This is a really great video from The Brusko Pink Republic featuring celebrities/HIV advocates. :-)

Ikaw at Ako

by: Johnoy Danao

Ikaw at ako pinagtagpo

Nag-usap ang ating puso

Nagkasundong magsama habang-buhay.

Nagsumpaan sa Maykapal

Walang iwanan tag-init o tag-ulan

Haharapin bawat unos na magdaan.

Sana'y di magmaliw ang pagtingin

Kay daling sabihin kay hirap gawin

Sa mundong walang katiyakan

Sabay nating gawing kahapon ang bukas.

Ikaw at ako pinag-isa

Tayong dalawa may kanya-kanya

Sa isa't-isa, tayo ay sumasandal.

Bawat hangad kayang abutin

Sa pangamba'y di paaalipin

Basta't ikaw, ako, tayo'y magpakailanman.

Kung minsan ay di ko nababanggit

Pag-ibig ko'y hindi masukat ng anumang lambing

At kung magkamali akong ika'y saktan

Puso mo ba'y handang magpatawad.

Di ko alam ang gagawin kung mawala ka

Buhay ko'y may kahulugan tuwing ako'y iyong hagkan

Umabot man sa'ting huling hantungan

Kapit-puso kitang hahayaan, ngayon at kailanman, ikaw at ako.

TV episode link:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xvj0x6_maalaala_creation?start=25

For those who missed the episode of Bawal ang Pasaway last Wednesday, August 22 (I did, unfortunately), I attached here a segment of the episode which I found at the website of GMA. The guests of Prof. Solita Monsod include Wanggo Gallaga, HIV positive and writer for the Philippine Star, and Philip Castro, program officer of the United Nations Development Program.

Mareng Winnie: "You know na ikaw ay kandidato for AIDS only because you know your own sexual behavior."

Personal Note:

I always feel sad every time I see interviews about HIV such as this one. Mareng Winnie even said, "How can someone as intelligent and as knowledgeable as Wanggo contract AIDS?"

In my family, humility aside, I am considered the brightest among the children, having graduated with two courses, and two professional licenses under my name. I even worked for big companies. Those were the proud moments of my mother. Now that I have HIV, and I haven't disclosed my status to any family member or even to my friends, I just can't imagine what their reactions will be. I don't even know when the right time is to disclose about my status.

For now, I thank God for my high CD4 that I still do not need to take ARVs. It is just my ardent wish that when the right times comes, I'll be accepted by my family, most especially by my Mom.

Keep safe everyone, and God bless you!

This happened last July 2012, and have been posted on numerous sites over the Internet. It is worthy to be re-posted to keep us informed that this new kind of cyber-bullying exists, and must be stopped. We must also be cautious of the information we share/re-post in our social networking accounts especially if the contents are sensitive in nature. And much worse, if the information and/or accusation being shared and passed on is unverified.

I contacted the victim, Mr. Raymond J. Malinay-Lopez, through facebook and I was given permission to post the video that he made regarding the issue.

Here is an excerpt taken on the facebook account of Mr. Malinay-Lopez:

     It does not matter whether or not any of the individuals involved have HIV/AIDS or not. What is important here is that each person is entitled to full confidentiality regarding their HIV/AIDS status under R.A. 8504 (Philippine AIDS Prevention and Control Act of 1998), and that should be universally respected. No one deserves their name slandered over social media in that manner, and such hate speech ought to stop. And of course, being diagnosed with HIV/AIDS is not a death sentence and there have been many advances in modern medicine to help people living with HIV live good lives provided they are diagnosed early enough.

Here is also the statement of the AIDS Society of the Philippines:  

     The AIDS Society of the Philippines (ASP) Board of Trustees and its staff members vehemently state that the organization is not accountable and is not associated in whatever form and manner with the "NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC" that is currently circulating in the social media.

     For all its supposed intents and purposes, the notice and whoever is behind it is a blatant attack on the ASP's name and track record. The organization has remained and will always remain professional and genuinely committed with its HIV and AIDS prevention initiatives and is conscientious in its role and responsibility  to protect the rights of all individuals.

     The ASP is currently undertaking an investigation and taking on the appropriate discourse of actions to address this destructive assault on the organization.

Aristotle Pollisco a.k.a. Gloc-9 has just released his latest studio album, “MKNM: Mga Kwento ng Makata” under Universal Records. The first single from his album, “Sirena,” has been heavily lauded by the LGBT community as it narrates the struggles of a gay man. He was discriminated not only by his community, but unfortunately, by his own family particularly his father. Later in life, in a sudden turn of events, that gay man still showed love towards his father as he took care of him in his old age, while his other siblings already left their home and be with their respective families.

