Converge celebrates Pride at Love Laban sa Diliman 2025, again the official connectivity partner of Pride PH

For the fourth consecutive year, leading fiber broadband and technology provider Converge ICT Solutions Inc. proudly participated in Pride Month celebrations, standing shoulder to shoulder with the LGBTQIA+ community in the recent Love Laban sa Diliman Pride PH Festival 2025.

Taking place at the University of the Philippines - Diliman on June 28, the festival drew around 250,000 attendees from diverse backgrounds, including students, youth groups, government representatives, health advocates, businesses, and religious organizations, all united in support of equality and inclusion.

As the event's official connectivity partner again this year, Converge provided the event’s internet requirements, connecting the Pride Expo to the wider LGBTQIA+ community online, and enhancing online engagement. 

“Supporting events like the Pride fest is part of our commitment to building a more inclusive and connected society,” said Converge VP and Head of Corporate Communications and Public Relations Jay-Anne Encarnado, who also participated in the march.

She noted that Converge as an organization advocates for diversity, equity, inclusivity, and belongingness (DEIB) in the workplace by putting policies in place to make sure that everyone feels seen, respected, and supported.

Despite the event falling on a Saturday, more than 30 employees from Converge also showed their support by taking part in the Pride parade, on behalf of the company, embodying the values of love, acceptance, and self-pride.

In addition to their presence at the parade, Converge set up a booth where festival-goers could take memorable photos and enjoy fun games and giveaways.

Since 2022, Converge has actively participated in Pride Fest, continually endorsing initiatives that promote diversity and foster community bonding. And for the past two years, the company has served as the official connectivity partner of Pride PH for the said gathering.

"For me, this is a great initiative that gives us a chance to stand for equality and take part in something worthwhile. It was also a nice break from work and a memorable experience to share with my fellow employees,” said Converge IT Department Customer Technology Services IT UAM Senior Engineer Christine May Elebada, one of the Converge employees who volunteered to join the event.

“Being part of this event was such a great experience. It felt good to step out from our usual work stuff and do something meaningful. Being there with my workmates who share the same support made the experience even better. I’d definitely be up for doing it again next year,” said Francis Miko Valiente from Converge IT Business Solutions Management.

Love Laban sa Diliman was organized by Pride PH, in collaboration with the Quezon City government and the University of the Philippines - Diliman. 

Going beyond gender

To push the inclusivity agenda beyond talks of gender and embrace a more encompassing view of acceptance, Converge held a webinar on Diversity and Inclusion last June 23.

Drawing online participation of 160 employees, the webinar focused on two insightful talks: one from a strong gender and social advocate and another, from the company’s internal champion for sustainability and inclusion.

Shebana Alqaseer, a gender expert serving as a consultant to many international and local organizations, pushed the advocacy of wider social inclusion and broadening the definition of diversity beyond the lens of just gender-oriented differences.

“Diversity is a better known concept because in the West, it’s talked about as a matter of race. But to us, diversity should include not just gender or race, but other factors such as religion and socioeconomic status. Studies show that the more diverse our workforce, the more diverse ideas come to the fore. The variety of ideas and perspectives result in a richer and more nuanced approach to policy and work environment,” noted Alqaseer.  

Bianca Muzones, Sustainability Analyst at Converge, meanwhile elaborated on the company’s evolving Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion strategy, stressing the importance of getting baseline feedback from the employees.