Ripples: Sharing Stories, Empowering Communities (April 2021 Issue)

April 2021 Issue

The FPOP Baguio-Benguet clinic is the first sundown clinic in Baguio City, which was launched last April 9. The clinic will bring HIV screening services closer to the people of Baguio and nearby municipalities.

Organized by the Pilipinas Shell Foundation Inc. (PSFI) and Family Planning Organization of the Philippines (FPOP) Baguio-Benguet Chapter, this collaboration aims to reach Key Populations (KP) who do not have time to get themselves tested during regular working hours.

According to Mikhail Taggueg, PSFI Area Regional Coordinator for CAR, this alternative clinic is for clients who do not want to get tested on HIV facilities because of the fear to be judged or to be seen by other people. “Though our staff in the facilities are well-oriented with laws regarding HIV,

PSFI, FPOP Baguio-Benguet launches first sundown clinic written by Vic Arthur Masliyan

some clients are still reluctant to avail Friday from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM and Satservices in government facilities due to urdays from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the confidentiality issues” he added.

FPOP Baguio-Benguet Clinic. This schedule is on top of FPOP’s regular clinic hours Different key populations can now avail from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM during weekHIV screening and commodities every days.

LoveYourself expands HIV self-screening nationwide written by Hazel Jeremias

APRIL 2021

Dinglasan expressed his high hopes for SelfCare. “We want SelfCare to be part of LoveYourself, through SKPA Phil- the norm, we want HIV screening to be ippines, started expanding its HIV part of the norm.” self-screening program nationwide since March this year. Dubbed Dinglasan also looks forward to strength'SelfCare', LoveYourself is offering ening SelfCare’s network with testing and 1,800 free self-screening kits for treatment facilities. “We want SelfCare to be recognized by local testing and treatkey populations in the country. ment facilities so that when a client men“Expanding SelfCare is being true to its tions something about SelfCare, they will purpose of reaching testing clients that know what to do,” Dinglasan shared. cannot be reached by testing facilities,” Eenno Dinglasan, Program Lead of Self- As part of its aim to bring testing servicCare said. es closer to key populations, SKPA Philippines augmented the provisiom of 1,800 However, there are still challenges the free SelfCare kits to qualified individuals.

SelfCare program experiences. Since it is a “SKPA’s free self-testing kits is... relatively young program, Dinglasan shares that generating demand is challenging. continue to page 6...

continue to page 3...

What’s inside?

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Community Spotlight: A Struggle Yet Ultimately a Victory: LoveYourself Cebu's 2nd Year

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Community in Action: 61 Barangays ahead, Bagani taking the lead

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Freedom Wall: What does it take for you to keep braving through the quarantines?

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Combi nation: Episode 9 (Art needs to head back)

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EDITORIAL

April 2021 Issue

EDITORIAL BOARD A message from LoveYourself’s Executive Director, Dr. Ronivin Pagtakhan

In this time of the pandemic, every day we wake up and move is an act of bravery.

There is courage in facing this our present situation and responding to the needs of yourself, your family, and your community. It's truly inspirational.

Diego Rozul Editor-in-Chief News and Features Editor

Continuing to stand up for the community in this era can be a heroic act. That's why my heart goes to all the frontliners of the Champion Community Centers who are untiringly serving our people. Without them, we won't be able to deliver the vital HIV services for our respective communities.

Edgar Bagasol Jr. Managing Editor Layout Artist

The new normal situation gives us challenges that enable us to rethink our old ways.

Last year, LoveYourself launched in Greater Manila Area its SelfCare program, the first HIV self-screening service in the Philippines. This month, we courageously won over the difficulties and finally offered SelfCare nationwide. I'm also proud of having a sundown clinic in Baguio City and the safe space that the Bagani center in Bacolod offers.

These developments allow more Filipinos to have more options and access to know their HIV status and take care of their sexual health.

Literary Editor Queenie Mauhay

We also dared to bring into light the stories of people living with HIV and the members of the lesbian community because their stories are often on the sidelight. It's about time to normalize discussion about their stories too. It's essential not just for our advocacies but also for the progression of an understanding and compassionate society.

