Rev. Maria Theresa G. Gallardo Jr., better known as Tet Gallardo, is a Filipino religious leader, activist and artist. She has been the president-executive minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Philippines since 2019.[1]
Biography
editGallardo attended Catholic school, where she was nearly expelled for frequently breaking the rules.[2] She became interested in religious leadership while in high school, but knew she was uninterested in becoming a nun.[1]
Gallardo was strongly impacted by the People Power Revolution in 1986 and the Philippine Senate's rejection of U.S. military bases in 1991.[2] She was a student activist in Manila, where she advocated for the Anti-Sexual Harassment Law of the 1990s, the Reproductive Health Law,[2] and "for migrant workers, for labor and land reforms, and for laws to reduce violence against women and children".[1]
Religious leadership
editIn 2002, Gallardo and her partner moved to New York City. Gallardo was introduced to Unitarian Universalism there in 2003, and the couple returned to the Philippines later that year. Upon her return, she became involved with a UU congregation in Quezon City, where she wrote liturgies, developed worship materials, and began organizing services.[1]
In 2013, Gallardo was ordained by the UU congregation in Bicutan, Parañaque, Metro Manila, where she began serving as minister.[1][3]
Gallardo has attended several intensives at the Meadville Lombard Theological School.[2] Gallardo was a Balázs Scholar at Starr King School for the Ministry for the 2016–17 school year.[1][3] In November 2016 she joined other clergy in North Dakota to protest the Dakota Access Pipeline.[4]
Gallardo ran for UUCP leadership after feeling the church needed a change, given that the previous president, Rebecca Quimado-Sienes, had been in the position for around 20 years. She was elected in 2019 to serve a six year term. As president-executive minister of the UUCP, Gallardo is interested in the "postcolonial work" necessary in the Philippines.[1]
Corporate career
editGallardo has also worked in the corporate sector, including on a merger between Microsoft and Nokia.[2]
Art
editGallardo is also an abstract painter who works with acrylics and oils. She began painting at age 16, but gave it up after her father discouraged her from pursuing it as a career. She returned to the craft in 2018, after visiting Dumaguete, Negros Occidental. She began selling her paintings during the COVID-19 pandemic.[5] Gallardo began gaining prominence in March 2023.[6]
In July and August 2024, Gallardo had her third solo art exhibition, "White is the Dimmest Color" in Bacolod, Negros Occidental. Her pieces aimed to address the privileging of lighter skin in Filipino society.[5]
Personal life
editGallardo is a lesbian and trans.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h McArdle, Elaine (2020-03-01). "Meet Rev. Tet, new president of UU Church of the Philippines". UU World Magazine. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
- ^ a b c d e Huffman, Xander (2017-07-26). "I Am Starr King: Interview with the Rev. Tet Gallardo Jr". Starr King School for the Ministry. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
- ^ a b "Rev. Tet Gallardo". Starr King School for the Ministry. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
- ^ "Clergy join Dakota Access protesters for ceremony". MPR News. 2016-11-03. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
- ^ a b Beltran, Roger (2024-07-31). "Dumaguete artist mounts solo exhibit". Visayan Daily Star. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
- ^ Algarme, Claire (2024-07-31). "Tet Gallardo exhibits her art at Abstract Café & Gallery |". Retrieved 2024-09-10.