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Kagay-an PLUS to engage more ambassadors through their annual pageant
written by EJ Marquez
December 1 is known to be World AIDS Day and is celebrated by HIV advocates worldwide. Every year since 2016, Kagay-an PLUS Inc. has been organizing a pageant aligned with the advocacy. In celebration, the organization will launch the first online "Mister and Miss Kagay-an PLUS," a pageant search for Cagayan De Oro (CDO) human rights, HIV and AIDS ambassadors.
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The pageant aims to spotlight community members and consequently engage them in reaching more clients for HIV services. Cognizant to the pandemic, Mister and Miss Kagay-an PLUS will be held online to keep the community safe while putting the spotlight on the organization’s advocacy.
Prior to the pageant, the aspiring ambassadors shall undergo a week-long training related to the HIV advocacy. The sessions will tackle topics such as peer education, human rights, understanding STI, HIV and AIDS, SOGIE, and the Republic Act 11166.
After the evaluation process, 5 Men having sex with Men (MSM) and 5 transgender woman (TGW) will be selected from the pool of applicants to become the official candidates of the pageant. The 10 candidiates will then be engaged in KPLUS' online campaigns while preparing for the actual pageant.
Mister and Miss Kagay-an PLUS 2019 Michael Alvarez and Ms. Klein Cortez respectively, along with 1st Runner-ups Rjay Ocag and Amanda Benimerito, went on to fulfill their post pageant commitment through a series of activities such as mobile outreach, radio guestings, sponsor visits, and national trainings and workshops.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Mister and Miss Kagay-an PLUS 2020 will engage mostly through online activities with limited onsite appearances. The 2020 winners will be engaged in the same activities as with the previous winners but this year, they will have special appearances on the newest Kagay-an PLUS online talk show, "ChikkaAdvocates."
Be updated on the current activities and campaigns of KPLUS leading to the Mister and Miss Kagay-an PLUS pageant by following them at @kagayanplus2015.
