Ripples: Sharing Stories, Empowering Communities (June 2021)

June 2021 Issue

JUNE 2021

A female model donned a featured haute couture of Sto. Niño-inspired dress. This pays tribute to the historical culture of Cebu and how LGBTQIA+ continue to prosper alongside strong Filipino traditions. Photo from LoveYourself Cebu.

Simultaneously, LoveYourself White House volunteers spoke for the Pride Month celebration of Busay, Labangon, Calamba, and Sambag II at Waterfront Cebu on June 26, 2021. The talk focused on promoting HIV awareness among youths, as the affected demographics, and Trans Health services by LoveYourself.

In another part of Cebu that day, volunteers set-up free HIV counseling and screening booth for the Celebration of Love with PRIDE by Pride Travel and Tours at S&M Hotel in Mandaue City.

LoveYourself culminates Pride Month 2021 in Fashion

written by Ryan Taborada

LoveYourself culminated Pride Month 2021 through Lollipop 2: Pop of Colors, a fashion show on June 26, 2021, streamed live via Lazada and the LoveYourself Cebu Facebook page.

Lollipop 2: Pop of Colors—A Fashion Event aims to showcase the talents of Filipino designers with their pride-inspired couture pieces. The show also aimed to honor the LGBTQIA+ voices that gradually lead to a brighter future among the community members, and remind the people of the existing issues related to the LGBTQIA+ community.

The event marked one of the organization’s missions to ally with LGBTQIA+ names that triumph in their fields. The fashion event paved the runway for thriving and renowned Cebu-based designers: Lorenzo Ceniza, Wendell Quisido, Bree Esplanada, Rei Escario, Rey Humberto Villegas, Alejandro Godinez Jr., Hanz Coquilla, and Edward James Castro. This was already the second installation for LoveYourself’s Lollipop fashion event.

“As a proactive member of the community, it is our primary goal to support the cause for equality and inclusivity,” said Jan Shaltiel Vincent Estrada, head of LoveYourself Whitehouse in Cebu. “To see oneself as valid is the first step of loving oneself. By then, we are more open to discussing stigmatized topics such as HIV/AIDS, mental illness, and SOGIE, which are common among LGBTQIA+ members,” he added.

LoveYourself is an advocate and a strong ally of the community. Lollipop 2 is just one of the upcoming activities to continuously exercise the vision: self-worth is the key to build an empowered community.

LoveYourself is a non-profit and non-government organization that aims to uplift the self-worth of Filipino communities, especially members of the LGBTQIA+.

LoveYourself offers free HIV counseling/ screening, HIV treatment, transgender health and mental health services. The organization, empowered by volunteers, has been up to its mission to champion iniingatan, inaalagaan, at inaasikaso experience since 2011.

What’s inside?

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Community in Action AMOS TARA: Digital Pride Festival a success!

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Community Spotlight Equality or Suppression?

Men's Month in General Santos

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Community Spotlight: Improve. Innovate. Scale-up

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Community in Action: Outstanding LGBT Allies recognized in Zamboanga

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Freedom Wall: Unchained by Self-love

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Combi nation: Introducing Agahtus

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EDITORIAL

June 2021 Issue

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

This Pride month while we recognize our differences, we also celebrate our uniqueness towards building an inclusive society. Knowing that all of you matter, our CHAMPION communities have staged several Pride events to reach you virtually through online concerts and physically through outreach programs. We take advantage of our situation to provide services and campaigns that would create much bigger impact to the community despite continuous lingering of the pandemic.

We opened the Pride Month with U Matter Symposium with the International AIDS Society under the theme: Inspiring a Client-Centred HIV Response in the Philippines and Southeast Asia. The symposium aims to impart knowledge on improving the sexual health care services in the region among healthcare providers, professionals and HIV frontliners and community movers. In Cebu, our partner community organization – CURLS, also hosted a seminar on HIV sensitization with onsite HIV screening to promote proper care and handling of HIV situation in their area.

