The first quarter of 2021 brings a lot of hope for the whole world with a better understanding of COVID-19 and the coming of the vaccine against the dreadful disease. People are becoming more adjusted to the “new normal” and thanks to technology, social distancing and flight bans can be remedied with a click or a swipe of a finger.
So goes for beloved community group Filipino Lesbian and Gay Community and Friends better known as FLAGCOM and Friends. They have been representing the Filipino LGBTQi and their friends promoting social cohesion, community harmony and safe sex. Headed by its Managing Director Albie Prias and Finance Director Charles Chan mounts the yearly Mardi Gras International Queen fondly called MAGIQ.
MAGIQ celebrates the diversity of the LGBTQi community around the world with a fun and colourful search for the best candidate who exemplify the essence of Mardi Gras. The pageant usually happens a week before the Sydney Mardi Gras parade, this yearly event engages most of the Filipino community groups in a wonderful exhibition of culture, talent and the festive Pinoy spirit.
This year, FLAGCOM takes on a different route in producing the 11th year of MAGIQ. The “Mardi Gras International Queen goes virtual in 2021,” enthuses Albie as he shares the good news to the members of the Press including TAF. “Transexual candidates all over the world can join the pageant in the convenience of their own home and backyard,” continues Albie.
This comes as another major adjustment for the yearly pageant as Sydney’s Annual Mardi Gras parade moves from the traditional Oxford Street route to the confines of the Sydney Cricket Grounds to ensure the safety of parade participants, spectators and the community at large and will be broadcasted by parade partner SBS for everyone across Australia to see the celebration live.
Charles looks back at the initial occurrences leading to their decision to mount the event online,” the uncertainty of the pandemic was really all around us last year. We didn’t know how the pandemic will go. I guess the last straw was when we were informed that another community group’s event got cancelled a day before its show date because of the lockdown laws laid down by the government. We didn’t want to go through lengths of preparation to do a live show and get cancelled at the last moment.”
However daunting, this scenario inspired Albie and Charles to break the boundaries of traditional pageantry to catapulting the competition into cyberspace. “As always, we welcome all transexuals of all shapes, sizes, nationality and age. We embrace diversity as we celebrate inclusivity as we have done in the past years of MAGIQ. This is the vison of FLAGCOM and Friends. What’s good about this year, the candidates do not have to come to Sydney, “explains Charles.
As of writing time, Charles informed us that since this is the first time they are doing an online show, there are more details that FLAGCOM has to consider and with the help of the community’s coverage expert, Bob Reyes, final details of the broadcast will be announced soon.
For the all the excited fans out there especially those who would like to join the pageant, the deadline for application is February 8. Go the FLAGCOM & Friends facebook page for the necessary information in joining this year’s pageant.
For more information on the pageant proceedings, please send an email to Charles Chan through [email protected].