Unprude ushers in a new era of sexual wellness with the Unbecoming Summit

Guests then freely roamed around the other booths with exciting games and prizes. At the Unprude booth, attendees explored Unprude’s new line of products, including a serum, intimate wipes, and skincare products. Jellytime also entertained guests with the Jelly Toss game, where participants tossed rings onto their sex toys and could even purchase products of their own. 

At the same time, Kindred and Sail Clinics, in collaboration with the Red Whistle encouraged guests to take charge of their reproductive health and wellness. These included HPV vaccinations, HIV testing, PrEP administration, and birth control prescriptions.   

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The guests were also excited to hear the various keynote speeches and panel discussions from the afternoon’s distinguished guests. Before letting them take centre stage, Cruz shared her motivations for bringing the Unbecoming Summit to life. “When we come together, to break the silence surrounding sex, we not only help others embrace their sexual selves, but we also pave the way for a more understanding and respectful society,” she shared. 

The keynote speeches offered different perspectives on improving sexual wellness in the Philippines. During the first keynote speech, Dr Judith Perez-Peralta of Kindred walked participants through women’s sexual development, from puberty to the menopausal stage. She empowered women to reflect on and prepare for the different stages of their lives. 

The next keynote speaker was Sanaiyah Gurnamal, love coach and host of the Project Loving Myself podcast. She gave participants an overview of the unhealthy relationship patterns to examine and overcome so they could build more meaningful relationships. 

Her speech was followed by a thought-provoking discussion on SOGIE by Drag Den’s MRS TAN. While walking around the room and removing her drag makeup, MRS TAN encouraged the audience to explore the nuances of respecting people’s authenticity in their infinite iterations.

The final keynote speech was delivered by Kat Alano, an international public speaker, television personality, host, and staunch advocate against sexual violence. During her speech, she exposed the complex reality of living in a country that holds women to an impossibly high standard of purity while relentlessly objectifying them through various media forms. “Let's talk about sex, because not only do we deserve to know about bodily autonomy, STDs, pregnancy contraceptives and sexual health. We also deserve to be protected from those who would abuse sex for their gain,” she implored the audience. 

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Guests also listened to insightful panels that transformed past experiences of sexual abuse into sources of resilience and empowerment, featuring insights from Alano, Isabela Aguirre of the Inter-Agency Council on Violence Against Women and their Children, and Atty Alex Castro, founder and President of Youth Against Sexual Harassment.  

The second panel dove into the sexual wellness market developing in the Philippines. It was a fascinating look behind the scenes of the different brands pioneering sexual wellness in the country. Speakers included Jess De Mesa of Kindred, Ava Daza Zanirato of Jellytime, and Kiya Braun of GoRocky. “I’ve been talking about sex for over 20 years, and I can’t believe this is the first sexual wellness summit in the Philippines. This is also the first sex-related event where women outnumber the men,” said moderator DJ Tony Toni. 

Before the event ended, guests were also treated to an incredible drag performance by Brigiding of Drag Race Philippines fame. The Mother of the House of Ding delivered a bold, engaging performance that captivated audience members. 

Read more: Brigiding: “Drag is a powerful artform”

Although the Philippines’ first sexual wellness summit has ended, the most exciting part is yet to come. This is just an opening for the conversation around various facets of sexual health and empowerment. It has equipped Filipinos with the tools they need to engage in difficult yet necessary conversations around their experiences with sex, which will have a positive ripple effect on Filipino society in the years to come.

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