A TestMNL ambassador, together with LoveYourself volunteers in the booths, engages the youth passing by in the alleys of Boracay to provide HIV 101 education during the Labor Day weekend.
Leading advocacy group on HIV Testing and Treatment, LoveYourself, Inc. started on Labor Day in Boracay its series of activation and HIV testing activities this month of May through its TestMNL (testMNL.org) and Philippine Business Sector Response (PBSR) programs.
“We prepared a series of activities this May to instill in the consciousness of the key target populations the importance of taking care of one’s self, especially in terms of their sexual health,” said LoveYourself Executive Director Ronivin G. Pagtakhan.
Pagtakhan informed “Last March, there are 968 new cases of HIV infection according to the latest Department of Health data, which inspires us to stand firm on our advocacy to resolve this still evolving problem.”
On 28 April to 1 May, the TestMNL team, supported by BLISS, initially went to the majestic island of Boracay during the #LaBoracay2017 weekend to raise awareness on HIV and AIDS among the tourists who flocked in the island.
Creating a major buzz on its straight forward campaign tagline: Suck F*#k Test Repeat, Pagtakhan clarified “The tagline is blunt, because we want to emphasize to the people the importance of repeating the test and protecting themselves more than anything else. Many people are still stigmatized, so we needed an aggressive campaign to rally against this disease.”
Last Monday (8 May), the TestMNL and PBSR in partnership with the University of the Philippines-Manila College of Nursing Student Council have conducted an HIV101 and testing in the said institution with more than 70 students got themselves tested.
“We envision to make HIV testing in the country to be treated as a regular medical routine erasing the stigma attached to it, especially for the vulnerable populations to further protect themselves and their love ones,” said Pagtakhan.
He added “We are specifically targeting the youth sector due to the rising vulnerability of this population to HIV infection, in which 830 individuals aged 15 to 24 are diagnosed with HIV in the first quarter of the year alone.”
Entertaining the students lining up at the TestMNL booth for the HIV 101 and testing are LoveYourself Executive Director Ronivin Pagtakhan (2nd from left) and LoveYourself PBSR and Caravan Program Officer Earl Patrick B. Penabella (rightmost).
This coming 21 May, the TestMNL will have an HIV 101 activity during the Art Rally MNL at the Commune cafe in Makati City.
Moreover, on 28 May, TestMNL will offer its biggest HIV testing day from 10:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. at Victoria Court, Malate dubbed as Let’s TestMNL. Interested individuals may register at this link: go.loveyourself.ph/testmnl to avail of the free, fast and anonymous HIV test.
The TestMNL campaign is an adaptation of the TestBKK in Bangkok, Thailand funded by the Elton John AIDS Foundation through the APCOM, a regional organization that promotes HIV issues that affect the lives of men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender people, including rights, health and well-being.
The PBSR is an Anvil awarded program in partnership with Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. dedicated to businesses or enterprises which entails HIV awareness, testing and facilitating the creation and implementation of an HIV Policy in the Workplace.
LoveYourself, Inc. is a non-government advocacy group offering free and confidential HIV testing and treatment, counselling and peer education, and initiating programs and projects towards HIV/AIDS awareness. The organization, in cooperation with the Department of Health- Research Institute for Tropical Medicines (RITM), has two operational testing facilities- the LoveYourself Anglo along Shaw Boulevard, and the LoveYourself Uni in Taft Ave.-Gil Puyat.
For more details on other LoveYourself’s services, individuals may visit the group’s official website at www.loveyourself.ph or follow and like its social media channels: Facebook- @loveyourself.ph, Twitter- @loveyourselfph, and Instagram- @loveyourself.ph.
Visit: Loveyourself ANGLO shaw Blvd. Mandaluyong City and Loveyourself UNI buendia near LRT Gil Puyat Psaya City
We can’t really predict the future. We never know if this future will bring us the karma that we deserve. Future will become past and past will become history. What if our past is now the future that we don’t want to happen? The present that we didn’t expect to happen, are we ready to face the consequences that we created from the past or are we just simply enjoying the moment of being happy at this time?
