Arts & Culture

GULWA: A Solo Art Exhibit on Coming Out

Desiree Carabio hopes that through her art, people would be more accepting and most importantly, feel more accepted.

Photo by Denzel Yorong

Desiree Carabio, a Fine Arts student of the University of the Philippines, has always turned to art as a symbol of her self-expression. When she grew up in a family who does different forms of art such as sculpting, carving, and screen printing, it kindled her ardent desire to create art, more specifically venturing onto the artistic frontier of digital art.

As she is a self-taught artist, spending loads of time learning through video tutorials, she soon started to develop different art styles and techniques. Desiree is curating her first ever solo exhibit, her own expression on the issues surrounding the LGBTQ+ community. Dubbed as Gulwa, a Cebuano term which means to “come out”, the solo art exhibit is a dedication to everyone who feels different, and encourages them to come out and be their true selves.

“It is sad to know that some people imprison who they are just to fit in to what society dictates,” muses Desiree, as she describes the empowering embodiment of the exhibit and mentions its goal to inspire people to break free from holding back who they want to be.

Her digital art creativity brought her to great heights. During the 2016 49th Shell National Students Art Competition, her digital painting titled “Marlon Monroe”—an artistic take on the transformation and the complexities of gender—won 1st Place in the Digital Fine Arts category. Not only does the artwork focus on the advancements in the process of artmaking in this generation, but more importantly sheds ample light on the exceptional beauty of gender.

Photo by Denzel Yorong

An advocate for gender equality, Desiree says that one of the most challenging things about her art and the exhibit is that the subject makes most people uncomfortable because of the conservative nature inherent in the Philippines. What drives her to continue her craft is that she wants people who go through “coming out” to feel that they are okay and that there are people who understand what they go through.

“I myself am gender confused. And in my own circle, there are several who are undergoing the same, who are depressed about it, even running away from home because of it”, Desire says when asked about her strong advocacy. She hopes that through her art, people would be more accepting and most importantly, feel more accepted.

Her vision for this exhibit is to express through the canvas the struggles of finding one’s identity. As the artist herself relates to such experience, she continues to discover her true identity, one which is divergent from norms. Born into a conservative family, coming out was an experience that brought confusion, difficulty, bullying, and shame.

While many people still frown on or isolate the LGBTQ+ as they don’t fall into certain sets of societal norms traditionally assigned, the exhibit plays a pivotal role in highlighting the plight of the LGBTQ+, especially its youth as they face possibilities of homelessness, violence, and the internalized hate among the LGBTQ+.

Wrong, a sin, and an abomination. These are the words that the conservative mind runs to when faced with the LGBTQ+. With this, the artist calls for the LGBTQ+ community to be provided with utmost support and an environment inclusive of who they are, which is a crucial part of their personal development.

Gulwa will run at Artissimo Art House in Banilad, Cebu City from May 11-25. It will highlight not only awareness and visibility on the plight of the LGBTQ+ to the public, but more importantly serve as an avenue to share the stories that never get the chance to be heard or told.

Arts & Culture

Queer Coding in Cinema: The Best Shows to Binge for Pride Month 2025

compiled by Edge Javier

As Pride Month 2025 goes into full swing, the best way to celebrate LGBTQIA+ voices is with a binge-worthy lineup of shows that center queer stories, joy, love, resilience — and yes, of course, drama. From groundbreaking recent series to must-watch staples and fan favorites, here are the top shows to stream this June that reflect the vibrant spectrum of the queer-coded experience.

1. Heartstopper – Season 3 (Netflix)
Nick and Charlie are back, and the coming-of-age sweetness is stronger than ever. Season 3 explores deeper emotional territory while keeping the wholesome tone fans adore. Expect more queer joy, nuanced relationships, and tearjerker moments that feel like a warm hug.

2. Drag Me to Dinner (Hulu)
Hosted by Neil Patrick Harris, this chaotic culinary competition pairs drag duos in a battle to throw the most fabulous themed dinner party. With outrageous challenges, surprise twists, and plenty of camp, queens serve up equal parts food, flair, and fierce shade. It’s RuPaul meets Top Chef—served with a side of sequins.

3. Queer Planet (Apple TV+)
Hosted by Janelle Monáe, this visually stunning docuseries dives into queerness in the animal kingdom and parallels in human identities. It’s smart, groundbreaking, and perfect for those who want to feel seen—and informed.

4. Fellow Travelers (Paramount+)
This period romance-drama set during the Lavender Scare continues to grip audiences with its tragic beauty and sharp historical insight. If you missed Season 1, now is the perfect time to catch up before the highly anticipated Season 2 lands later this year.

5. The Buccaneers – Season 2 (Apple TV+)
The unapologetically queer period drama returns with more scandal, sapphic yearning, and feminist rebellion among American heiresses navigating high society in 1870s London. Think Bridgerton, but with more edge and better sapphic representation.

