Safe and Secure with Self-Care

By Tino Largado

The threat of COVID-19 still looms, and we’re all encouraged to stay indoors as much as possible.

This, of course, doesn’t mean LoveYourself’s commitment to provide private and confidential HIV testing services have to be affected. LoveYourself Community Centers continue to operate amidst the community quarantine restrictions and challenges of the pandemic. But adapting to the situation means providing more innovative options to our clients. One of which is SelfCare.

Officially launching this October is SelfCare, the first ever unassisted self-testing service in the country. Initially opened in a limited capacity back in April 2020, SelfCare now caters to clients who would like to know their HIV status quickly, safely, and securely in the comfort of their home. Mainly aimed at addressing client’s concerns about privacy, convenience, and availability, the timing of SelfCare couldn’t be any more perfect particularly at a time when pandemic restrictions are in place.

Getting a SelfCare pack is just as easy. Simply visit the SelfCare Facebook page on Facebook and follow the message prompts. Instructions on use, pricing, and shipping will be coordinated. Once received, expect your pack to include: the actual SelfCare test kit, SelfCare guide, a pricking lancet, sterile gauze pad, and alcohol swab. Demonstrating exactly how to take your own HIV test is no less than Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray:

The SelfCare initiative is just one of the innovative ways LoveYourself continues to promote the Triangle of Self Care, where timely testing is crucial to know one’s status as we continue to combat HIV. By making testing even more convenient, private, and fast, the fear and stigma surrounding HIV testing gets eliminated. Choose to know your status the way that’s safe and secure with SelfCare. Get to know more on how you can get them through m.me/SelfCare2S.

LoveYourself partnered with the University of the Philippines - Manila and the Department of Health - Regional Office 7 to perfect the study necessary to make SelfCare possible, with support from Sustainability of HIV Services for Key Populations in Asia (SKPA Philippines), AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the World Health Organization - Representative Office for the Philippines, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS - Philippine Country Office, and Chembio Diagnostic Systems, Inc.

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Macoy Dubs Hosts Tuloy PH: A Community in Symphony on October 25

 By LoveYourself Communications

Online comedy star, mental health advocate, and LoveYourself volunteer Macoy Dubs is set to host Tuloy PH: A Community in Symphony, an online concert on October 25, 2020 5pm at the Flourish Circle Facebook page. This event is the culmination of the collaborative campaign among MentalHealthPH, LoveYourself, Flourish Circle, and MindGames by Claudia in celebration of Mental Health Awareness Month in the Philippines.

Hindi nakasalalay sa iisang sektor lamang ang pangangalaga ng mental health. Lahat tayo ay may pwedeng gawin at dapat gawin (One sector is not solely responsible for taking care of our mental health. We all can and should do something. shared Roy Dahildahil, Co-Founder of MentalHealthPH.

Throughout the month of October, the campaign aims to build awareness and engagement around managing one’s mental wellness as well as highlight different community based mental health initiatives in the Philippines. The campaign’s digital art contest also announces its winners during the concert.

The concert will feature  community organizations that promote on mental health awareness, services, support, and rehabilitation across the country such as Silakbo PH, YMP, Talang Dalisay, and others. Influential personalities including Your Millenial Psychologist Riyan Portuguez, Claudia Barretto and policymakers will speak on the different experiences on the self and mental healthcare system.

A star studded line-up of artists will serenade us as the sun goes down. Don’t miss out on Addlib, Sasaya, Roj Cortez, Camile Ignacio, Yuki Ito, Katrina Velarde, Ebe Dancel, and many more!

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Benefits of Sex Toys: 8 Reasons Why You Should Use Pleasure Toys

Did you know that you can get tons of benefits for using sex toys? It’s not only good for your mental health. It can also boost your intimacy and can put the SATISFYING in safe and satisfying sex. You can use them for solo plays or if you wanna spice up your bedroom romance with your partner.