LoveYourself held various online and offline events, starting off with the #PrideStartsWithU online concert and culminating the celebrations with Lollipop 2: Pop of Colors fashion event in Cebu together with partners and ambassadors. These volunteer-led efforts demonstrate how our community respond to the call for equality, inclusivity and love for their one another amid all adversities we face at the moment. In Palawan, Amos Tara also held a digital Pride event to echo the same advocacies we have for the LGBTQIA+ community.

While we created fabulous and vivid productions for our stakeholders, we also take a moment to reflect what’s within. We take pride of who we are and what we can do for ourselves, so we can share the same to others in our respective communities. This June, we highlighted one’s wellness not only because it’s Men’s Health Month but most importantly, taking good care of yourself means creating a healthier community. In our comics, we emphasized the importance of protecting our transgender community through informed choices and actionable ways to affirm their gender and safeguard their sexual health. Lastly, we gave spotlight to our people who are frontliners on this twin-pandemic of COVID-19 and HIV - the CARE officers. They truly matter in responding to our most challenging health crises to date. Their dedication elicits pride in my heart and in our united and loving community that there is light and hope no matter how darkness the days can be.

Diego Rozul Editor-in-Chief News and Features Editor Edgar Bagasol Jr. Managing Editor Layout Artist Literary Editor Queenie Mauhay TJ Monzon Illustrator for Combi Nation Contributors Alvin Toni Gee Fernandez Kevin Pastor Lanscap Anthony Caputilla Mark John Celis Mikhail Taggueg Rienzi Encarnacion Ryan Taborada Shane Quigao Raybert Domingo Adviser

This Pride Month, I realized that it’s not only about coming together that we can amplify our pride. It’s really taking up pride within and recognizing that everyone matters, because there’s no unity in all that we do without “U.” And I thank you for taking pride in yourself because U matter.

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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June 2021 Issue

NEWS

AMOS TARA: Digital Pride Festival a success! written by Lanscap Anthony Caputilla

we are. This is one of the things I should be proud of, because it gives me an opportunity to show that we are capable of doing something especially in our Community,” he said.

Mamac also explained that winning the crown is a huge responsibility. He also added that it needs you to be mentally and emotionally stable. “I [conceptualized] how to show to everyone – my talent, my skills, and my dedications. [I focused on my advocacy –on how everyone would be aware and be informed politically].” Mamac told Amos Tara.

Tens of participants auditioned on the First ever Pride Digital King/Queen and only fifteen (15) participants were officially selected and competed which Jenerson Mamac won the crown. Meanwhile, eleven (11) individuals were officially selected and competed for the Shade of Pride which Royet Dela Vega hailed as the first ever champion.

Pride Month takes over Puerto Princessa, Palawan as Amos Tara Community Center launched Pride Digital King/Queen and Shade of Pride Pride Digital Festival. Reaching thousands locally, pride truly knows no boundaries to bring visibility to communities and individuals who identify as LGBTQIA+.

The Amos Tara Community Center launched the events online – as a part of the annual celebration of Pride Month. Due to the risks of COVID-19, the said management came up with the idea to maximize social platforms which their online event took place. The Amos Tara Community Center aimed to showcase the creativity, inclusivity, beauty, and the voice of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Royet Dela Vega, Grand winner of the first ever Shade of Pride - Creative Make Up Slogan Contest, told Amos Tara that the inspiration of his masterpiece is the LGBTQIA+ itself. “As you can see, there is a zipper. And that zipper [symbolizes] deep meaning. It is a reflection of an obscure heart of what we call HUMAN. That masterpiece gives courage to everyone to come out, to look for the positivity of life, and give power to everyone to show to the world what’s running in our blood,” he said.

He also added that the zipper would set us free; would make us extraordinary from doing things out of our individual comfort zone. “We must be fearless to unzip the whole body of ourselves. But we must be brave to see the light as the flowers bloom when it comes out. We must be visible for what we stand for, because PRIDE starts with U! Dela Vega added.

