Paraluman: PH Sapphic Anthology
Paraluman: PH Sapphic Anthology, shortened to simply “Paraluman,” is a non-profit volunteer collective aiming to bring more visibility to Pinay queer stories, whether that may be through art or written works! The team has two anthologies out online. They are both free to read! The collective mostly operates online, but hopes to do offline, on-the-ground events to meet more people.
Founders: Zo, Elias, Em (plus many mods and volunteers!)
Founding Year: 2022
“When we celebrate, we embrace our messiness, our lows, the times we fell in love and had our hearts broken, our independence, and most of all, the stories that allow us to be who we are, as we are.”
What is one thing you still wish to see in the community? Whether it’s a physical space, a project, or a radical culture shift—tell us what’s missing and why you think it’s worth dreaming about.
Permanent spaces specifically dedicated to sapphic audiences. There is a distinct shift right now: more sapphic media works are being produced and given a platform to share their voice. But we still lack a space or society that allows us to be ourselves, does not question whether we are “marketable,” or ask us to tone down the narrative to be more “palatable.” There is much to look forward to in experiencing this kind of cultural shift that just welcomes us as is.
Manifestation time! Name one Filipino queer or women-led initiative you wish to work with. What is it about their mission that sparks a fire in yours?
Tala’t Liryo! In many ways, this initiative aligns well with what our collective also aims to do. We both aim to bring forth more sapphic stories, provide more access and visibility to our communities, and encourage more queer creators to share their works. Hopefully, we can do a collab with other sapphic/queer initiatives, too!
The struggle is real, but it is shared. And there is love. There is hope. There is community! Why do you think it’s necessary to celebrate and insist on queer and female joy? When we laugh, dance, or exist peacefully together, what are we actually reclaiming?
When we celebrate, we reclaim our humanity and autonomy. Queerness isn’t a one-size-fits-all narrative. That includes how we navigate our identities in an oppressive country like ours. When we celebrate, we embrace our messiness, our lows, the times we fell in love and had our hearts broken, our independence, and most of all, the stories that allow us to be who we are, as we are.
Here comes the “how do you see yourself in the future” question. If you achieve everything you set out to do, what do you think the world, or at least the Philippines, would look like? What is the ultimate dream state for your collective?
A world wherein we don’t have to fight for our spaces! Instead, it allows for our voices, stories, and existence to be as is. There are no questions about whether we have to build the space from scratch on our own. It just happens and becomes normalized. We hope for a queer futurity in which we don’t have to explain ourselves to people. Instead, we just are!
Write a little love note! What’s one message you wish to tell any gay/girl who will come across this page?
Hello to you! We hope you see some parts of yourself in our stories. We hope that you know there are so many of us like you, living, succeeding, laughing, crying, and existing beautifully in this world. You are not alone, even when there are times you feel like so. We hope that you live your wonderful queer life fully!