Senator Paolo Benigno "Bam" Aquino IV MANILA - A bill that seeks to prohibit and penalize discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, race, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, civil status, HIV status and other medical condition, among others, has been filed at the Senate. In filing Senate Bill 2122, neophyte Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV noted that while the Philippines was a signatory to numerous international agreements that seek to ensure respect for the human rights of all persons, some sectors continue to experience discrimination in schools, workplaces, public service, as well as commercial establishments. “Unfortunately, reality has yet to catch up...

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

Common Relationship Mistakes Gay Men Make (source: Revolutionary Gay Magazine) Straight, Gay, LGBT We all want to have a great relationship but some of us just don’t know how to keep one. Here are some common mistakes Gay men make in relationships. 1. Open Relationships: While we may want to live interesting and experimental lives, the biggest mistake a Gay couple can make is having an open one. You would assume that what you have is enough to make it work, but when you feel like you need more than what you have, it borders problems. You and your partner risk the trouble of falling in love with someone else, having chemistry he might prefer over yours, or risk putting the whole...

Every Three Hours Someone in the Philippines Gets HIV (source: Anjani Trivedi, www.world.time.com, July 24, 2013) Chris Lagman vividly remembers the night that the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) came into his life. It was two years ago, and the LGBT activist was at a pre-Christmas dinner party in Quezon City with dozen gay Filipino professionals. During the course of the evening, a fellow guest and close friend asked if he could speak privately to Lagman. He told Lagman that he had recently tested positive for HIV. Over the next few months the young man seemed to vanish from their social circle. The next time Lagman saw him was at his funeral, where...

MANILA – BB Gandanghari, who is formerly known as actor Rustom Padilla, admitted he was hurt when he learned about the speculations that have swirled when he was recently hospitalized. Various rumors arose after his brother, action-star Robin Padilla, posted a picture of him at a hospital bed saying Gandanghari has a “very serious infection.” In an interview with “The Buzz” on Sunday, Gandanghari set the record straight that had a urinary tract infection (UTI) and not HIV/AIDS. “Hindi kasi ako nagbabasa. Nakakarating na lang sa akin. Sabi kasi may AIDS daw. But the thing is, I’m not even promiscuous. Ang masakit doon, parang nire-relate na porket I came out as gay, parang kailangan...

Two Patients HIV-Free After Stem Cell Treatment (source: medpagetoday.com, July 3, 2013) KUALA LUMPUR -- Two HIV-positive men who got a stem cell transplant to treat blood cancers have now been off antiretroviral drugs for several weeks without evidence of the virus rebounding, a researcher said here. The apparent HIV remissions are exciting developments, but it is too early to say the men have been cured, according to Timothy Henrich, MD, of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. "It is possible that the virus could come back next week," Henrich told reporters before his late-breaker presentation at the 7th International AIDS Society meeting on HIV pathogenesis, treatment,...

MANILA - The Department of Health is sounding the alarm over the increasing number of Filipinos diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), saying at least one HIV patient was as young as 16 years old. Speaking to radio dzMM, DOH Assistant Secretary Dr. Eric Tayag said the Philippine HIV and AIDS Registry recorded 415 new HIV cases in May this year. He said this is the highest monthly number of new HIV cases since the registry was set up in 1984. Tayag said the youngest HIV patient in the new recorded cases is 16 years old. He refused to give more information on the patient but noted that 95% of the new HIV cases are men. He also noted that many of the new HIV cases are...

A different way of coming out: young fashion designer comes out as HIV positive (Source: Yahoo! News, July 3, 2013) Fresh from pulling out design samples at a posh retail store in upscale Makati district, a promising fashion designer is coming out. And by coming out, we don't mean his sexual preference.  “I’m Ryan. I’m HIV positive and I love myself,” declared the 26-year-old person living with HIV (PLHIV) in a cheerful tone. In a video produced by Love Yourself, a Manila-based organization focusing on HIV education and prevention, Ryan came forward not to brave ridicules but to deliver his advocacy: to increase voice against the virus. While he joins the rest of 11,702...

Newly Diagnosed HIV Cases in the Philippines In MAY 2013, there were 415 new HIV Ab sero-positive individuals confirmed by the STD/AIDS Cooperative Central Laboratory (SACCL) and reported to the HIV and AIDS Registry. This is 52% higher compared to the same period last year (n=273 in 2012) and the highest number of cases reported in a month. Most of the cases (96%) were males. The median age was 28 years (age range: 16-79 years). The 20-29 year (55%) age group had the most number of cases. Reported mode of transmission were sexual contact (409) and needle sharing among injecting drug users (6). Males having sex with other males (86%) were the predominant type of sexual transmission....

For a range of reasons -- from having infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B or C, or even just having abnormal x-ray results -- at least 142  overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) were deported from the Middle East since last year,  a Saudi-based medical association reported. Dr. Tawfik Khoja said the Filipinos  were repatriated from the Middle East in 2012 and 2013 after being found to have infectious diseases like HBsAg (Hepa B), HCV (Hepa C), HIV/AIDS, and abnormal x-ray results upon arriving in their host countries. Khoja is the director general of the Health Ministers’ Council for Cooperation Council States (GAMCA), an accredited medical association in Saudi...

All eyes are on Malate, the heart and home of Manila's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) nightlife as it celebrates the 12th White Party Manila on June 29. Internet sensation celebrity Sebastian Castro graces the event as the face of White Party Manila. The openly gay painter-singer is an advocate of gender equality, widely accepted by the Filipino LGBT community for being proud of his sexuality. Started in 2001, the White Party is the largest annual gathering of LGBTs and avenue for celebrating equality, unity, and acceptance. Chelu Productions, in coordination with the Malate Business Association, spearheads this year’s White Party celebration alongside several organizations...

Newly Diagnosed HIV Cases in the Philippines In APRIL 2013, there were 388 new HIV Ab sero-positive individuals confirmed by the STD/AIDS Cooperative Central Laboratory (SACCL) and reported to the HIV and AIDS Registry. This was 67% higher compared to the same period last year (n=233 in 2012). Most of the cases (95%) were males. The median age was 28 years (age range: 17-63 years). The 20-29 year (61%) age group had the most number of cases. Reported mode of transmission were sexual contact (356) and needle sharing among injecting drug users (32). Males having sex with other males (81%) were the predominant type of sexual transmission. Most (94%) of the cases were still asymptomatic...

Newly Diagnosed HIV Cases in the Philippines In MARCH 2013, there were 370 new HIV Ab sero-positive individuals confirmed by the STD/AIDS Cooperative Central Laboratory (SACCL) and reported to the HIV and AIDS Registry. This was 18% higher compared to the same period last year (n=313 in 2012). Most of the cases (96%) were males. The median age was 28 years (age range: 17-63 years). The 20-29 year (55%) age group had the most number of cases. Reported mode of transmission were sexual contact (364) and needle sharing among injecting drug users (6). Males having sex with other males (85%) were the predominant type of sexual transmission. Most (97%) of the cases were still asymptomatic...

Newly Diagnosed HIV Cases in the Philippines In FEBRUARY 2013, there were 339 new HIV Ab sero-positive individuals confirmed by the STD/AIDS Cooperative Central Laboratory (SACCL) and reported to the HIV and AIDS Registry. This was 24% higher compared to the same period last year.  Most of the cases (96%) were males. The median age was 27 years (age range: 18-58 years). The 20-29 year (60%) age group had the most number of cases. Reported mode of transmission was sexual contact (339). Males having sex with other males (82%) were the predominant type of sexual transmission. Most (93%) of the cases were still asymptomatic at the time of reporting. In February 2013, bulk...