On the other hand, the winner of Amos Pride Digital King/ Queen 2021, Jenerson Mamac, who also got the People’s choice award because he has the most referred clients for HIV Screening, shared his views after winning the crown. “[It is an honor for me and a responsibility, too]. [Am] so thankful because I [was] given a chance to show how unique and diverse

Winner Royet Dela Vega channelled fearlessness and acceptance in his Creative Make-Up Slogan art.

Photo from Amos Tara Community Center.

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June June 2021 2021 Issue Issue

FEATURES NEWS

Equality or Suppression?: Men’s Month in General Santos written by Diego Rozul

A General Santos City ordinance posted by its City Population Management Office (CPMO) Facebook page took fire on the first of June 2021. The ordinance declared June as Men’s Month to recognize men’s role as partners in promoting and upholding gender equality and equity as part of the United Nation’s He For She movement.

The declaration of Men’s Month left a bad taste in netizens’ mouths as it coincided with the celebration of Pride Month, especially as several other countries celebrate Men’s Day in November. Netizens were quick to criticize the ordinance citing how after years of repressing the LGBTQIA+ community, Pride Month is being overshadowed by Men’s Month. The UP Mindanao Mentefuwaley were among its greatest critics calling for the CPMO to take down the social media post whilst conducting a SOGIESC seminar to the office’s employees.

Since then, the CPMO followed the recommendations of UP Mindanao Mentefuwaley and took down the post. A week after, the

Photo taken from https:// philstarlife.com/news-andviews/704512-gensanmens-month-and-day

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June June 2021 2021 Issue Issue

FEATURES FEATURES

Photo from https://www.facebook.com/CPMOGensan/photos /a.103971195099591/150313903798653/

CPMO posted a poster promoting its Men’s Month activities sporting the theme “Pahalagahan at Pangalagaan ang Kalusugan at Kalikasan sa Panahon ng Pandemya (Value and Care HealthSince then, the CPMO followed the recommendations of UP Mindanao Mentefuwaley and took down the post. A week after, the CPMO posted a poster promoting its Men’s Month activities sporting the theme “Pahalagahan at Pangalagaan ang Kalusugan at Kalikasan sa Panahon ng Pandemya (Value and Care Health and the Environment in Pandemic Times)”.

The post further emphasized that the campaign aims to promote positive male role models who are exemplar in family, community, health, and wellbeing. With its new theme, netizens no longer flamed the CPMO.

This is not however the first time a men’s-related activity coincided with Pride Month. In fact, International Men’s Health Week is celebrated on the third week of June honoring the importance of looking after one’s health as a man, in which masculine beliefs discourage. Later in the month, the Department of Health Region III led its regional celebration of Men’s Health Month in conjunction with International Men’s Health Day. "It underscores the premise that men are clients who have their own reproductive health concerns; partners who recognize that their own health impacts their partners' well-being; and change agents who are capable advocates for gender transformation," regional Director Corazon Flores said.

While society strives toward gender equality and equity, recognizing the importance of intersectional considerations become increasingly important. Men’s month not only aims to celebrate men who have contributed towards gender-sensitive initiatives, but recreate the ideal male image who advocates for a safer world for everyone no matter their SOGIE.

Graphic from Canva.com

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FEATURES NEWS

June 2021 Issue

Improve Innovate Scale-up

Here's the Champion Community Centers and other partners learned from the International AIDS Socitey and LoveYourself Symposium titled "Inspiring a Client-Centered HIV Response in the Philippines and Southeast Asia" held on June 3-4, 2021

compiled and edited by Edgar Bagasol Jr.

Kevin Pastor | Clinic Nurse, Bagani Community Center I would say a fresh perspective on how HIV/AIDS is being managed in a global scale. Each country especially in Asia along with several groups and organizations work closely with their government, private companies and subgroups using varied strategies in spreading awareness and information to the masses. These strategies like online reach, acquisition of self-test kits and increased advertising on PrEP remain unmoved amidst the pandemic.

