Narratives of the local LGBTQIA+ community are on display in a photo exhibition at Luisa’s Cafe.
Organized for Pride Month, the exhibit showcases the stories, identities, and experiences of it the pride community, “We want to promote not just a celebration of queerness, but also the struggles of the community. We want the world to know we exist, we’re here. There’s an importance in art, in photography, in showing what’s really happening in this world,” curator Nadyn “Nadz” David said during the exhibit opening on June 26.
The event, titled “Lente ni Accla: A Pride Photography Exhibition,” is part of the activities organized by Northern Luzon Pride (NLP). NLP is a volunteer-led, non-stock, non-governmental LGBTQIA+ advocacy organization based in Baguio.
The exhibit features photographs documenting the diversity, self-expression, and experiences of LGBTQIA+ individuals over the past five years. The collection includes works by 14 photographers: Faith Erasmo, Nick Horacio, Nadyn “Nadz” David, Daeniel Joie, Xyz, Tia Nicolas, Brkn.lhea, Ami, Kabunyan Palaganas, Chewy, Payang, Ryles, Nica, and Niore. It also includes photographs submitted anonymously by community members.
“Lente ni Accla” documents five years of life in Northern Luzon through photographs of Pride festivals, marches, gatherings, and daily experiences.
NLP began in May 2022 when a group of friends created placards for the “Takder Kordi” campaign rally in Baguio City. The group later expanded into an organization representing the local LGBTQIA+ community.
David said the exhibition aims to tell the stories of the community through photography while highlighting both moments of celebration and the challenges members face.
Tia Nicolas, a volunteer photographer, said she joined the project because Northern Luzon Pride provided a space for her while she was exploring her identity.
“When I was exploring myself and my identity, I felt like Northern Luzon was the right venue for me. And nung nag-tawag sila for a photo exhibit, I wanted to help out,” Nicolas said.
Organizers describe “Lente ni Accla” as an archive of local Pride movements, highlighting the faces, stories, and experiences of the community in Northern Luzon.
The exhibit is open to the public at Luisa’s Cafe until July 25, 2026. By Rommel G. Fangot Jr.,