I’m here right now in the situation that I need to look forward and forget my past. I’m here in the power of fancy to create my dreams and to pursue my future to happen. I know I’m matured enough to weigh my emotions and decisions. I know how to handle difficult decisions. I know how to survive and to recover from different heartaches and I know how to dwell and fight my foes. Life is about moving on, accepting changes and looking forward to what makes you stronger and more complete. Life is about forgiveness.
Love is not my word; love in relationship is not my priority right now. I don’t want to entertain anything about love. Love for me is like a bridge without end. Love is like stagnant water from the river, full of waste that causes life into death. Today I don’t really know what I want. Maybe, I need to think and imagine the past that would tolerate my present. Love is not for me now, maybe someday or maybe in the near future.
Do we really need love to be happy? Or maybe we are just taking what the society dictates us. We hurt for something that we all know from the very beginning that we should need to avoid. We all know the answer to a question like why? But we still choose to be stupid. Even if it repeatedly happens, we still try. I want to give up the things that I know I loose. I do not give up because I want to; I gave up because I’m tired. I’m tired for something that I know I had no rights. I do not want to count the stars because I’m too tired of carrying his lights. Why did you comeback? Why did you show up again? Is it my fault to restore the past? I demolished the structures of love, buildings, hopes and dreams of bygone times. Let me wipe out all the trace of the past. I am a man of nowhere, a man of hate and jealousy, man of goodbyes and a man of admiration.
If I could only get a chance to rewrite our story, I’d be damn sure that this is going to be right this time the way that we both like it. Not perfect, but definitely going to be worth your while. But for now, let me love you from afar. Let me hug and kiss you in my dreams. If this is the sign of loneliness, please let me hug you and let me say “Thank You” for the last time.
Minsan iniisip ko na lang na kong ngayon ba ang noon mapapansin mo kaya ako? Kong kasing lamig ba nang hangin ang sampung taong lumipas maakap pa kaya kita? Naalala mo pa lahat ng simula na meron tayo. Simula mo na tinapos ko. Iyong mga kamay mo na humahaplos sa palad ko. Gusto ko ang noon mo, gusto ko yung dating tayo na alam kong mahirap ng pantayan.
Mata mo na parang nagungusap at nagmamakaawa dahil sa pagmamahal na kailangan nating panindigan. Pagmamahal na tinapos ko na walang sabi at pagmamahal mo na una, na inilagay ko sa huli. Naalala mo pa ba nang una kitang masilayan. Sa pila na puno ng tanong kong pwede bang ikaw ay aking makilala. Pila na walang kasiguraduhan kong ako ba ang mauuna o ikaw dahil sa hindi mo naman ako kilala. Tinitigan kita sa malayo na parang ang mga mata mo ay naguudyok na ikaw ay aking lapitan. Nagtagpo ang ating mata na kunwari hindi kita sinisinta.
Nagkita tayo sa di inaasahang pagkakataon. Nagsalubong ulit ang ating mga mata, mga mata natin na parang nangulila sa isa’t isa. Nakita kita sa ‘di kalayuan at nakita mo rin ako na alam mong ikaw ay aking lalapitan. Iniwasan mo ako ng tingin na kunwari ay hindi napansin. Mula sa likod mo ay hinaplos kita upang ako ay iyong lingunin. Tanging Kumusta sa isa’t isa ang ating nasambit na parang ang noon na sampung taon ay araw lang ang binilang ng hindi kita nakapiling. Malaki ang pinagbago mo. Malaki at nag iba buhat nang una kitang makita. Pero ang mga mata mo ay katulad parin noong tayong dalawa. Kumikinang sa pag asa na baka sakali ay meron pa.
Natakot akong tanungin ka ng isang tanong na ang sagot ay bahala na. Natakot akong akapin ka baka sakali ikaw ay tuluyan ng nag iba. Muli tayong nagkita doon sa luma kong saan kita muling nasilayan. Inari natin ang gabi na tila tayo lang. Nasundan ng pailang pagkikita na para bang ibinibigay natin ang mga pagkukulang noong tayo pa.
