FEATURES
Members of Kagay-an PLUS during their annual pageant for HIV/AIDS and human rights ambassadors. Photo grabbed from @kagayanplus2015
Kagay-an PLUS celebrates five years of advocacy written by Queenie Mauhay Kagay-an PLUS – Preserving Life, Uniting Society Inc. (Kagay-an PLUS) celebrated it’s 5th year of serving and protecting the welfare, rights, and well-being of LGBTQIA+ and People living with HIV (PLHIV) communities on August 28. This coincided with the first year anniversary of its Oro Pia community center, named after HIV ambassador and Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach.
Initiated by the Social Hygiene Clinic of Cagayan de Oro City, the organization primarily aimed to represent members of the LGBTQIA+ and PLHIV communities. “We established the organization in 2015 with only 10 members,” Kagay-an PLUS Founder Enrique Nińo Patricio recalled. Supervised by the Global Fund – Transitional Funding Mechanism of AIDS Society of the Philippines, the organziation was established to provide services and promote education related HIV/AIDS and other STIs. These include free testing and
counseling programs and awareness activities in the communities of Cagayan de oro City. KPLUS Inc. also conducts awareness programs on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE). Five years in the advocacy, Kagay-an PLUS. has been devoted in their stance of preserving lives and uniting the society in ensuring equal and equitable access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Services. They envisions to be a leading organization that promotes non-discriminatory and gender responsive solutions to issues surrounding sexual health and human rights of LGBTQIA+ and PLHIV communities. “As long as you’re doing what is right, and you’re doing it wholeheartedly, I am sure that will achieve our goals,” shared Patricio. This serves as their motivation to forward their cause, especially during these uncertain times. Stay updated with Kagay-an PLUS activities by following them on Facebook @ kagayanplus2015. You may also visit them at Oro Pia Lounge at the Gates 2 and 3 of Nuevas Building, 8th-21st Street, Nazareth, Cagayan de Oro City.
Bisdak Pride’s radio drama for the Youth To further reach key populations to HIV especially the youth in Cebu City, Bisdak launched an original radio drama entitled “Trumpet Drama,” this August.
community to seek help with the right authorities and agencies. Since the program has themes surrounding issues that might be deemed as explicit and sensitive without proper supervision, the organization encourages consistent parental guidance if Many forms of art have been instrumental they’re tuning in with their children. in raising awareness and integrating important social and cultural discussions into The names of the characters, its setting, the norm. “Through this radio drama, we and the story uses elements that are inhope to spark change within our listeners,” spired by different people and their life’s said Roxanne Omega Doron, Bisdak Pride stories. Trumpet Radio will be aired in the selected radio station in Cebu City, PhilipExecutive Director. pines from September to December 2020. The radio show aims to educate its listen- Trumpet Drama is produced by Bidlisiw ers about gender-based violence, rights Foundation, Inc. with generous support of a child, child labor trafficking, discrim- of Terre de Hommes, KKS - Karl Kuhbel ination and stigma for the use of drugs Stiftung fur Kind and Familie, Caritas- Geramongst the youth, and online youth ex- many) together with Bisdak Pride, Inc. ploitation. It also highlights addiction as a complex condition, its progression and the Bisdak Pride, Inc. is a human rights organization dedicated to advance, uphold, and sustainable transformation process. protect the rights and responsibilities of The human rights organization persons with different sexual orientation hopes that through the perfor- and gender identity/expression. mances, it will inspire the Bisdak 4
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written by Ronnie Marky Sanchez
Bisdak volunteers on-air in one of the radio stations on Cebu City. Photo by Ronnie Sanchez
