December 2020 Issue
LITERARY FEATURES
International Volunteer Day: The Rewards of Volunteerism written by Ryan Taborada
my twenties not knowing what my status was, and this constantly loomed over me. It made me wonder if others were the same way, in the dark about their status, not informed and empowered enough to go out there and get tested.
When an organization such as LoveYourself is primarily made up of volunteers, it can be quite a challenge to keep it going for as long as it has. Even with paid work, people come and go, how much LoveYourself, like other non-profit organimore when most of your people zations with the same advocacy, became are not paid at all? for me a safe haven to readily avail of the services that previously were close to In my case, not only am I not getting paid, unheard of. This shift provided a sigh of I also am not bound by any contract that relief. My community is finally given the compels me to stay. Yet I choose to stay, much-needed safe space to go to. I had to alongside many others, for reasons that go be a part of it. I had to be a part of this beyond monetary compensation. endeavor that was missing when I was in my twenties. When I started volunteering for LoveYourself, I did not think I was at that stage in my Volunteering turns out to be a blast. It life when I was ready to give back. What may not be a walk in the park, but it’s that gravitated me towards the organization refreshing sprint in incredible directions. was the advocacy that affected me much Soon after joining LoveYourself I formed deeper than I had thought. I am part of precious bonds with people who had their a generation that did not have access to own various reasons for volunteering. convenient, rapid, and free HIV screening. Some of them are all about serving the There was not enough information avail- community that we are a part of, and there able to somehow alleviate the fear that are others who saw how difficult it was for comes with getting tested. I went through persons living with HIV (PLHIV) to receive
the care they needed back then, and a few had lost loved ones because of the virus. Call it helper’s high, or some fulfillment of a sense of purpose of sorts, but the feeling is nothing short of rewarding. In those days when we used to be able to be in each other’s presence, I would look around and feel gratitude and immense awe towards those that stuck around, unpaid, exhausted, fighting for a cause not a lot would. International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development was observed last December 5, 2020. Mandated by the UN General Assembly in 1985, IVD is a yearly observance that encourages volunteerism, building on the impact volunteers have in communities, both locally and internationally. It was of significance for LoveYourself and its volunteers. Even for just a day, the world gave the spotlight to those that offer their time and effort without expecting anything in return. To my fellow volunteers, this isn’t much, but I would like to say thank you.
Central Luzon CBOs unite for WAD In 1988, to address the media visibility gap of HIV/AIDS, James Bunn and Thomas Netter collaborated to design and implement the annual World AIDS Day (WAD). It is globally celebrated every year on December 1st to raise awareness, express support for people living with HIV, and commemorate those we have lost in the fight against the epidemic. Since then, it has been the longest-running initiative in the history of public health and the first-ever global health day. The themes over the years included testing, linkage to care, individual rights, and community responsibilities. This year, WAD highlights "Global solidarity, shared responsibility." The global HIV response has been deeply affected in concurrence with the COVID-19 pandemic. It exaggerated the importance of maintaining HIV/ AIDS services amid a global threat as it re-
mains a public health crisis. WAD calls for HIV service providers, global citizens, and front liners to band together for solidarity and ensure that the needs of vulnerable groups and key populations are kept at the center of COVID-19 responses. Locally, various NGOs, CBOs, and support groups came together to celebrate WAD 2020. Remarkably, HIV clinics and centers from Central Luzon initiated an online solidarity campaign in observance of WAD 2020 alongside their Regional HIV Testing Month celebration. This awareness initiative aimed to raise public interest and bridge the gap in sexual health education among Filipinos. In the recent report by the Department of Health, Region 3 is included in the top five regions with the highest number of newly reported cases (13%, 84). In totality, there are 8,089 (10%) cases recorded from Central Luzon alone. These numbers reflect the existing HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination that fuels
written by Jesse Castelano
the ongoing epidemic. To combat this, a pool of organization members from DOH-Region 3 AIDS, STIs & Viral Hepatitis Prevention and Control Program participated in the campaign. There was a total of 8 advocacy videos that covered multifaceted themes. Some discussed the basics of HIV/AIDS, treatment and adherence, PLHIV stories, combination prevention strategies including PrEP and PEP, condoms and lube, and HIV testing. These efforts add up to shape a future free from HIV-related stigma and discrimination and ultimately end the HIV/ AIDS epidemic. The coming together of these organizations from Central Luzon is a reminder of the power of hope and solidarity. Their sense of global togetherness and shared responsibility is an act of great social impact that responds to the global HIV/AIDS challenges.
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