Habang ako ay iyong akap at nilalabanan ang lamig, tila may ibinulong ang hangin na ang sambit ay kong may gusto ba ako sa iyo? Humarap ako at nangusap at sinabi kong matagal na tayong nagkagustuhan at ang tanong dapat ay kong mahal pa ba natin ang isa’t isa. Tumahimik ang paligid hanggang sa tuluyan tayong nakatulog ng mahimbing.
Kong ngayon ang simula makikilala ba kita? Kong ngayon ang simula maaakap ba kita? Ngayon ang simula ng katapusan nang ating pagkikita. Para akong magnanakaw na inaari ang pag aari ng iba. Para akong bata na takam na takam sa bawat kong nakikita. Kong ngayon ang simula mamahalin din kita gaya nang pagmamahal mo noon nang una mo akong nakita.
Kong ngayon ang simula maaring ayoko ng tapusin pa.
xoxo
Ang daming tanong kong bakit? para saan? at bakit hindi? What if nga? What if maging tayo? Bakit may what if sa bawat tanong kong pwede namang sabihin na Tayo na? o pwede namang sabihing mahal kita, pero ang tanong paano tayo magsisimula.
Magulo diba? What if maging tayo at magtapos sa salitang hindi pala kita gusto. What if kong hindi ikaw ang nagustohan ko? Magsisimula tayo sa unang tingin at sa unang sulyap nang ating mga mata ay may mararamdamang kakaiba ngunit subalit ay magtatapos tayo sa sulyap na para bang hindi tayo nagkakilala. What if hindi ikaw ang nagustohan ko, aasa kaya ako nang ganito. Aasa ba ako na maging tayo at aasa ba ako na what if gusto mo din pala ako. Hanggang What if na lang ba ang nararamdaman ko? O susuyoin kita na para bang walang magbabago.
Bakit ba mahirap magmahal ang taong labis na nasaktan? What if hindi ka nasaktan, mamahalin mo ba ako kagaya ng pagmamahal mo sa kanya? Mahirap umasa sa taong maraming What if sa buhay. What if masaktan ako? What if hindi mag work, What if hindi pala kita gusto at what if hindi naman pala ito totoo. Alinlangan nang isang tao na takot sumubok sa tinitibok ng kanyang kapalaran.
Mag uumpisa tayo sa simula at magtatapos tayo sa hangganan, kung saan ang mga tanong at alinlangan mo ay aking papawiin. What if ako pala ang hinihintay mo nang kay tagal pero what if umaasa lang ako sa wala, sa walang makakapagsabi kong bakit What if nga?
WHO’s on PrEP: World Health Organization’s (WHO) Country Representative Dr. Gundo Weiler talks about the current global scenario on HIV and the usage of medical advancements in fighting off the spread of HIV during LoveYourself’s #HackingHIV for the introduction Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) in the Philippines on 29 November 2016 at Greenbelt 3 in Makati City.
As LoveYourself and its partners introduce PrEP in the country, Dr. Gundo emphasized that “Key populations [MSMs & the Youth] need to stand up and mobilize for their right to take control of their own health and of their own lives to prevent HIV transmission.”
Moreover, Dr. Gundo said that the key populations who are affected by the epidemic are also the populations that holds the key in turning around the epidemic.
(Makati City). Contributing to the World AIDS Day celebration on 1 December, HIV prevention advocacy group LoveYourself, Inc. introduces the Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV in the Philippines during the #HackingHIV event on Tuesday night (29 November) at MyCinema Greenbelt 3 in this city.
PrEP is an HIV medicine from the combination of “tenofovir and emtricitabine” which is taken daily to lower the chances of contracting the virus.
Supported by Philippine Department of Health-Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (DOH-RITM), American Foundation for AIDS Research and the World Health Organization (WHO), LoveYourself was the chosen organization to pioneer the launching of PrEP in the Philippines under the banner program #PrEPPilipinas in which initial demonstration is envisioned to be executed within the first quarter of 2017.
Following the stagnating number of HIV cases around the globe, WHO Country Representative Dr. Gundo Weiler observed that “The situation in the Philippines is much more dramatic, because the number never went down. It’s only going up and it’s right to say so even in an exponential manner.”
