We are celebrating the 30th International AIDS Candlelight Memorial once more with a mass public yoga practice followed by a short Kirtan and candle lighting ceremony. Calling the event, "Better Together", we aim to bring solidarity within the HIV advocacy community and also reinforce the beauty and transformative power of our yoga practice in helping groups and individuals affected by HIV and AIDS.
See you on May 26, 4pm, at the Charito Planas Gardens in Quezon Memorial Circle.
Registration Fee is Php 150. Proceeds will help support Yoga For Life's advocacy towards assisting more people affected by HIV/AIDS.
The Love Yourself Hub, a clinic and events space jointly operated by the community-based organization
Love Yourself and the Department of Health’s Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, posted its first
quarter results for 2013, registering a 5-fold increase in the number of people accessing its free HIV
testing services, compared to the same quarter last year. A total of 1,028 individuals came to the Malate-based facility during the period January to March 2013, while during the same period in 2012, there
were 171.
Such impressive growth in clientele is consistent with the velocity of increase as observed throughout
2012, with average growth rate of 24% per month.
The partnership between a private non-governmental organization Love Yourself and the government’s
Research Institute of Tropical Medicine (RITM) was key to this success. “We were both able to leverage
our strengths – RITM is one of the country’s centers for HIV-related services, while our group had the
marketing savvy to connect the clients to the needed services,” explains Ian Felix Alquiros, Director for
Partnerships at Love Yourself. “This is an example of success for a public-private partnership program.”
Another critical driver to this success is the distinctive way with which Love Yourself reaches out to the
community in encouraging people to pay attention and act on the spreading HIV epidemic. Since its
inception, Love Yourself has consciously stayed away from using fear-based tactics to elicit attention and
behavior change related to HIV prevention. “We believe that we serve the community best by keeping
HIV talk away from grim and scare. In all our communication, we highlight the positive side of things. In
the midst of the epidemic, we fight fear with love, and we keep on smiling!” says Love Yourself president
and founder, Ronivin Pagtakhan, a nurse by profession.
This video departs from the clinical approach of talking about the basics of HIV/AIDS. Instead, similar to an airline's in-flight safety video, Sebastian encourages men to “dare” to fly, shows them how to take “care” of themselves during flight, and encourages them to “share” the video with others.
Joining Sebastian is our budding screen couple, Carlito Rosadino Floro Jr. and Javi Bermejo, who also recently starred in Love Yourself's "Know Your Status" video for Hornet.
LoveYourself needs committed individuals who celebrate the vision of a self-loving, healthy, and HIV/STI-free Philippines—those who have the time, energy, and team spirit to share via volunteer work and community service.
Join our Communications committee if you have a knack for writing, content strategy, graphic arts, or marketing. This committee needs critical and creative thinkers as being part of the group means ensuring synchronized, clear, and consistent interaction among teams, volunteers, and our partners.
Become a member of our Events Management committee and lead in promotions, sponsorships, visual design, or logistics. Being dynamic, personable, cooperative (and able-bodied) are all part of being in Events Management, as they plan and execute activities to further engage and invite more people into our advocacy.
If you believe you have the empathy, open mind, and people skills to become an HIV counselor and educator, then enlist in the Counseling & Education committee! This means being trained to be HIV counselors and educators—directly helping the organization's objectives in HIV and AIDS awareness, prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation.
Join us for a special back-to-back treat this MAY 21 at the Robinson's Galleria Cinema and help us raise much-needed funds for our efforts, including our HIV testing and counseling activities.
SLUMBER PARTY special screening (7 PM) starring Sef Cadayona, RK Bagatsing, Archie Alemania and Markki Stroem
JUANA C., THE MOVIE premiere screening (9 PM) directed by Jade Castro (Zombadings) starring Juana Change, Jelson Bay, Joel Torre, Nino Mulach, John James Uy, Mads Nicolas and more
Hell, yeah! HIV talk need not always be grim and scary.
