naku po! Some of them are more feminine than I am. The ‘ladies’ in first and second pictures look real.
Tom
May 11th, 2007 at 4:28 am
17If this keeps up you ladies could be an endangered species.
Tom
May 11th, 2007 at 5:01 am
18Why is it that I keep looking at picture #1 and somehow entertaining the possibility of a complex relationship?
Connie
May 11th, 2007 at 12:21 pm
19LOL Tom, I can ask around where (s)he may be reached hehehehe
Server overload and the gay Santacruzan — House on a hill
May 6th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
20[...] Gay flores de mayo photos, circa 2007. [...]
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