What more can you ask for? But if you’re still unconvinced, here are some of the benefits of sex toys and why you must start using them now:

They Help You Get Sexually Satisfied

Sex toys are scientifically-designed to aid in your sexual pleasures. It is not an easy task to stimulate our minds and bodies at the same time. This is where love toys come handy. All adult toys are designed to hit the right pleasure spots in our body to reduce our ‘workload’.

They Help Men Last Longer In Bed 

For our men readers, keep in mind that sex toys are not just for women. You’re not “weak” or “less of a man” for using sexual devices for pleasure. 

There are tons of benefits of sex toys for you too, such as lasting longer in bed. Once you get the hang of love toys, you learn how to master your orgasms.  You will learn how to delay your orgasm, remain hard after orgasm, and have multiple orgasms. 

They Aid in Managing Sexual Dysfunctions 

Since sex toys help us in understanding our bodies even further, it helps us learn more about our pleasure points. If both men and women can learn how to make themselves climax through the use of toys while masturbating, it will give them more confidence in reaching orgasm with a partner.

They Improve Your Sex Life 

Couples can also have tons of benefits of using sex toys. With the option of pleasure devices, you can now improve your sexy times with your partner. Use it during foreplay or during the deed-- whatever works for the both of you. With an improved sex life, it will surely bring back the spark in the relationship.

They Help Alleviate Body Pain

Why reach for a painkiller when you can try having an orgasm first? Orgasms can block pain. When you reach your climax, the event releases a hormone that helps raise your pain threshold. As a result, pain magically seems to go away.

They Help Men Lower Their Risk for Prostate Cancer

One study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association has found that men who ejaculated frequently (at least 21 times a month) were less likely to get prostate cancer. Using sex toys can make things easier and faster for you guys to achieve this benefit.

They Lower Your Risk for Heart Attack

Aside from keeping your metabolism up, sex toys also help balance your estrogen and testosterone levels. You see, when either of these two is low, your risk for problems like osteoporosis and even heart disease increases. So having sex can help combat these illnesses. 

They Help You Sleep Better 

Yes, sleep is included on the benefits-of-sex-toys list. You see, love toys help us sleep better since it helps us reach our orgasm more quickly and effectively. The activity releases oxytocin, endorphins, and can help people feel calmer and less stressed. Because of this, we get to sleep quicker than ever.

Takeaway 

Sex toys, adult toys, love toys, pleasure toys, whatever you wanna call them. They give you pleasure at any time of the day. We even have all kinds of love toys from beautiful glass dildos to BDSM tools. You name it. Somebody has probably invented it. And they’re also very, very easy to have through the beauty of online shopping.

Speaking of online shopping, have fun and fuss-free way of buying your sex toys through Lauvette. They’re an online sex toy shop in the Philippines that aims to reduce stigma about sex, pleasure and sex toys. They provide high-quality adult toys, reliable customer service, and discreet packaging. 

They also offer free nationwide shipping for orders Php 1500 and above! To know more about this sex toy shop, check out their website, www.lauvette.ph Also, follow them on IG @lauvette.ph to score awesome deals and giveaways.

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Tuloy PH Launches for Mental Health Awareness Month

By LoveYourself Communications

MentalHealthPH, LoveYourself, Flourish Circle, and MindGames launch a campaign for mental health awareness month entitled; Tuloy PH: A Community in Symphony. Throughout the month of October, the campaign aims to build awareness and engagement around managing one’s mental wellness as well as highlight different community based mental health initiatives in the Philippines.

Tuloy PH was inspired by the different ways we use the Filipino word tuloy. In difficult times, we say tuloy to encourage ourselves and others to continue living or pursuing their endeavors. We also use the word tuloy to convey a sense of welcoming hospitality wherein people feel like they belong. In the same vein, the campaign empowers the community to apply these concepts to the different aspects affecting one’s mental health - Self (Ituloy ang Buhay), Society (Tumuloy Ka: Nandito Kami), and Systems (Ipagpatuloy ang Nasimulan).

