About the Hub
Inspired by Wagayway’s Living Advocacy. Powered by Community. Sustained by Expertise.
Every LGBTQIA+ person in the Philippines deserves help, knowledge, and connection — no gatekeeping, no judgment, no fear.
A platform shaped by LGBTQIA+ voices and lived experience — born from Wagayway Equality’s years of listening, responding, and standing alongside communities who needed safe, accessible, and affirming support.
Built on volunteerism and collective action, Wagayway Equality, Community of Volunteers, Inc. is a grassroots organization based in Batangas, serving Region IV and growing nationwide. From small gatherings to city-wide campaigns, it has become a trusted anchor for queer voices.
Programs are shaped by lived experience, compassion, and evidence-based practice — responding to real struggles with care and community power. The EmpowerQueer Hub extends this mission digitally, making Wagayway’s spirit of service accessible to anyone in the Philippines, wherever they may be.
What We Champion
Wagayway Equality
Grassroots LGBTQIA+ Organization · Batangas, Region IV
A grassroots LGBTQIA+ organization based in Batangas, Region IV, Wagayway Equality champions the rights and welfare of LGBTQIA+ communities through lived-experience-based advocacy and community-centered programs.
What We Champion
Geographic Reach
Primary service area: Region IV-A & IV-B
Also serving MIMAROPA region, with nationwide digital access to all programs and resources.
Aivan Castillo Alvarez
Batangas, Philippines · Founded Wagayway Equality, 2018
When we started Wagayway Equality, it wasn’t built from abundance — it was built from urgency. From stories of discrimination that were never reported. From young LGBTQIA+ people who had nowhere safe to turn.
Aivan is a development practitioner, LGBTQIA+ rights advocate, researcher, and trainer committed to building community-led solutions for equality. With experience spanning human rights work, SOGIESC advocacy, socio-economic inclusion, and organizational development, he believes the community is always the expert — his role is only to amplify what already exists within us.
“As we grow, this platform will evolve with you. Because EmpowerQueer is not mine alone; it belongs to the community it serves. On behalf of Wagayway Equality and everyone who made this possible, I welcome you — with pride, hope, and unwavering purpose. Padayon.”
2018
Founded Wagayway
950+
Community Members
8+
Years of Advocacy
Volunteer With Us
Whether you have hours or expertise to spare, there’s a place for you here. Join 950+ members building a more inclusive Philippines — one community at a time.
Volunteers at EmpowerQueer don’t just show up — they shape the movement. From running training sessions to amplifying community voices, every role makes a real difference in the lives of LGBTQIA+ Filipinos.
950+
Community Members
50+
Events Organized
8yrs
Of Grassroots Work
100%
Community-Led
What Volunteers Do
- Facilitate SOGIESC, HIV 101, and Human Rights workshops
- Support community events and advocacy campaigns
- Create and curate educational content and resources
- Run outreach to marginalized LGBTQIA+ communities
- Provide peer support and safe space facilitation
- Help document and amplify lived LGBTQIA+ stories
Educator
Facilitate workshops, create learning content, and lead SOGIESC, HIV 101, and Human Rights training sessions for communities and allies.
Advocate
Amplify queer voices, support policy campaigns, assist in documentation, and help shape a more just and inclusive Philippine society.
Community Builder
Organize events, run outreach programs, and create safe spaces for LGBTQIA+ individuals to connect, heal, and grow together.
Ready to make an impact?
Send us a message and we’ll match you with the right volunteer opportunity.