23/06/2025
ANNOUNCEMENT: Mapรบa Pride Palooza 2025 Cancellation
Warm greetings from the United Mapรบans for Safe Spaces and Equality for All (UMSSEA). ๐
After careful and thorough consideration, it is with a heavy heart that we officially announce the cancellation of this yearโs Mapรบa Pride Palooza 2025.
This decision was not made lightly. As a young organization, we had high hopes for this yearโs Pride eventโan event that was meant to be a platform for awareness, expression, and empowerment. However, several important factors have led us to this outcome, and we feel it is right to share them with transparency and sincerity:
1. Certain policies within the university restrict key elements we hoped to include in the event; Elements we believe are essential for honest conversations around HIV awareness and s*x education. As advocates for inclusivity and safe spaces, we envisioned an event that would uplift, inform, and create a supportive space for ALL Mapรบans.
Unfortunately, the limitations would hinder us from realizing that vision, fully and respectfully.
2. Admittedly, time was not on our side. Organizing an event of this scale requires far more preparation, coordination, and support than we initially anticipated. Despite our efforts, weโve come to realize that pushing forward may compromise the quality and safety of the event we had hoped to deliver.
3. UMSSEA is still a young organization. With that, we recognize the need to grow, learn, and strengthen our foundation further before we can take on events of this magnitude. We are taking this as an opportunity for growth so we can come back stronger and more capable in the future.
4. More than anything, our decision is grounded in our commitment to UMSSEAโs core valuesโadvocating for every Mapรบan. Pride Palooza was not just an event; it was meant to be a brave space for highlighting the realities and concerns faced by our community. We believe we cannot do justice to these goals under the current circumstances, and it would go against our purpose to deliver something less than what our community deserves.
We offer our sincerest apologies to everyone who supported and looked forward to this event. Your trust and encouragement have meant the world to us. We ask for your understanding and patience as we reflect and regroup. If given the opportunity, we hope to bring Pride Palooza back in the next academic yearโstronger, louder, and prouder than ever before.
Thank you for standing with us.
Kitakits sa 28, mga mahal ๐ณ๏ธโ๐๐
UMSSEA | United Mapรบans for Safe Spaces and Equality for All
