Talamban pedestrian lane carries ‘colors of pride’

Why wait for a rainbow to stretch on the horizon after the rain, when you can now see one right in the middle of the road regardless of the weather?

Together with Island Premium Paints, the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Council of Barangay Talamban, Cebu City has taken the initiative to paint the pedestrian lane in their area with the colors of the rainbow.

The acrylic-based material, known as Island industrial traffic paint, is a marking paint with sealer, silica sand, and reflective glass beads for ideal visibility and tough skid resistance.

It allows pedestrians to walk with confidence knowing that the road is now safer.

Aside from this, it also creates a statement of pride, especially for members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community, said SK chairperson Christine Claire Bontuyan.

Just last June, the City Governments of Cebu and Mandaue held a pride march in celebration of the International Pride Month.

“As SK Chairman of Barangay Talamban, together with my SK Council, it is our firm belief that it doesn’t need to be pride month to celebrate pride,” Bontuyan said.

The project makes it the first rainbow-colored pedestrian lane in the city and has the support of Mayor Tomas Osmeña.

“I want to wean the LGBTQ into mainstream society. I respond to initiatives that will make them work together,” he said.

For someone who grew up in Talamban, Cebuano-Visayan musician Jerika Teodorico said the iridescent pedestrian lane makes her happy and proud. “Morag hometown glory for me nga ang mga batan-on sa akong banay abtik nga naka desidir to have a public symbol of support for equality,” she said./

/ CONTRIBUTED FOTO PRIDE. A pedestrian lane in Barangay Talamban, Cebu City carries the colors of the rainbow. Sison didn’t prove Duterte was in a coma but the CPP leader underscored the need for the country’s chief executive to be fully functioning and that he still faces the risk of prosecution for the killings in the drug campaign.