I'd also like to take this opportunity to celebrate with you the second anniversary of LoveYourself White House, whose existence has surpassed all the challenges of the pandemic. Congratulations, LoveYourself Cebu, for being fearless in serving your community!

Despite the COVID-19, we see everyday bravery and blessings from the people we work with, our supporters in the form of sponsors, partners and grants, and the community we serve. I hope that we continue to strengthen one another for us to remain strong for the days ahead until we achieve our better normal.

TJ Monzon Illustrator for Combi Nation Contributors Asha Gutierrez Hazel Jeremias Ryan Taborada Vic Arthur Masliyan

Raybert Domingo Adviser

Stay safe and healthy, everyone!

SHARE YOUR STORY! Create more Ripples by sharing stories of your own communities. This may include your events, activities, research, innovations, or any human interest stories that you think could inspire others in forwarding our cause.

To contribute, you may contact us at ripplespub@loveyourself.ph

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April 2021 Issue

From page 1: PSFI, FPOP-Baguio launches...

Further, PSFI and FPOP launched #Teentalks, a series of online discussions about Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health. Through the #TeenTalks, they hope to educate the KPs especially the youth to make informed decisions about the Sexual and Reproductive health. At the same time, it is an opportunity to raise awareness regarding treatment, care and support for people living with HIV (PLHIV).

NEWS

Cases in numbers In January 2021, 1% of the total number of newly diagnosed cases in the Philippines came from CAR. The number increased to 2% the following month. 69% of these cases are from Baguio City while 11% and 7% are from the provinces of Benguet and Mountain Province, respectively. The province of Abra, Ifugao and Kalinga shared 3% each while there were no cases reported from the Province of Apayao.

Aside from these efforts, PSFI also aims to The total number of cases have increased establish community centers which will be compared to the number of cases reported a one-stop-shop for HIV/STI services. in January and February 2020.

Taggueg emphasized that “these initiatives are just support to the LGUs efforts in the HIV response within the city and the region” he ended.

Despite the increase in number, “the bigger picture is not yet seen” added Caluza.

For the previous years, the region just reached 60% of its target for diagnosis coverage. The establishment of alternaMeanwhile, Cherrie Caluza, Department tives for testing, such as CBS and Facility of Health (DOH) CAR HIV program coordi- Testing, will help reach the remaining 40% nator said that sundown clinics are proven of the target. to be more favourable to KPs who are part of the working population.

People who are interested to be screened for HIV, may book an appointment via The DOH Regional HIV program will be www.facebook.com/fpopycg or visit the working closely with PSFI and FPOP to FPOP Baguio-Benguet Clinic at 2F Marmonitor the effectiveness of the initiative ket Superintendent’s Building, Bagong in terms of the number of clients reached Lipunan, Baguio City. The service is also compared to those reached by the facili- offered by the Regional HIV Program at ties.

DOH-CAR, BGH Compound, Baguio City.

MAY Philippine International

15 AIDS Candlelight Memorial (PIACM): Online Talakayan

by Amos Tara Community Center PIACM 2021 Online Commemoration by Mujer-LGBT Organization Inc. U Matter: U Light the Way

16 PIACM Online Commemoration by LoveYourself and Project red Ribbon

SINDI PIACM Commemoration by Oro Pia Community Center AIDS Candlelight Memorial

by DOH-Region 3 International Day Against

17 Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia

Youth volunteers of the Family Planning Organization of the Philippines (FPOP) Baguio-Benguet Chapter. Photo from FPOP Youth Core Group Baguio-Benguet

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NEWS FEATURES

April 2021 Issue

The new LoveYourself White House community center is located at #6 Avelino Morales St., Barangay Camputhaw, Cebu City. Photo by Ryan Taborada

A Struggle Yet Ultimately a Victory: LoveYourself Cebu’s 2nd Year written by Ryan Taborada

When LoveYourself Cebu celebrated its first anniversary, there was gloom in the air. It was during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when quarantine restrictions were at their strictest. There was an effort, of course, to make it as festive as possible, as the staff and the volunteers came together through the click of a Google Meet link. For over an hour, we bonded, asking each other how we were doing, how we were holding up, wishing to return to the time when we could be in each other’s presence like we had been during the hustle and bustle of our first year.