We learned that PrEP, its use and contribution in the global mission of TREATMENT AS PREVENTION, is one of many forefront programs that was widely encouraged among the LGBTQ+ community and as an organization we can look into options and plans to begin provision and not just in Bacolod City but also to neighboring municipalities. Also, are strategies used to reach to the general masses, one-stop online screening, health hotlines and the use of social media platforms which in commonplace is now the hub of information and a perfect medium for advocacy and awareness.

Mark John Celis | Community Center Officer, YCAP Community Center The symposium provided us updates and innovations that the international HIV/AIDS community currently implement, especially on HIV treatment. I particulartly love those topics underscoring same-day ART initiation as this would consequently promote undetetctability.

Through activities like this, providers like us will gather more insights as to how we can better deliver our services to the people. We will deifinitely use the insights and innovations that we've learned from the symposium to scale-up and expand our services to more KPs.

Shane Quigao | Executive Director, Oro Pia Community Center The best thing I've learned from the symposium is the combination of PREP and PEP for HIV prevention. I've also had a deeper appreciation on the importance of treatment adherence to promote undetectability among PLHIV, as well as with the new testing innvoations like self-testing. I think innovations like these are really responsive to the current context where people struggle to access HIV services due to COVID-19 restrictions.

My learnings from the symposium would help our organization improve our delivery of HIV services to the people, especially on testing and prevention. It will inform our guidelines and process and it will also provide us ideas on how we can accelerate and scale-up the delivery of HIV services to our clients, especially in Mindanao.

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June June 2021 2021 Issue Issue

FEATURES FEATURES

Mikhail Taggueg | Area Regional Coordinator, Cordillera Administrative Region The best thing I’ve learned in the symposium were the updates about new prevention methods for HIV and its campaign and strategies to present options available for our key affected populations. This is especially helpful in the Cordillera Administrative Region where I’m assigned because more options will be available and therefore will be more convenient for the key affected populations we cater. With that, we commit to educate our clients about these new prevention methods so that things will be smooth once roll out starts.

This learning could help our organization in a way that this will leads us to improving the HIV response in our designated area. This learning can likewise amplify our message that treatment really works in controlling the virus in our body and prevents transmission to our sexual partners. This learning will greatly improve our messaging especially in the cordilleras where most people we cater are quite conservative towards these kind of topics.

Rest assured we’ll do our part to disseminate these to the grassroots of our communities.

Outstanding LGBT Allies recognized in Zamboanga written by Alvin Toni Gee Fernandez

This Pride Month, Mujer LGBT Organization, Inc.—after one year of careful evaluation, data gathering, and screening process— will finally reveal its list of outstanding allies in the advocacy, dubbed as "ALLIADOS: The Ally in Motion." This aims not only to celebrate those who are in solidarity with our pursuit, but also to honor individuals who have the most impact in championing LGBTQIA+ rights and acceptance in the City of Zamboanga.

Every day, the organization advocates for all LGBTQ Zamboangueños in a way that recognizes, responds to, and celebrates the many intersections of our identities. Our advocacy initiative represents a shared vision of justice and equity for the future of the LGBTQ community in Zamboanga City. Expanding the scale and reach of philanthropic resources for LGBTQ communities and social justice by building relationships with a wide range of foundations, agencies, and other partners helps us bolster our work.

Your unprecedented assistance only inspires us to do and reach more in our fight for equality, social justice, and development. We exist to serve our members, and so nothing makes us happier than your continued support.

This activity was brought to you by Mujer-LGBT Organization Incorporated inpartnership with Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc., LoveYourself Inc., Mindanao Pride and Champion Community Centers.

The 10 Outstanding LGBT Allies in Zamboanga.

Photo fromMujer-LGBT.

