Community spotlight: 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?

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 will get to them.” Of course, Robert did not mean for the center to physically visit their clients at home. Instead, they launched a digital broadcast, a Facebook Live program, to provide to the community information on HIV/AIDS as well as on sexual and reproductive health and rights. In truth, it was a subtle but ingenious way to also try and get the message across that Rajah’s services remained available, and that the sectors that need the service most can avail of the services.

At the time, Iloilo City was making a name for itself on social media for its admirable way of handling COVID-19 in the region. It was dubbed “Wakanda of the Philippines.” Robert thought to name the Facebook Live program “Wakanda Talks” after the moniker given to Iloilo. And so “Wakanda Talks” was born.

Wakanda talking, Wakanda walking.

Wakanda Talks first aired live on Facebook on June 11. Ryan Dave and his guests from the FPOP HIV ambassadors and Men of Fitness talked about basic concepts surrounding HIV. To everyone’s delight, the broadcast had about a hundred live viewers. While the number might be small, it was more than enough to make the show truly interactive. A number of questions, concerns, and feedback were received from online followers. The program was reaching its intended audience. On July 17, Wakanda Talks aired its second episode, this time about iScreen Self-test kits that Rajah also provides to its clients for free.

To date, the Facebook page of Rajah Community Center has accumulated a total of more than 10,000 views for the first two episodes of Wakanda Talks. It has also received more inquiries especially about iScreen and other services because of the program. To Robert, that they were able “to continue to provide the community with services because of Wakanda Talks is a form of justice.”

“The sector that we serve is already marginalized. We do not want them to be marginalized again just because there is COV- ID-19. There is no excuse,” Robert added emphatically. So Robert, Bobet, and Ryan Dave carry on with their mission. They are airing the third episode of Wakanda Talks on August 14, 2020, at 6 PM, and it’s all about Combination Prevention. “Watch out for online games and prizes”, Bobet quipped. To receive updates and to view the program, follow the Rajah Community Center page on Facebook at https://www. facebook.com/watch/RajahCommunityCenter/