The campaign culminates in an online concert on October 25, 2020 (Sunday) 5pm featuring community organizations offering mental health services, influential personalities, and policymakers alongside inspiring and hopeful performances by local artists.

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Message in a Rubber: Powerful Thoughts Behind Winning Condom Photos

 By Tino Largado

“How do you take pieces of condoms and use it to convey powerful and compelling messages through photographs?”

Artists, photographers, hobbyists, and enthusiasts took on this challenge when they joined the Shoot the Rubber Photography Contest held from July 27th to August 5th, 2020, as a highlight of the first ever National HIV Prevention Month (NHPM).

Over 50 entries were sent, all creatively using condoms and lubes in a way that invokes a strong message on why they are key HIV prevention tools and how they help promote a #SaferNow lifestyle. Of these, 37 made the final cut and meticulously judged by an esteemed panel of jurors: Culture and Arts Managers of the Philippines (CAMP), Inc founder and HIV advocate Ian Alquiros, freelance photographer and artist Kraus Estanislao, photographer, LGBT rights advocate and HIV awareness ambassador Niccolo Cosme, and celebrity photographer BJ Pascual.

Ian, Kraus, and Niccolo joined in on the Condoms and Lubes Day virtual event hosted by Peachy Roberts and Omie Simbulan on August 8th, 2020 to award the winners of the competition. The judges shared their thoughts on what made these entries winners.

Runners-Up: SJ Dageno (Iloilo) and Dani Fallorin (Cavite)

Kraus and Ian thought the photographs that earned the fifth and fourth spots showed creativity and balance composition and relevance in their pieces.

personal security of all people. We can start that by not spreading sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as HIV through the proper use of condoms, it is the best method according to studies. Be a role model in practicing safe sex, don't be ashamed to have condom in your pocket because that is normal."

Third Place: Arjay Matabia (Tarlac)

“This one really caught my eye,” exclaimed Kraus about Arjay’s entry. “Ang ganda ng sinabi niya (that) HIV does not discriminate.” This message is pretty straightforward not only in the photograph itself, but with the description that came with it.

According to Arjay: "The zipper starts to be brought down with a whining sound that rises the warm tempo of the surrounding atmosphere of desires leading everything to lustful venture towards the unchanging waves of breasts, hips, and the sensitive parts of someone's body.”

“But before tasting the extraordinary spice of the path that you're going to taste, completely cover the masculine elongation,” he adds. “Mask its entirety with utmost protection (condom) and make sure to avoid a leak of the liquid product of your sweaty up and down actions as failing to do so, can transform that muscular part into a sharp melee which can put you into a life-threatening storyline, either with awareness or not."

Second Place: June Famur, Jr (Iloilo)

Niccolo is quick to claim this second place winner as “one of my favorites.” He commends June’s composition and how it hit the technical aspects, but also the clarity in the way it conveyed his message. “I can imagine this as a poster.”

June can’t stress enough what condoms do, and why they’re important. "(By) using Latex Condoms is one of the most effective ways in averting sexually transmitted infections like HIV/AIDS, as well avoiding unwanted pregnancies. Uncertainties pertaining to safety brought about by smoky fluid containing the semen can be ceased by condoms as proven by researches.”

“Moreover, using of condom is considered very essential as well as beneficial to partners and couples, Stay safe, be safe!", he adds.

First Place: Billy Joe Peralta (Quirino)

What helped Billy’s photograph grab the top prize is its simplicity in execution, paired with strength in the messaging. “(The) photograph itself is simple, pero focused on condom use. Simple pero creative.”, described Ian. “Malalim ang pinaghuhugutan at napakaganda ng mensahe lalo na sa mga kabataan.”

Kraus agreed. “Yun ang hinahanap namin sa mga entries: mapapaisip ang isang tao, titignan niyang mabuti kung anong ibig sabihin ng litrato.” He noted Billy’s important call to action: “Itanim natin sa isip natin na maging maingat tayo all the time.”