By bringing PrEP to the Philippines, Dr. Weiler said “People are very much capable to take care of their own health if we give people the means to do so… PrEP is one additional important choice [for HIV prevention] that will empower people [the Filipinos].”
According to Dr. Rosanna A. Ditangco, Head of AIDS Research Group of DOH-RITM & Primary Investigator of PrEPPilipinas, “The program is basically a demonstration project on a community-led HIV prevention strategy for MSMs [males-having-sex-with-males],” which will be spearheaded by LoveYourself, and will have a pilot implementation in Manila and a plan to roll out to the rest of the country.
Dr. Ditangco explained that “PrEP is effective and it is safe,” but highlighted the importance of community acceptability.
“We are embarking on a demonstration project that would precisely document the effectiveness of PrEP –the acceptability and feasibility in the real world environment,” said Dr. Ditangco.
Co-primary investigator of the PrEP Pilipinas project and LoveYourself Senior Director Christopher M. Lagman emphasized that “PrEP shouldn’t be taken as a replacement to current prevention measures, but an option and another level of protection to avoid getting HIV.”
Targeting the most-vulnerable populations for this new HIV prevention measure, Lagman relayed that LoveYourself will not just distribute PrEP to people, but will ensure a holistic service approach by providing check-ups and counseling, among others.
Also considering the varied lifestyle of people, Lagman said “We need to have more HIV prevention interventions, since more than 50% of MSMs are not using condoms.”
For the preliminary phase of the program, “We have identified two hundred participants initially and funded the program for them,” explained Lagman.
LoveYourself is a local non-government organization providing free and confidential HIV testing, counseling, education, and recently treatment. It has currently two clinics: LoveYourself Anglo in Shaw near Starmall and LoveYourself Uni in Taft-Gil Puyat near the LRT station. These clinics are open on Wednesdays-Saturdays (12:00nn-7:00p.m.) and Sundays (9:00a.m.-2:00p.m.).
For more details on LoveYourself’s services, individuals may visit the group’s official website at http://www.loveyourself.ph or follow and like its social media channels: Facebook- @loveyourself.ph, Twitter- @loveyourselfph, and Instagram- @loveyourself.ph.
HIV TESTING AT THE SENATE: Senate Committee Chair for Health and Demography Senator Risa Hontiveros is being readied by Kahel Jay Sta. Maria, a LoveYourself Volunteer, for an HIV test during the HIV Testing Day at the Senate on Tuesday morning (29 November 2016) in creating awareness towards the disease.
(Pasay City). Underscoring the importance of the early detection of HIV for the commemoration of World AIDS Day, LoveYourself in collaboration with the Pasay City Social Hygiene Clinic conducted an HIV testing campaign at the Senate of the Philippines on 29 November 2016 from 9:00 a.m.-5:00p.m.
This is in response to the initiative of the Office of the Senator Risa Hontiveros being the Senate Committee Chairperson on Health and Demography, who is also thrusting for the amendments of the Republic Act No. 8504 or also known as “Philippine AIDS Prevention and Control Act of 1998.”
According to Sen. Hontiveros, the HIV testing day at the Senate aims to encourage more people to look at HIV test as a regular diagnostic tool, such as, blood pressure check-up and urinalysis, to know one’s health status and live a healthy lifestyle.
Senator Risa Hontiveros during blood the extraction for HIV testing
“An HIV test could spell difference between life and death,” relayed Sen. Hontiveros, while emphasizing the need for such a procedure to generate information that would support a progressive, human-rights-based and gender sensitive policy and programs to fight the spread of HIV and AIDS in the country.
Sen. Hontiveros emphasized that Filipinos can avail free and confidential HIV test from any social hygiene clinics and community centers like LoveYourself.
Senator Risa Hontiveros (center) together with Senate Secretary Atty. Lutgardo B. Barbo posed with the LoveYourself Volunteers led by Executive Director Ronivin G. Pagtakhan (5th from left).
