VOYAGE OF PRIDE: Queen Manaragat ’23 yearns to represent LGBT as ‘more than just a community’
Jessie Gabonpa 
After her coronation as Queen Manaragat 2023 on August 20 in Catbalogan City Plaza, life has taken on a more profound meaning for Andrie Flores as she sets to assume the responsibilities entrusted to her as a representative of LGBTQIA+ community in the city’s future endeavors.
Flores, a 20-year old Bachelor of Physical Education student of Samar State University – College of Education, told The Tradesman in an exclusive interview that she was overwhelmed with the course of events of her life as a beauty queen, yet excited for what awaits her.
As she has now a wider platform to speak for her community, the queen expressed that she aims to represent the LGBT community as “more than just a community.”
“Being Queen Manaragat, diri mo la gindadara an ngaran han title, gindadara mo liwat an imo community which is the LGBT community,” said Flores.
“Ngan karuyag ko igrepresent ini nga amon community as [a community that could do more]— nga diri la kami basta community nga pucho-pucho lang, nagdadara gihap kami hin kangaranan ha aton [society],” she added.
Paon
Influence, inspiration, and aspiration were the three determining elements for Flores to compete in this year’s edition of Queen Manaragat.
She shared that she began dreaming of becoming a beauty queen when she was 16 years old, partly influenced by her transgender cousins and brother. In joining Queen Manaragat, Flores mentioned that another queen encouraged her.
“Ini nga Queen Manaragat, na-inspire liwat kasi ako ha usa nga queen, hi Queen Yumi, nga magjoin hini nga [pageant]. Ginpush ako niya kay nakita kuno niya an potential ha akon. Ansya ito, ginpush ko liwat akon kalugaringon mga magjoin hini,” Flores explained.
Ariya
If to put a meaning to the crown and her title, Flores said that they embody a true queen.
With the foundation she has all throughout her journey in the Queen Manaragat competition, the queen described her success as a reflection of dedication, determination, and genuinity to serve, which for her, are symbolized by the crown and title.
“An crown, gin-eembody niya an dedication and determination [as well as] an pagiging ungod nga queen. Siyempre an responsibility nga kun masul-ot mo ito ha imo ulo, kailangan ready ka to overcome and take the responsibilities,” Flores expressed.
“Ngan an title, of course, diri la hiya title, usa hiya nga tool para mai-deliver ko an karuyag ko i-deliver ha mga kabataan [like] my advocacies,” she added.
It is worth noting that during the pageant’s coronation night, Flores underscored the value of prioritizing, nurturing, and conserving culture when asked about the lessons he learned from the past two decades of celebrating Manaragat Festival, resonating with her advocacy— preserving culture through her talent.
During the interview, Flores shared that her next step is to work with her advocacy.
“Sunod hini, siyempre akon na ig-implement an akon karuyag ig-implement like an akon advocacy,” said Flores.
“As a student of SSU, as a BPED student, [and] as a dancer, I want to preserve our culture through dancing since I am a dancer,” she added.
Sibad
Flores also expressed that not only did she take home the 2023 Queen Manaragat crown and title after the competition, but also life lessons that, she said, further molded her as an individual and as a queen.
“Kadamo an akon lessons nga nakuha since damo liwat an akon struggles nga na-experience: ha amon sisterhood han akon igkasi Queen Manaragat [candidate]— an amon pagkakaurusa ngan pagkakasarangkay… an opinyon han iba nga tawo ngan ha amon [kanya-kanya] nga perspective,” she shared.
Ha amon gihap heads ngan ha mga organizers, damo po an akon nabaruan. Mas na-build up po an amon pagiging individual ngan pagiging queen,” she added.
The 20-year old Queen Manaragat also stressed how the pageant taught her to become professional and resilient mentally and physically as, for her, it is a “prestigious” voyage.
