Reliasourcing celebrated Pride Month 2025 on June 27 with a burst of color and creativity that turned the workplace into a joyful space of expression and belonging. People showed up as their most authentic selves, with vibrant fashion statements that signaled their support, driven by thoughtful conversations that deepened our culture of inclusion.
A Runway of Self-Expression
A major celebration highlight was the Dress to Impress competition, where employees showcased their boldest and brightest Bini-inspired outfits. The energy was all about standing tall and being who you are. And after much excitement, our top three fashion-forward winners were crowned:
Top 1: Bini Crawford
Top 2: Bini Reinarie
Top 3: Bini Marce
During the celebration, winners were announced in a celebratory post-event announcement, and their outfits reflected the diversity and spirit of Reliasourcing’s people, celebrating their stories, identities, and confidence.
Pride Activities: A Fun and Friendly Time
We wrapped up Pride Month with a heartfelt celebration at Reliasourcing, a day dedicated to embracing all forms of love and honoring the vibrant diversity within our team.
We had an unlimited photo booth, where team members captured joyful memories with rainbow flags and props, glittered backdrops, and shared group hugs. Laughter echoed as each snapshot became a keepsake and proof of the powerful and vibrant community inside the office.
Our mini bazaar also allowed employees to showcase their hobbies and small businesses, creating space for creative exchange and entrepreneurial pride.
Handmade accessories, sweets, pre-loved items, and passion projects were among the many sold to celebrate talent and individuality.
Of course, a powerful component of the day was our HIV Awareness Seminar and free testing, held in collaboration with MyHubCares. The session provided vital education and a safe, stigma-free opportunity for employees to access testing onsite, all to serve as a reminder that care and community go hand in hand, especially when inclusion extends to health and well-being.
Voices of Inclusion: One-on-One Conversations with Queer Employees, Allies, Leaders, and HR
Reliasourcing’s Pride celebration doesn’t stop with the vibrant outfits and office activities, as it truly starts and continues with the heartfelt voices of those who champion and uphold inclusivity every day.
Kristcia “Kei” Antonio (she/they), proudly queer, shared how welcomed they felt from day one: “The moment I walked in, I felt accepted. They cherished me, and talked with me like I’m no ‘other’, just no basis on gender.” Kei described their team as free of barriers, emphasizing that “It’s really not the sexuality or the gender itself. It’s how you treat people and also how you understand them.” Celebrating Pride Month with Reliasourcing, for Kei, was an emotional affirmation: “It’s overwhelming that Reliasourcing is celebrating Pride Month, not just a celebration but also a movement to understand each and every one of us as who we are.”
Ainnah “Aia” Valentin (she/her), an ally and teammate of Kei, spoke passionately about her role: “For me, an ally is more than supporting. It’s about listening to them, making them feel safe, showing up, and standing up. Standing up, not just on a daily basis, but consistently.” She proudly recalled moments in her past workplaces where she stood up for LGBTQIA+ friends and how Reliasourcing has strengthened her belief in creating inclusive environments. “They taught me so much about authenticity […] I really believe that they deserve a place where they feel like they belong.”
Arlet Joy Chavez (she/her) from Recruitment expressed a similar experience of natural openness: “Kaya ko mag-open up about my gender and sexuality.” (I felt that I could open up about my gender and sexuality.) She highlighted that her teammates never questioned her identity, and that organic acceptance in their team, without any need to explain yourself, allowed her to be herself. Coming from a previous job in education, Arlet noted the contrast: “It’s very important to celebrate Pride Month para mabawasan yung stigma about it, yung mga hate crimes.” (…because it can reduce stigma and hate crimes.)
From a leadership standpoint, Team Leader Sonny Cecilio (he/him) described inclusivity as a balance of respect and sensitivity. “My role is to let them understand that this is a family. We are working as a team, so diversity and gender should not impact our overall performance. So it should be balanced once again. That’s also part of the monthly performance review that we’re doing, molding them and creating a positive environment. So no discrimination, no dramas, no anything except working hard with the team.”