Allaying fears to those who wanted to undergo an HIV test, the Senator quickly responded that lack of awareness, strong stigmatization and discrimination are among the factors that scare people, particularly the key populations, to avail of the free health service offered by the government.
As an encouragement, Sen. Hontiveros underlines “Bawasan o tanggalin natin totally ang diskriminasyon [to key affected populations] at mas itaas natin yung health consciousness at solidarity sa isa’t-isa, [and enrich] moral support and mutual support sa paghahanap natin ng isang healthy lifestyle.”
LoveYourself Executive Director Ronivin G. Pagtakhan said “More than offering a free and confidential HIV screening, LoveYouself is also aggressive in equipping its clients with proper and non-discriminatory education to ensure positive behavioral change to further prevent the spread of HIV.”
Moreover, while HIV has been decreasing steadily all over the world, LoveYourself Senior Director Christopher M. Lagman informed that “the Philippines today is the only country whose numbers are not only increasing, but are increasing exponentially.”
Based on the latest DOH data covering the period July-October 2016, there were 3,112 newly diagnosed people living with HIV, in which the National Capital Region posted an alarming rate of 41% followed by Region 4A (Calabarzon) at 15%. Also, the current data showed that young males ages 15-24 and MSMs have a high infection rate.
This is the reason why LoveYourself also supports the amendments to the Republic Act No. 8504, including the adjustment on the range of age, particularly allowing young people to access HIV as a life-saving procedure.
The Senate HIV testing day draw 72 clients in which none has been diagnosed to be living with HIV.
Last Sunday alone (27 November), the advocacy group has tested 211 individuals to know their HIV status during its free, anonymous and fast community-based screening dubbed as LoveYourself Incognito 2.0 at the Victoria Court Malate in Manila. Of the total participants, the organization has diagnosed 13 individuals to be living with HIV and immediately referred to the organization’s HIV treatment program.
LoveYourself is a local non-government organization providing free and confidential HIV testing, counseling, education, and recently treatment. It has currently two clinics: LoveYourself Anglo in Shaw near Starmall and LoveYourself Uni in Taft-Gil Puyat near the LRT station. These clinics are open on Wednesdays-Saturdays (12:00nn-7:00p.m.) and Sundays (9:00a.m.-2:00p.m.).
For more details on LoveYourself’s services, individuals may visit the group’s official website at http://www.loveyourself.ph or follow and like its social media channels: Facebook- @loveyourself.ph, Twitter- @loveyourselfph, and Instagram- @loveyourself.ph.
Kumapit ka sa natitirang SANA
Habang hawak ko ang kamay mo ay unti unting nararamdaman ko ang paglamig nito. Nararamdaman ko ang unti unting pagbabago nang iyong pagsuyo. Habang tinititigan kita papalayo sa akin ay nararamdaman ko ang unting paglaho ng natitirang pag-asa. Naramdaman ko ang dagliang pagbago ng ihip nito.
Naglamlam ang paligid at napalibutan ako ng kalungkutan. Ang dating malakas na tibok ng puso mo ay unti unting humihina habang ika’y papalayo.
Tumahimik ang buong paligid at kahit tibok ng puso ko ay hindi ko na marinig. Ang dating Hulma ng iyong mukha ay nabubura na sa aking ala ala. Pilit ko mang pigilan ka ngunit hindi ko magawa dahil ang aking mga paa ay nakapako sa kasalukuyang hindi ko agad malimutan.
Lumipas ang taon at muli kitang nasilayan. Walang pinagbago at walang pinag iba. Wala akong makitang bakas ng pagkasabik sa iyong mga mata. Hindi ko mabanaad ang galak sa muli nating pagkikita. Ngumiti ka sa akin at ganoon din ako sa iyo. Ngunit ang mga ngiti na dati ay kay tamis ay parang ngiti ng dalawang taong hindi nagkakilala. Umupo ka sa aking harapan at hinayaan kutang tumitig sa aking mga mata. Nakatitig ka ng mahigit sa isang minuto. Nakatitig ako sa iyong mga mata dahil hinahanap ko ang natitirang sana. Bukas ang mga labi sabay sa pagbitaw ng “Kumusta Ka”
Unti unting tumahimik ang paligid at kahit ingay ng nga taong nagkukompulan ay hindi ko madinig. Tanging alingaw-ngaw lang ng iyong boses ang aking naririnig. Bumibilis ang tibok ng puso ko habang nakatitig sa mukha mong walang pinagbago. Minamasdan kita habang patuloy sa pgbuka ng mga labi mo. Ganoon parin pala ang kinang ng mata mo. Ang labi mo na naiisip ko na lumalapat sa labi ko. Ang hininga mo na kumikiliti sa aking mapaglarong emahinasyon.