Niccolo praised Billy’s ability to weave the foreground subject and background components to achieve a technically excellent photograph, one that “tumatak sa judges.” For him, it is thought-provoking. “Condom campaign ito, pero mapapaisip ka: anong istorya niya?”

The story, according to Billy, is one about going really deep rather than just scratching the surface. "We can’t change people, but we can plant seeds that may one day bloom in them. So let us plant in our minds to practice safe sex with the use of condoms and lubricants. With this seed that we have planted, we will grow a community that is safe from HIV and other sexually transmitted infections."

LoveYourself congratulates the winners, and appreciates everyone who sent their entries and made the competition a success. The NHPM is spearheaded by the Global Fund Sustainability of HIV Services for Key Populations in Asia (SKPA) Program and CHAMPION Community Centers network; co-presented by AIDS Healthcare Foundation; sponsored by Rotary Club of Cubao Quezon City District 3780; also brought to you by Durex, Lauvette, 3M, Bliss Four, LUBIE, ChloRelief, Usana Philippines, EZ Lubricating Jelly, Premiere Condoms, Liquor Bouquet Philippines; and supported by UNAIDS Philippines, Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations, APCOM, and LoveYourself, Inc.

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#SaferNowPH Highlights: Condom and Lube Day

By Tino Largado

Condoms and lubes in different packs and tubes took virtual centerstage on two different virtual events celebrating Condom and Lube Day on August 8th, 2020, as part of the National HIV Prevention Month.

Hosts Robin Avorque and DeeDee Villegas straight up served a condom and lubes “infomercial” in a #SaferNow virtual talk episode. They were joined by trans advocate KC and her partner Patrick as they unboxed ribbed and dotted condoms and Fire and Ice Bliss® variants and differentiated each product, reminding viewers that the condoms we have come to know have already gotten creative in texture and size, while lubes have also been available in different types, both as a way to encourage consistent use, not only for a more satisfying pleasurable sex, but as a way to keep both sexual parties safe.

Robin readily demonstrated the correct way of using a condom, from the way each condom pack is opened to how it should be disposed, all while debunking misconceptions and incorrect perceptions about condom use (hint: condoms on wallets aren’t necessarily lucky, contrary to a popular myth). While we think we know everything there is about using lubes and condoms, Robin’s “live demonstration” served as a helpful reminder that staying safe while satisfied should be an easy habit to make. Did you know that each individual pack is numbered because one piece must only be used for no more than 10 minutes?

They’re later joined by Ralph Ivan Samson, president and CEO of Y-PEER Pilipinas, to discuss the organization’s continuous movement in advocating sexual and reproductive health and rights,particularly in the midst of the ongoing pandemic. Samson stressed the need to partner with schools, community centers, and youth networks in providing comprehensive and quality sexual education. Their #GetCondomPH campaign aligns with this goal by ensuring the availability of condoms and lubes to young people who, upon understanding of their sexual and reproductive health and rights, deserve the right and earn the responsibility to make responsible choices and maintain their safety against HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STIs).

Meanwhile, Peachy Roberts and Omie Simbulan hosted a panel consist of Dr. Andy Paningbatan, medical affairs officer of DKT Health, the company behind reliable brands such as Trust® and Premiere® condoms and EZ® lubricants, Adam Crayne, advocacy lead of EON Group who has participated in the SafeSpaces condom/lubes distribution campaign of LoveYourself, and Benedict Bernabe, president of The Red Whistle, an organization advocating sexual health and HIV awareness. 

Throughout the discussion, the guests helped emphasize the importance of taking care of sexual health in an individual’s overall well-being, and how condoms and lubes easily help maintain sexual health and responsibility. On the stigma surrounding the purchase and use of condoms and lubes, Paningbatan mentioned how their company, through the different variants and brands of the products they offer, tried to de-”medicalize” condoms and bring it closer to the public, while Bernabe expressed a wishful vision of seeing condoms and lubes sold even by neighborhood sari-sari stores, where everyone and anyone can easily buy and sell them like any important commodity. Crayne agreed, saying that it boils down to confidence and awareness, which is why, whenever possible, he helps in providing education about sexual health and responsibility.

