Members of the LGBT Community trooped to the very first KeriBeks Job Fair recently at Skydome, SM North EDSA.
Over a thousand bekis, lesbians, and transgenders were part of the whole day event. This was the first major event of KeriBeks after its successful gay congress at Araneta Coliseum in August, also the first ever job fair exclusive for members of the LGBT community.
That day was truly a blessing for 50-year old Daniel “April” Lince from Marikina, as he was hired as a call center agent in a BPO company. April was an entertainer in Japan who has been unemployed in the last two years. He took care of his parents who both passed away. He immediately went to the event when he heard Korina Sanchez-Roxas on the radio calling for applicants for the Keribeks Job Fair.
“Natakot ako kase baka hindi ako matanggap dahil over age na nga ako, buti na lang doon sa call center na inaplayan ko, tumatanggap sila kahit singkwenta na. Ang laking blessing talaga nito para sa akin,” said April.
Like April, Xyza “Lance” Ravinera was hired on the spot as a call center agent. The 31-year old Lance finished a degree in Civil Engineering at New Era University.
Pampanga native Garry David, was hired as an administrative associate in a BPO company. It Korina’s husband Mar Roxas is known to be the Father Of Call Centers as he was pivotal in the growth of this industry in the country.
Thrr 26-year old Jan Rey “Yeng” Cuico, who doesn’t have a permanent job and is only moonlighting as a make-up artist, got a contract and was hired on the spot by Team Sir George Salon, one of the many companies that participated in the job fair.
Former service crew John Ernest Marco was also hired on the spot as an office assistant in a dental clinic.
Applicants to the job fair were treated to free food, coffee, and haircut and face painting. Project Red Ribbon gave a talk on HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention talk, while a signature campaign was activated to help push in congress the Anti-Discrimination Bill (ADB), co-authored by Congresswomen Leni Robredo and Kaka Bag-ao.
ADB aims to legalize equal rights amongst bekis and the entire LGBT Community, particularly in matters of gender identity and expression, as well as in issues pertaining to discrimination in the workplace and social services.
A mini-concert that featured performances by 1:43 and Dessa culminated the event.
Keribeks Job Fair was organized by Korina Sanchez-Roxas to give members of the LGBT community the opportunity to find jobs without prejudice and discrimination.
As LGBT groups gladly said in unison – “thank you Miss K!”