6. Our Flag Means Death – The Finale Special (Max)
This fan-favorite pirate rom-com wraps up with a one-hour finale special airing this June. Whether you’re rewatching from the start or jumping into the last hurrah, this show remains a shining example of queer love told with heart and humor.

7. This Is Me Now… The Series (Prime Video)
Following Jennifer Lopez’s genre-blurring film-musical hybrid, the series version delves into themes of love, identity, and self-acceptance, and features cameos by queer icons and allies. It’s campy, messy, and made for Pride Month mood-boosting.

8. Sort Of – Final Season (Max)
This critically acclaimed dramedy about a gender-fluid millennial navigating love, grief, and identity in Toronto comes to a close with an emotionally rich final season. A thoughtful and often hilarious story that never loses its beating heart.

9. Red, White & Royal Blue – Limited Series (Prime Video)
After the hit film adaptation, the beloved queer romance returns in a serialized format, expanding on Alex and Henry’s story with new twists and deeper character arcs. It’s romantic escapism, elevated.

10. POSE: The Legacy (FX/Hulu)
This documentary miniseries honors the cultural legacy of POSE and the real-life ballroom legends who inspired it. Featuring interviews with cast, creators, and icons from the scene, it’s a must-watch tribute to queer history and resilience.

Whether you’re looking for laughter, tears, romance, or revolution, these Pride Month picks for 2025 offer it all—while honoring the complexity and beauty of LGBTQIA+ lives. So press play, turn up the volume, and let queer stories shine this June and beyond. Happy Pride! 🏳️‍🌈

Arts & Culture

Chaos and Clarity: Zen Aesthetic in Oj Hofer’s Art

by Jing Ramos |

Oj Hofer, our fashion contributing editor, is a Fine Arts graduate from the University of the Philippines. Though he began painting at the age of eight, his artistic journey took a transformative turn in 2013. While volunteering as a costume designer for Siddhartha: The Musical, he encountered Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s One-Stroke Calligraphy, sparking a deep devotion to Japanese sumi-e painting and kanji calligraphy. Over the years, he refined his craft, using his art to share the Dharma through exhibitions while supporting the Hsing Yun Educational Foundation. In 2022, his spiritual path deepened at Nan Tien University, where he embraced Zen and Humanistic Buddhism, shaping his artistic philosophy.

“Plum Blossoms in Moonlight.” Serigraphy on abaca.

In his recent works, Hofer merges traditional calligraphy with serigraphy, drawing inspiration from his friend Charles Lahti—an internationally recognized New York-based painter and printmaker. Lahti, known for his collaborations with post-war American artists like Robert Rauschenberg, Donald Judd, Andy Warhol, and LeRoy Neiman, introduced Hofer to silkscreen techniques. Through a workshop Lahti conducted in Cebu—arranged by their mutual friend Greg Urra—Hofer integrated silkscreen into his Zen artworks, particularly those on abaca.

“The Circle of Harmony” Serigraphy and Calligraphy on abaca.

Hofer’s cross-disciplinary approach challenges conventional Zen aesthetics. His layered paintings on abaca may seem far from tranquil at first glance, but closer contemplation reveals a meditative core. His serigraph of an Enso circle, for example, initially appears chaotic, filled with Tang Dynasty poetry and overlapping, repetitive forms. Yet, by focusing on a single calligraphic element, the viewer experiences a moment of clarity—a glimpse of awakening within the visual complexity.

“Monkey Mind” Serigraphy and Calligraphy on abaca.

Even more engaging is his diptych Monkey Mind. At odds with the traditional Zen emphasis on negative space, this piece is deliberately busy, reflecting the restless nature of the mind. A distracted viewer may struggle to find a focal point, but one attuned to emptiness and presence will perceive clarity amidst the seeming disarray.

Ink and intention—creating calligraphy in support of one of my advocacies.

By fusing Zen philosophy with the discipline of serigraphy, Hofer invites his audience to look beyond surface impressions and discover stillness within movement, balance within complexity. His art does not merely depict Zen—it embodies the paradoxes at its core, offering a path to mindfulness through the act of seeing and the experience of doing.

Arts & Culture

What is Sappia? The Rice Myth Goddess of Bohol Who Helped Feed the People During a Great Famine

by Emma Gomez

The story began when the people of Bohol started to experience hunger and famine. All the livestocks were inedible and the fields were dried out leaving only weeds planted on the ground. The people prayed to the goddess of mercy, Sappia, to ask for food.

Sappia, the rice myth goddess of Bohol

Sappia, from the heavens, heard the cries of the people. She saw the dense population of weeds and offered to help them. Sappia thought of nourishing the weeds to be edible and healthy for the people of Bohol. Straightaway, she sprinkled the weed with milk from her bossom. She emptied each breast until blood came out. Before she left, she whispered to the weeds that they may be nourished and be able to feed the people.

When harvest season came, the people of Bohol quickly gathered the nourished weeds. They observed that the ones sprinkled with milk were white, while the other were red. They called the new plant rice and they replanted these in honor of Sappia, and for the people to devour.