Peachy and Omie also awarded the winners of the Shoot the Rubber Photography Contest, joined in by successful artists and photography experts Ian Alquiros, Kraus Estanislao, and Niccolo Cosme who also judged the competition together with BJ Pascual. Winners received cash prizes and gift packs from Lauvette, Lubie, ChloRelief, and Bliss Four condoms.

First Place: Billy Joe Peralta (Quirino)

Second Place: June Famur, Jr (Iloilo)

Third Place: Arjay Matabia (Tarlac)

Fourth Place: Dani Fallorin (Cavite)

Fifth Place: SJ Dageno (Iloilo)

The NHPM is spearheaded by the Global Fund Sustainability of HIV Services for Key Populations in Asia (SKPA) Program and CHAMPION Community Centers network; co-presented by AIDS Healthcare Foundation; sponsored by Rotary Club of Cubao Quezon City District 3780; also brought to you by Durex, Lauvette, 3M, Bliss Four, LUBIE, ChloRelief, Usana Philippines, EZ Lubricating Jelly, Premiere Condoms, Liquor Bouquet Philippines; and supported by UNAIDS Philippines, Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations, APCOM, and LoveYourself, Inc.

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Enzo: Your HIV Combination Prevention Expert

 By Carlos Diego A. Rozul

Safe Spaces PH launches a new way to access peer-led sexual health information. Meet Enzo, your friendly sexual health chatbot. Prepared with quips, gifs, and tips, Enzo has got you covered in preventing HIV transmission from testing to treatment! Try him out on Facebook Messenger at m.me/safespacesph. 

We wanted to make Safe Spaces PH a gateway for sexual health information, and since we are often on our social media, we went for a chatbot for people to easier navigate and access the information that they need, instead of searching for specific posts said Paul Junio, Safe Spaces PH Chatbot Developer.

Peer-level information sharing is still an integral part of how people access information. We sometimes find ourselves looking towards them in verifying what we’ve learned from our internet search. This may be through our friends, community leaders, or even your trusted community based organizations. While the current pandemic protocols limit the reach of traditional peer educators, Enzo was made to bridge the gap.

Developing Enzo

Matching the technical sides of developing the chatbot, the medical facts, and the relatable tone of messaging was definitely a challenge. Junio told.

When Enzo was conceptualized, one of the top priorities was giving him a personality. Unlike other automated messaging systems, the Safe Spaces PH team wanted to make the user experience as close to how you’d talk to a friend as possible. A conversational tone mixed in with fun gifs, videos, and credible information.

Enzo also customizes its responses based on your given demographics and need. With a few simple questions, Enzo can recommend courses of action that are best for you. So whether you’re a man having sex with men who is living with HIV, a transgender woman, or cisgender heterosexual, Enzo knows what is just right for you, and gives you a directory of where to access these services.

Moving Forward

Currently, Enzo is only available on Facebook Messenger under the Safe Spaces PH page, however if all goes well with his pilot run, we may be seeing him on other platforms as well. Translations into Tagalog and Bisaya are also in development, and the team is more than willing to make Enzo accessible in other Philippine languages. To collaborate, you can send a private message on the Safe Spaces PH Facebook page, or send an email to info@loveyourself.ph.

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#SaferNowPH Webinar on Biomedical HIV Prevention Methods

By iCOMM

MANILA, PHILIPPINES, August 13, 2020 – In celebration of the community-led 2020 Philippine National HIV Prevention Month (NHPM), the #SaferNowPH campaign will hold a webinar on biomedical prevention methods on August 15, 2020, at 5:00 PM.

Utilizing the Philippine NHPM social media pages @HIVPrevMonthPH, the webinar will tackle the prophylactic medicines for HIV, including Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP).

PrEP is a daily medicine that prevents people, especially those at risk, from acquiring HIV. If taken correctly and consistently, PrEP can provide up to 99% protection.

