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Wakanda walks the talk written by Emmanuel Lerona Ryan Dave Estrella is uneasy. Half-sitting on the chair, he looks straight at the camera, waiting for a cue from director Vince “Bobet” Misterio. Their camera is nothing more than a mobile phone; the studio a makeshift one. There are no fancy lights, no fancy equipment, no expensive microphones. The team decorated the center’s lounge to make it more screen-ready for a video telecast program. This is Rajah, the community center of the Family Planning Organization of the Philippines Iloilo Chapter (FPOP Iloilo). Tonight, Rajah airs an episode of Wakanda Talks. When COVID-19 cases started to trickle in the country, the HIV Coordinator of FPOP Iloilo, Roberto “Robert” Figuracio Jr., was alarmed. Before the pandemic, Rajah has been receiving an average of 200 clients per month. But when the region started implementing local lockdowns, the number dropped drastically. In April, the total number of clients for the whole month was only 14. Something had to be done. The service-delivery chain, it seemed, was broken. But the services remained available despite the lockdowns. Rajah Community Center of FPOP Iloilo was open throughout the imposed community quarantines. But given the people’s immobility due to the pandemic, how could the people know how to avail of those services?
truly interactive. A number of questions, concerns, and feedback were received from online followers. The program was reaching its intended audience. On July 17, will get to them.” Of course, Robert did not Wakanda Talks aired its second episode, mean for the center to physically visit their this time about iScreen Self-test kits that clients at home. Instead, they launched a Rajah also provides to its clients for free. digital broadcast, a Facebook Live program, to provide to the community infor- To date, the Facebook page of Rajah Commation on HIV/AIDS as well as on sexual munity Center has accumulated a total of and reproductive health and rights. In more than 10,000 views for the first two truth, it was a subtle but ingenious way to episodes of Wakanda Talks. It has also realso try and get the message across that ceived more inquiries especially about iSRajah’s services remained available, and creen and other services because of the that the sectors that need the service most program. To Robert, that they were able can avail of the services. “to continue to provide the community with services because of Wakanda Talks is At the time, Iloilo City was making a name a form of justice.” for itself on social media for its admirable way of handling COVID-19 in the region. It “The sector that we serve is already marwas dubbed “Wakanda of the Philippines.” ginalized. We do not want them to be marRobert thought to name the Facebook Live ginalized again just because there is COVprogram “Wakanda Talks” after the moni- ID-19. There is no excuse,” Robert added ker given to Iloilo. And so “Wakanda Talks” emphatically. So Robert, Bobet, and Ryan was born. Dave carry on with their mission. They are airing the third episode of Wakanda Talks Wakanda talking, Wakanda walking. on August 14, 2020, at 6 PM, and it’s all Wakanda Talks first aired live on Facebook about Combination Prevention. “Watch on June 11. Ryan Dave and his guests from out for online games and prizes”, Bobet the FPOP HIV ambassadors and Men of quipped. To receive updates and to view Fitness talked about basic concepts sur- the program, follow the Rajah Community rounding HIV. To everyone’s delight, the Center page on Facebook at https://www. broadcast had about a hundred live view- facebook.com/watch/RajahCommuniers. While the number might be small, it tyCenter/ was more than enough to make the show
Enter Wakanda. In June, Robert came up with a plan. He thought, “If people could not get to our center to get the needed information and services, then our center
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Photo grabbed from @FPOPiloilo