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FEATURE

June 2021 Issue

Unchained by

Self-love

The person I was, or the person I portrayed, was simply treading the surface of societal pressures. I was riding on the waves of thoughts; bias and stereotypes surrounding the identity that the society had sculpted for myself to eventually, nonetheless temporarily, mold onto.

At that time, I was what I thought I should be – straight.

I vividly remember when I was younger, I always gravitated towards my little sister’s barbie dolls – most especially the sparkly skirts and colorful hair, I loved watching Totally Spies and Kim Possible because I always wanted to be like them – still on style while fighting crimes, and would always hang out with a group of girls at school. At that time, I thought I was just like any regular kid until my family members would blatantly point out my “feminine” ways.

Growing up, these phrases would haunt me: “Are you gay?”

“You sound like a girl.”

“When will you have a girlfriend?”

“You’re just confused.”

“It’s just a phase.”

“Homosexuals will go to hell!”

The fear of coming out, in my case, was deeply rooted in shame.

It was the constant thought that my existence didn’t matter, that I wasn’t valid. I have come to understand that every painful event that I have gone through ultimately served to be the transition I needed to become all that I was meant to be. So how did I take ownership of my identity? I loved myself first. With a gender that’s admittedly not yet accepted by the entire world, you owe yourself some love. Why? Because love will always live.

A question I asked myself after coming out.

The answer was simple – freedom.

My “awakening” was probably during my fifth grade when “High School Musical” aired on Disney Channel. I saw Zac Efron for the first time and I felt something different – I was attracted to him.

That was my light bulb moment! I like boys. But of course, it was ingrained in my mind that this can’t be, that this was wrong– That this was a sin.

“That’s what the bible said”, they used to tell me. I had this imagery of hell to suppress my authentic self because I wanted to “fit in”. In those years, I hated every part of myself that hinted at my sexuality – my voice, my mannerisms, my interests. My mind, so ignorant and proud, allowed these ideals to cage any form of self-discovery.

When I was in high school, I would always try to act “manly”. I would hide my true self because I always felt anxious when someone would ask me if I was gay. This was a constant fear I had all throughout high school and when someone would mention it, I would deny it and die of shame on the inside. It was a daily battle and it took so much work to be a man that society wanted and accepted – this was 2009.

Graphics from Pixabay.com

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I channeled my femininity through dance and the performing arts. At that time, I thought that this was the perfect balance – it was something a boy and a girl could do. That’s why whenever I dance, I get lost but in a beautiful way. I can fully express myself without words and this was extremely powerful for me. This was the first time I tried to reclaim my voice. I allowed myself to be my most authentic self on stage and this was my first step towards accepting who I really am – gay.

“So then what?”

and until now, they still do.

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written by Rienzi Encarnacion

I was bound in shackles by societal pressure, religion, and shame. But now, I am free. Freedom always has exceptions but the freedom you’ll gain from jumping onto that rainbow is from within This journey of self-discovery has taught me to reclaim my power because the universe is for me, and so is for everyone else.

NEWS

June 2021 Issue

COMICS

Artwork by TJ Monzon

AGAHTUS

Agahtus is an agent of change.

With each flap of their wings, an aroma fills the air that changes the appearance of the land's inhabitants.

When they release estrogen, the population gets more feminine features. When they release testosterone, the people get more masculine traits. Agahtus helps the residents of Combi Nation become their truest selves.

Follow the adventures of Agahtus with the Combi Heroes in the next episode of Combi Nation. Follow SaferNow Philippines on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to learn more about HIV combination prevention methods.

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June 2021 Issue

Permission to Reproduce The information in this publication may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes, in part or in whole and by any means, without charge or further permission from the network, provided that due diligence is exercised in ensuring the accuracy of the information reproduced; that the institution is identified as the source of the information; and that the reproduction is not presented as an official version of the information reproduced, nor as having been made in affiliation with or with the endorsement of the Ripples Community Publication.

Sharing STORIES Empowering Communities 10 10

@ChampionCommunityCenters | @skpaPH | @loveyourself.ph