PEP, on the other hand, is an emergency medicine taken immediately within 72 hours after a possible HIV exposure and continued for 28 days to reduce the risk of HIV infection by over 80%.

Learn more about these innovative HIV prevention methods with guest HIV physicians: Dr. Patrick Eustaquio of LoveYourself, Inc. and Dr. Kate Leyritana of Sustained Health Initiatives of the Philippines (SHIP) during the PrEP and PEP day celebration for NHPM 2020. The doctors will be discussing the effectiveness, safety, access to, and administration of these HIV preventive medicines. 

Additionally, industry experts from the HIV community and service providers are invited to entertain inquiries about each method. HIV experts include Danvic Rosadiño, the lead convenor Kalasag PrEP Network, Dr. Mary Ann Joy Aguadera, the HUB chair at Manila Doctor’s Hospital, and Kenneth Samaco, HIV consultant of the World Health Organization Philippines.

This year is the first-ever holding of the Philippine NHPM, which was kicked-off last July 31. To be celebrated every July of each year, the NHPM is an initiative aligned with Presidential Proclamation No. 971, signed last June 23, declaring the second week of July as Infection Prevention and Control Week. 

This year’s NHPM theme is “SaferNow,” which promotes the HIV combination prevention methods, including condoms and lubricants, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), and antiretroviral treatment as prevention (TasP). The “SaferNow” campaign has a series of online activities scheduled during the month-long celebration:

• July 31 – Kick Off and Launch
• August 8 – Condoms and Lube Day
• August 15 – PrEP and PEP Day
• August 22 – Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U) Day
• August 29 – Culmination Activity 

This intensified effort is also in response to the DOH’s report of 2,818 newly diagnosed Filipinos with HIV from January to March 2020. The age group of 25-34 year-olds has the highest incidence with 1,359, followed by 15-24 year-olds with 834.

The NHPM is spearheaded by the Global Fund Sustainability of HIV Services for Key Populations in Asia (SKPA) Program and CHAMPION Community Centers network; co-presented by AIDS Healthcare Foundation; sponsored by Rotary Club of Cubao Quezon City District 3780; also brought to you by Durex, Lauvette, 3M, Bliss Four, LUBIE, ChloRelief, Usana Philippines, EZ Lubricating Jelly, Premiere Condoms, Liquor Bouquet Philippines; and supported by UNAIDS Philippines, Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations, APCOM, and LoveYourself, Inc. 

Community-based organizations around the country offering HIV-related services will conduct parallel activities to support this national event.

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National HIV Prevention Month 2020: #SaferNow Launches on August 2, 2020

By Tino Largado

LoveYourself’s unwavering advocacy on HIV prevention forges ahead, in support of National HIV Prevention Month (NHPM) this August 2020. With the support of the Australian Federation of AIDS Organizations (AFAO) through its Sustainability of HIV Services for Key Populations in Asia Program (SKPA Program), and together with Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Champion Community Centers, and key stakeholders, we’re expanding our reach to key communities in engaging and educating about HIV combination prevention. 

Carrying the theme #SaferNowPH in its inaugural year, the activities and events all throughout the NHPM aim at reinforcing the Combination Prevention (CombiPrev) strategy in fighting HIV. During The Big Opening virtual launch event streamed via Facebook Live on August 2, 2020, Danvic Rosadiño explained that CombiPrev is a “multitude of options to clients so they have a way to prevent HIV.” As clients vary in lifestyle and needs, this approach allows them to pick and combine more than one option to remain safe against HIV. Rosadiño also added that even for people living with HIV (PLHIV), methods are available to make it easier for them to “live a happy, healthy life.”