Sonny shared how leadership must also monitor emotional well-being after someone chooses to disclose their identity: “So first, you have to tell them, are you comfortable discussing that with me? Are you comfortable discussing that in public, within the organization, or within the team? So that’s the respect. And then the second is understanding. Try to understand not just the emotion, but also the environment, as well as how the people will react. When you disclose something, what would be the impact when you disclose it? Are you okay with that? So those are the things that we’re considering before disclosing anything. And then, continuous monitoring. How are you doing after you disclosed everything? How is it? Are you feeling comfortable? So it’s always a temp check of the employee and the well-being of the employee.”
Team Leader Benzagr “Benz” Alla (he/him) added that treating the workplace as a second home is crucial: “We can talk to each other, not only for work or tasks and responsibilities, but it’s more about knowing them—what are their habits and everything. In that, knowing them personally and what their strengths are, it comes with good performance within the team and our campaign as well.” Benz spoke about the culture he fosters within his team, where everyone—regardless of gender identity—feels supported and heard. “We know we have different personalities, especially for my team,” he said. “As a team leader, it’s my responsibility to make sure they feel like we are one, like we belong to one organization, in one team.”
He described how learning about his team members on a personal level has translated into better team performance: “We can talk to each other not only about work or tasks and responsibilities, but also get to know what their habits are and everything. It impacts performance. Because of love, understanding, and respect, we have one goal. That’s why we were able to hit 100%, reaching the goal across metrics.” For Benz, inclusive leadership is inseparable from daily operations: “Even if we’re not celebrating Pride Month, I believe that if we spread love, kindness, and respect to everyone, we’re going to have an amazing result at the end of the day…. what matters most is how we treat each other fairly with more love and kindness.”
Finally, HR leaders shared the structural foundations behind these inclusive experiences. HR Business Partner Jamilton “Jam” Diangson (he/him) noted, “During onboarding, on the recruitment side, we don’t choose based on one’s gender. As long as you perform well, your credentials are included in the specific role and task. We consider them.” He confirmed that no reports of bullying had surfaced, thanks to the consistent promotion of fairness and equality.
Employee Engagement Officer Karen Villamin (she/her) emphasized the importance of visibility and of having company-wide celebrations for Pride Month: “I think, simula nag-start ako dito as employee engagement officer way back 2024… wala kasi silang celebration about Pride.” (Since I started here as employee engagement officer in 2024… there were no Pride celebrations.) “As an ally, na marami rin talagang friends outside work na member ng LGBTQ community, minake sure ko na meron akong magagawa for all the employees na member ng organization na ma-feel nila na ma-celebrate sila.” (As an ally woman with many LGBTQ friends outside work, I ensured I could do something for all LGBTQ employees so they could feel celebrated.)
Her first steps toward inclusivity began with proposing mini activities where LGBTQ members could feel seen and included. “Mine-make sure ko na lang na bago namin i-release yung activities, sure na agad na kasali sila.” (I make sure that before we launch any activity, they’re already included.) Karen takes the principle of proactive inclusivity seriously—from avoiding gendered team divisions during Sports Fest to ensuring all voices are welcome in esports competitions. “Sa Sports Fest, hindi kami nagkaroon ng women’s and men’s division… kahit sino, pwede sumali.” (In Sports Fest, we didn’t have women’s or men’s divisions… anyone could join.)
Karen also reflected on the challenges of engagement: “Minsan kasi yung iba hindi out talaga e… yun yung pumipigil sa kanila, like ‘paano ako jo-join.’” (Sometimes others aren’t out yet… that’s what holds them back from joining.) She stressed that Reliasourcing’s role isn’t to out anyone but to build a space where joining feels natural and safe. “Maging confident. Maging sila lang… Ako, pwede ko i-share sa kanila na nakasuporta ako sa kanila, and that the company has their back.” (Be confident. Just be yourself… I can share with them that I support them, and the company has their back.)
Celebrating Beyond June
While the celebration marked a joyful close to Pride Month, it was never just about a single day of festivities. At Reliasourcing, Pride is embedded into the every day—a value we carry in our hiring practices, team culture, and leadership vision.
Here’s to continuing the celebration all year round, championing authenticity, and ensuring every member of our growing community feels seen, safe, and supported. Happy Pride, Reliasourcing!
About Reliasourcing
Reliasourcing is a premier outsourcing solutions provider in the Philippines. We deliver tailored services that help businesses across industries achieve operational efficiency and scalability. With a focus on customer experience and innovation, Reliasourcing continues to be a trusted partner in unlocking potential through outsourcing.
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