This time around, celebrating our 2nd anniversary, still through video conferencing, the vibe was much more lighthearted. We were still facing a global pandemic, but we'd adapted.

It had been such a struggle of a year for the organization, but we were still here, intact.

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April 2021 Issue

FEATURES

About two months after our first anniversary celebrations, LoveYourself White House, was converted into a COVID-19 testing facility. However, that didn’t deter us from forging ahead. The organization launched Project Reach, a one-on-one outreach program that allowed volunteers assigned in specific areas in Cebu City to provide free HIV counseling and screening. Shortly after, LoveYourself White House we found a new home. From the Fuente area, we moved to #6 Avelino Morales St., Barangay Camputhaw, Cebu City, about five minutes away from the University of the Philippines - Cebu.

When quarantine restrictions started to loosen up, the new location started taking in clients and allowing volunteers to counsel by appointment.

In order to push further our HIV Awareness endeavors at a time when movement is still limited, we focused our efforts online. We held game nights on our Facebook page, live-streamed talk shows for National HIV Prevention Month in coordination with the team from Manila, and produced a three-part Halloween mini-series that garnered thousands of views. Towards the end of the year, we were finally able to go out there and hold an HIV Caravan. Members of Sangguniang Kabataan in Barangay Guadalupe tapped us to conduct HIV 101, a SOGIE seminar, and provide HIV counseling and screening in their gymnasium, with safety protocols in place, of course.

By the time we had our online Christmas party, we felt that things were already starting to look up.

We were slowly inching closer to the manic volunteer energy we had pre-pandemic.

The seventh batch of volunteers, Batch Gihay (Cebuano for “petal”), were finally able to have their orientation at the beginning of 2021, albeit via Zoom. For their in-person counselor’s training, only three at a time had to book their schedule on weekends. Circumstances made things limited, but not impossible. We made them possible.

“It’s that insatiable hunger to keep on reaching out to people who need our services that kept us going,” shares Jan Shaltiel Vincent Estrada, head of LoveYourself Cebu.

“I didn’t anticipate that much difficulty in our 2nd year, but this pandemic struck and we had to fight. We had volunteers who lost loved ones, and we had some that caught COVID themselves, but we made it a point to be there for each other, in order to be there for our clients. In the end, we came out victorious.”

Volunteers in Cebu strike a pose at the facade of the LoveYourself White House community center. Photo by Ryan Taborada

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NEWS NEWS

April 2021 Issue

A Bagani Community Center volunteer facilitates their first HIV Awaraness Talk with Bacolod City Sangguniang Kabataan on April 17. Photo from Bagani Community Center

written by Noemih Santos Abasolo

61 Barangays ahead, Bagani taking the lead

written by Rayd Espeja

Bagani Community Center starts its second year with a promising partnership with Bacolod City Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation on April 17, 2021 at Nato’s Cafe and Garden.

ty to touch every barangay in Bacolod City is groundbreaking for the movement that we fervently believe in.

The HIV Awareness Talk starts at Brgy.

Banago which was delayed to the 15th of May due to developments in the COVID-19 situation in Bacolod. The talk will focus on the basics of HIV followed by HIV Screening to consenting participants.

The aim of the talk is to spread awareness about HIV, debunk the myths surrounding it, and.reduce stigma. Moving forward, the SK officers collaborate with barangays to set schedules for the talk series.

With a month-long conversation with the current SK Federation President of Bacolod City, SK President Ayesha Villaflor, Bagani secures a series of HIV Awareness Talks to the barangays of Bacolod City. To help mobilize the partnership, Bagani’s allied organization Humanist Alliance Philippines International (HAPI) hopes to sponsor the first of the 61 talks to be held in May 2021.

Bagani Community Center continues to be the trailblazer towards the HIV Awareness “We (SK) really love to have the talk (HIV advocacy in Bacolod City. It is evident from Awareness Talks) on our barangay and oth- the outpour of support from our partner er barangay in Bacolod. Ang kulang lang organizations and members that little by gid sa amon before is resource speaker. little, Bagani Community Center is becomWe cannot have the talk before because ing a relevant organization in the city of we do not have a resource speaker for the smiles as the forefront of this salient adtopic.” SK President Villaflor added. vocacy.