Bumalik ang ingay ng paligid ng may narinig akong may tumawag sa iyong pangalan. Boses na hindi pamilyar sa aking gunita. Napatayo ka at agad syang nilapitan. Pinakilala mo ako na sya ang iyong bagong kasintahan. Ngumiti ako na parang hindi nasasaktan. Kinausap kita na parang wala akong pakiramdam. Nagpaalam na kayo sa akin upang mamasyal. Hawak mo ang kanyang mga kamay kagaya ng paghawak mo sa aking mga kamay noong kumakapit ako sa Salitang Sana.
Umasa ako na baka pwede pa. Umasa ako na baka kaya pa. Umasa ako sa muli nating pagkikita. Gusto ko man kapitan ang natitirang SANA pero hindi ko na kaya dahil baka sa akin ay sawa na. Lumalayo na kayo pero ikaw ay nakatingin pa. Ngumiti na para bang walang nangyari at nagpaalam na para bang magkikitang muli. Sa iyong pag alis ay aantayin ko naman ang iyong pagbabalik at kakapit at kakapit parin ako sa natitirang sana.
-fin
October 1, 2016 huling gabi ng lamay ng dating senador na si Miriam Defensor Santiago. Halos libo libong taga suporta ng senadora ang nag tyagang pumila upang makiramay sa kanya. Kapansinpansin sa mga nakapila ay ang bulto ng mga kabataan na nagmula pa sa ibat ibang bahagi ng pilipinas. Kita mo din sa mga nagtyagang pumil ay mga estudyante at mga kababayan ng senadora na nagmula pa sa Ilo-ilo.
Mula sa kahabaan ng seattle street paikot sa may Boston ay umabot na din sa Aurora Blvd ang mga taong gustong masilayan sa huling pagkakataaon ang magiting at matapang na senador. Ilang politiko na rin ang dumalaw at nagbigay ng kanilang huling pag galang sa natatanging mambabatas ng bansa. Kilala din ang senadora sa isa sa mga naging mambabatas na sumasang ayon sa katapatan ng LGBT community kaya naman karamihan ng mga sumuporta at nagtyagang pumila ay ang mga taong nabibilang sa grupo na ito.
Ang mga residente ng Bacoor Cavite at mga taga sorsogon ay isa lamang sa mga karatig bayan sa mga nakapila halos isang pamilya sila na sumusuporta kay senadora. “1992 pa lang supporters na kami ni miriam” sabi ng isa sa mga nakapila na taga cavite. Sa kabila nang lahat ay pinakita parin ng senadora ang kanyang youth power dahil sa dagsa ng mga kabataan nagusto syang matunghayan sa huling pagkakataon.
Una at huli naming pagkikita ng senadora at ang nakakalungkot ang una at huli naming pagkikita ay ang kanyang huling buhay sa mundo. Ramdam ko ang saya sa mgabtaong nakapila at hindi ko man lang naramdaman ang kalungkutan.
Napakalaking kawalan ni Miriam sa senado at sa pilipinas patunay naman dito ang nakukuha nyang pagpupugay mula sa mga taga suporta nya. Napaka palad ng nga henerasyon na nakakakilala sa kanya at sadyang napakaswerte ko ng matunghayan ko ang karera nya sa politika.
Hanggang sa muling pagkikita Madam #SalamatMiriam, Salamat sa pagmamahal mo sa bansa at ang pagmamahal mo sa kabataan. Kami ang magpapatuloy sa kong ano ang iyong nasimulan.
