Screening of Tulipa and Forum with FilCom in Barcelona Expounds on the Experiences of the Filipino Diaspora LGBTQIA+ Community

BARCELONA, 23 January 2023 – The Philippine Consulate General in Barcelona partnered with Filipino LGBT Europe, the Filipino Expat Magazine, and the Bahaghari Barcelona to welcome fifty members of the Filipino community to the Barcelona premiere of the Filipino documentary film Tulipa on 14 January 2023. Tulipa’s executive producer and Chairman of Filipino LGBT Europe Chris Sta. Brigida Kopp, accompanied by Kaye Candaza, senior member of the Society of Transwomen Advocates of the Philippines, flew in from Amsterdam to grace the event and share their insights after the screening, which was held at the Casal del Barri de Raval Cultural Center in Barcelona, Spain. 

Tulipa tackles the uncertainties of the Filipino LGBTQIA+ community in Europe as they deal with the disconnect between the Philippines’ and their new home’s social and legal approach to their gender identities. The film also shows how the community celebrates the strong camaraderie and kinship that have developed through the years as a result of their shared ideals and goals.

Consul Raisa Mabayo welcomed the guests, expressing her congratulations to the Filipino LGBT Europe for their continued advocacy for LGBT equality, as well as the success of the documentary film. 

In response, Executive Producer Chris Sta. Brigida shared his appreciation for the Consulate General, as it lent support to the LGBT community in Barcelona by cooperating with the group for the Tulipa film showing. In explaining the meaning behind the title of the film he explained, “Just like the flower tulip which originally came from Asia before becoming an iconic symbol of the Netherlands, the four characters in the film also came from Asia and blossomed in their adopted country of the Netherlands, nurtured with favorable policies and protected by laws.”    

The film showing was followed by a panel discussion composed of Mr. Brigida, Ms. Candaza, Ms. Mavy Santos, founder of Bahaghari Barcelona and Mr. Nats Villaluna, Editor-in-Chief of the Filipino Expat Magazine as moderator. Among those discussed were updates on the SOGIE bill, advocacies and history of the LGBT Europe Foundation, and the experiences of being an LGBT community member in the Philippines and in Europe.

Mr. Brigida shared his hope that their visit will inspire the LGBT community in Barcelona to help Bahaghari to strengthen its existence as it could be a support group for those who need it. Ms. Candaza also added that a united community could mean a stronger lobby among Spanish and Philippine policymakers in advancing the rights of the LGBT community. END

Chris Sta. Brigida Kopp introducing the film documentary Tulipa. (Barcelona PCG photo)

Panel discussion with the members of the audience. (Barcelona PCG photo)

Consul Raisa Mabayo, Chris Sta. Brigida Kopp, Kaye Candaza, Mavy Santos and Nats Villaluna with the attendees to the event. (Barcelona PCG photo)

For more information, visit https://barcelonapcg.dfa.gov.ph/ or https://www.facebook.com/PHinBarcelona/.