Villaflor expressed her excitement, and like the SK President Ayesha, Bagani is also ecstatic to begin this meaningful relationship, most especially with young servant leaders of the community. To be able to start a conversation is the first step towards awareness and being given the opportuni-

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Bagani Community Center maintains a Facebook Page @BaganiBCD where clients can visit anytime to know the latest update from the center. They can also drop messages, we have dedicated volunteers to cater all the questions 24/7 as possible.

We also have an active twitter account, you may follow us @BaganiBCD.

From page 1: LoveYourself expands HIV...

important as it brings HIV testing to clients who need them the most such as vulnerable and at-risk populations,” Dinglasan shared.

Before it was able to start actual operations though, the program went through rigorous research with the leadership of LoveYourself’s Director of Operations and Research, Danvic Rosadiño. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic which limited movement, many were prevented from going to LoveYourself centers and other testing facilities to get tested for HIV. This is where SelfCare came in.

“SelfCare’s Phase 2 implementation was indeed timely,” said Dinglasan, SelfCare’s Program Lead. “It happened during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic which enabled us to offer the self-screening kits through a demonstration study when they were needed the most,” he added.

When asked how he defines SelfCare, Dinglasan had this to say: “Knowing your HIV status in a way that you are most comfortable is the very essence of SelfCare.” Moreover, Dinglasan believes that SelfCare is also community care.

“Taking care of yourself allows you to also take care of others in the community,” he shared. Get a chance for a free SelfCare kit when you send your order on m.me/SelfCare2S.

April 2021 Issue

LITERARY

What does it take for you to keep braving through quarantines?

written by Queenie Mauhay

We asked some LoveYourself clinic staff about how they feel and what they think during the entire year of quarantine amidst the pandemic: "What does it take for you to keep braving through the quarantines?"

Ryan Costales Senior Operations Manager, LoveYourself

Ron De Villena Clinic Manager, LoveYourself Call of duty, of course. I am a nurse and this is what I pledged for. I have no choice to say “No” regardless of the type of quarantine. Even though during ECQ, I find it hard to do my duty and responsibilities due to limited transportation. But I have to put an extra effort like everyone else. I just can’t imagine stopping when I know that my fellow kababayans are struggling because at some point, it still feels great to save lives. No fear or threat of cross contamination can stop a nurse who knows how to handle stress like the pandemic. You just have to be prepared.

As a Senior Operations Manager of LoveYourself and a Nurse by profession, I have sworn an oath to render my service to sick people regardless of the situation--abandoning my post amidst this pandemic is not an option. I have to show my resiliency, and I believe that we as leaders need to inspire our staff and clients especially during this crucial time.

However, nurses are still human. We are more vulnerable and at-risk than anyone else as we provide the most client-friendly services that we can offer, but then again, this is not an excuse, especially if you have thousands of clients relying on LoveYourself, even our knowledge and experience are ready to become our only protection just to serve the people.

Charlrenz Sison Clinic Nurse, LoveYourself I can keep braving amidst the pandemic because of Hope; Hoping that everything will be alright at the very end. Hoping that despite the drastic increase in the number of covid cases, you and your family will never be a part of it.

Because as a hopeful person, together with prayers, that’s everything I can rely on as I am not in a hospital setting. I don’t have a right to act out or be sassy about the situation.

Here in LY, it is much easier to allocate the clients per station unlike in the hospital where you even need to go to multiple departments and rooms just to get a proper consultation.

Everyone is afraid especially when the pandemic has just started in the Country. I even reached the point where I don’t want to go to work because of the situation. However, as time goes by, I need to adjust too like what everyone is doing. You just have to keep moving forward and at this very moment, I am more afraid of my electricity and internet provider than the virus itself.

LOVE IS BRAVE He told me that she was gay.

Her eyes casted down; In tears, she could not even look atour faces.

He told me that she likes girls

and that this was wrong.

In confusion, I refuted this misconception right away.

She looked up at me, and I looked at her,

written by Asha Gutierrez

with loving pride, "It does not matter to me,” I told him.

"She will always be my mom.

I love her and who she loves anyway.”

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NEWS

April 2021 Issue

Artwork by TJ Monzon

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April 2021 Issue

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April 2021 Issue

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Sharing STORIES Empowering Communities 10 10

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