CombiPrev consists of condoms and lubes, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), and for PLHIVs, maximizing timely and consistent anti-retroviral treatment as prevention (TasP). With HIV testing still a crucial step in determining one’s HIV status, anyone can now identify which prevention methods fit them perfectly. Combining these prevention ways truly help keep any individual #SaferNow:

• Correct use of condoms and lubes prevent the transmission, not only of HIV, but also other sexually-transmitted infections (STIs).
• When taken continuously as prescribed, PrEP is proven 90% effective against acquiring HIV
• PEP may be taken within 72 hours of potential exposure to HIV risks to avoid transmission
• Anti-retrorival treatment drugs help PLHIVs lower their viral load to Undetectable levels, a goal which makes the virus no longer transmissible (Undetectable=Untransmittable or U=U)

LoveYourself curbs its services to adapt with the changes brought about by the ongoing pandemic, by making sure that clients and volunteers are both kept safe while CombiPrev methods and key services are made available. From appointment systems and virtual consultations through ICON, to online delivery options for refills, clients can continue to rely on LoveYourself for HIV prevention methods.

Watch out for various events all throughout the month of August to celebrate NHPM, and let us all explore and experience ways to be #SaferNow. 

Feel free to watch The Big Opening launch here.

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LoveYourself Anglo Gets Certified as rHIVda Confirmatory Laboratory

By LoveYourself Communications

MANDALUYONG CITY - LoveYourself Anglo was certified as a Rapid HIV Diagnostic Algorithm (rHIVda) Confirmatory Laboratory on June 30, 2020. Certified by the Department of Health (DOH), the community center’s diagnostic laboratory is equipped to conduct confirmatory testing without the need to send samples to the National Reference Laboratory-San Lazaro Hospital-STD/AIDS Cooperative Central Laboratory (NRL-SLH/SACCL) for reactive cases.

“I would like to express my gratitude to our hardworking laboratory and community well-being team for making this happen. Hopefully more Filipinos are able to access their treatment more efficiently with this system shift.” said Ronivin Pagtakhan, LoveYourself Executive Director.

The Health Technology Assessment Study Group of the Health Policy Development and Planning Bureau of the DOH changed the diagnostic algorithm of HIV in the country. This was mainly due to the need to respond to the exponential increase in HIV infection in recent years, and the recommendation of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC)/Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) to discontinue the use of HIV-1 Western blot in the diagnostic algorithm. This also gives an opportunity for the confirmatory test procedures for HIV to be decentralized, making access to confirmatory testing much easier.

LoveYourself offers free and confidential HIV testing, pre and post test counseling, and treatment for all regardless of sex, age, religion, sexual orientation, and gender identity and expression. Moreover, LoveYourself Anglo offers life coaching services for newly diagnosed PLHIV clients enrolled in its treatment program to guide them in their journey towards acceptance of self and proper health management. Book an appointment here.

References:

1. https://www.doh.gov.ph/sites/default/files/publications/IB_rHIVda.pdf

2. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/316230

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LitLove: Anniversary

by Asha

Sometime before I wake up I dream

Of listening and talking to someone who cares

Wishing for a home of understanding

Amidst the hustling of my timely world

Finding a hand to hold on

Luck seems to listen to the song

As it led me to this path of people

With the same vision of giving back 

and upholding others, 

While Loving yourself, the truest melod

By Raybert

One day, I’m lost in the wilderness of the unforgiving world.

Wandering on this jungle, I found myself running towards the forest of compassion.

On its dense woodland, I found myself dipping in a lake with passionate people.

And on that same night, I got a pack who taught me to live my life by rippling love.

By Diego

Interconnected

Uknowlingly I entered

Almost four years ago

A place where I learned

How to let myself go

Let myself be me

Without needing to be the best

Ultimately, it let me see

That in service I find rest

My time is well spent

With varied people

And if there's time I could have lent

I'm glad it's here, even if it's little

Discovering purpose

Finding light

While riding the night bus

Or writing for the website

I know there's more in store

We're only just beginning

Truly, I don't mind. My body sore

Because at every step, we're winning

By Vinn

remember that genuine pride

comes not from ego but from

sharing your light with the world

pursue your passions

love with an open heart

admit your mistakes with grace

find the power in humility

spill kindness onto the world

don't let forgiveness be a stranger

know that you are loved unconditionally

and never, ever dim your light so that others would shine brighter

instead share your light and magnanimity.

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