The song also features Ebe Dancel. And don’t blink your eyes. Some prominent members of the LGBT community are featured in the music video: Wanggo Gallaga, Dante Remoto, and Boy Abunda, among others.

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Sirena

Sirena

Gloc-9 feat. Ebe Dancel

cggdg

(Chorus: Ebe Dancel)

Ako’y isang sirena
Kahit anong sabihin nila ako ay ubod ng ganda
Ako’y isang sirena
Kahit anong gawin nila bandera ko’y di tutumba
Drum na may tubig ang sinisisid
Naglalakihang mga braso sa akin dumidikdik
Drum na may tubig ang sinisisid
Sa patagalan ng paghinga, sa’kin kayo ay bibilib

(1st Verse: Gloc-9)
Simula pa no’ng bata pa ako,
Halata mo na kapag naglalaro
Kaya para lahat ay nalilito,
Magaling sa Chinese garter at piko
Mga labi ko’y pulang pulang pula,
Sa bubble gum na sinaba
Palakad lakad sa harapan ng salamin,
Sinasabi sa sarili “ano’ng panama nila”
Habang kumekembot ang bewang,
Mga hikaw na gumegewang
Gamit ang pulbos na binili kay aling bebang
Upang matakpan ang mga pasa sa mukha
Na galing sa aking ama
Na tila di natutuwa sa tuwing ako’y nasisilayan
Laging nalalatayan,
Sa paglipas ng panahon ay di ko namamalayan
Na imbes na tumigas ay tila lalong lumalambot
Ang puso kong mapagmahal
Parang pikit matang bulol.

(Chorus: Ebe Dancel)
Ako’y isang sirena
Kahit anong sabihin nila ako ay ubod ng ganda
Ako’y isang sirena
Kahit anong gawin nila bandera ko’y di tutumba
Drum na may tubig ang sinisisid
Naglalakihang mga braso sa akin dumidikdik
Drum na may tubig ang sinisisid
Sa patagalan ng paghinga, sa’kin kayo ay bibilib

(2nd Verse: Gloc-9)
Hanggang sa naging binata na ako
Teka muna mali, dalaga na pala ‘to
Pero bakit parang lahat ay nalilito pa rin
Ano bang mga problema nyo
Dahil ba ang mga kilos ko’y iba,
Sa dapat makita ng inyong mata
Sa tuwing nanonood ng liga laging natutulala
Kahit di pumasok ang bola ako’y tuwang tuwa
Kahit binaliw na sa tapang, kasi ganun na lamang
Akong paluin ng tubo kahit kinakalawang
“tama nanaman itay, di napo ako pasaway
Di ko na po isusuot ang lumang saya ni inay
Kapag ako’y naiiyak ay sumusugod sa ambon
Iniisip ko na lamang na baka ako’y ampon
Kasi araw araw na lamang ay walang humpay na banat
At inaaabot ang ganda ko papailalim ng dagat

(Chorus: Ebe Dancel)
Ako’y isang sirena
Kahit anong sabihin nila ako ay ubod ng ganda
Ako’y isang sirena
Kahit anong gawin nila bandera ko’y di tutumba
Drum na may tubig ang sinisisid
Naglalakihang mga braso sa akin dumidikdik
Drum na may tubig ang sinisisid
Sa patagalan ng paghinga, sa’kin kayo ay bibilib

(Last Verse: Gloc-9)
Lumipas ang mga taon na nagsipag-asawa
Aking mga kapatid, lahat sila’y sumama
Nagpakalayo layo ni hindi makabisita
Kakain na po itay, nakahanda na’ng lamesita
Akay akay sa paglakad paisa isang hakbang
Ngayo’y buto’t balat ang dati matipunong katawan
Ngayon sa iyong kaarawan, susubukan kong palitan
Ang lungkot na nadarama, wag napo nating balikan
Kahit medyo naiinis hindi dahil sa nagka-cancer
Kasi dahil ang tagapag-alaga mo’y nakaduster
Isang gabi, akoy iyong tinawag, lumapit
Ako sayong tabi ikay tumangan, kumapit
Ka sa aking kamay kahit hirap magsalita
Anak, patawag sana sa lahat ng aking nagawa
Di sinusukat ang tapang at ang bigote sa mukha
Dahil kung minsan mas lalake pa sa lalake ang bakla

(Chorus: Ebe Dancel)
Drum na may tubig ang sinisisid
Naglalakihang mga braso, sa’kin dumidikdik
Drum na may tubig ang sinisisid
Sa patagalan ng paghinga sakin kayo ay bibilib

Ako’y isang sirena
Kahit anong gawin nila
Bandera koy di tutumba…