In a soon-to-be released video, Sebastian Castro, star of the phenomenal YouTube hit “Bubble,” talks about HIV, chic and cheeky!
What really is HIV? How can one stay healthy and HIV-free, while living a smart and scrumptious sexy life? Find out when we debut the video on May 8, 2013 (Wednesday) at 9 PM, via the link http://go.loveyourself.ph/FLY Meanwhile, here’s a behind-the-scenes video for your enjoyment:
For the first quarter of the year (January to March, 2013) 1,417 individuals benefited from the HIV counseling and testing services offered by Love Yourself, a community of volunteers that help in HIV prevention and education efforts in the Philippines. Of this number, 168 were confirmed as persons living with HIV, and are currently being assisted and guided through the treatment process.
“This huge turn-out of people accessing HIV testing services is great news! It shows that more and more people are becoming aware of HIV. It also proves that our volunteers, together with the bigger community of people working for HIV prevention and education, are successful in reaching out to key populations needing to get tested,” says Chris Lagman, Director for Counseling and Education at Love Yourself. “For the 168 newly diagnosed PLHIVs, this is actually very good news too! Because they now know their status, they can start treatment and thus able to take care of themselves properly.”
* * *
Love Yourself would like to thank all of its volunteers and consultants, particularly the recently announced top counselors who provided the most number of volunteer hours in Q1 2013. They are: Ran Olbinar, Gerri Dungan, Zaldy Yulas, Arthur Cipriano, Ray Almonares, Jay-jay Macahia, Manuel Tanpoco, Cesar Patrick Bonales, Best Condenuevo, Edge Ibones, James Josef, Marq Marquez, Lucky Dical, and L.A. Lomarda. These volunteers have tirelessly assisted as HIV counselors without any compensation and personal gain. Kudos!
Acknowledgement is also due Love Yourself’s partner organizations. Thanks to Aviation Concepts Logistics, Inc. for the administrative support, as well as to Campaigns and Grey for the much-praised "Project Indulge" campaign. The following partners made it possible for us to provide HIV testing services for free: Makati City Health Department, Templa Wellness, Cebu City Health Department, Cebu Plus, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, and the Department of Health.
Many people who think about HIV testing initially get quite afraid, and we find out that while most are quite wary with the results, many too are scared because they do not know what happens during the actual testing. In this video we share, in a very casual and brief way, what happens during testing. We also introduce what Love Yourself is and its work in helping the HIV education and prevention efforts in the Philippines.
Are you interested in getting yourself tested? Register here and we'll have one of our HIV counselors contact you. Video Credits:
Nikko Tanchanco, Billie Capistrano and Paulo Edillor
NFT Productions https://www.facebook.com/NFTproductions
This April, Loveyourself in partnership with the Makati City Health Department is offering Platinum once again.
What is the difference when you come for Platinum? First, the location is a very discreet venue at the heart of the Makati Central Business District. Second, when you register, a coordinator will closely and confidentially communicate with you regarding the details of your appointment. Third, during your appointment, you arrive and a private room is reserved for you -- where you will meet your counselor, and a medical technologist who will do the test for you. Lastly, you receive the results within 2 hours, also in the privacy of your own counseling room. Perfect for people who do not want to be seen taking their test. Everything is mindfully prepared and ensured to be smooth-flowing for the most discreet and delicate clients.
Due to great reviews from those who experienced the January and February offering, we shall have another set of Platinum HIV testing in April! The most discreet, by-appointment-only, premium quality HIV testing service in the country today has open slots for April 19 & 26, 2013 -- again, at a very discreet location in Makati CBD (near Ayala Avenue and V.A. Rufino Street) -- Friday after-office slots available from 6 to 9 PM.
To support this Platinum quality service, we will appreciate voluntary donation (standard donation is P500 and above) for each client.
Schedule for June 2013 Platinum is now available.
To set appointment, register via this link: http://go.loveyourself.ph/platinum -- someone will contact you to confirm your appointment, and you'll be all set. Your information will be handled with strictest confidentiality.
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