Email 409: OFW in Singapore

Hi Pozzie,

Need your advice. i'd been reading your blog since i suspected that i'm infected with HIV.

First time ko po ngkaroon ng unprotected sex last September 18 nun umwi ako ng pinas this year na hindi ko kilala, nagtiwala  nmn ako sa kaibigan ko kc sbe nya malinis dw ung girl. Last October hangang ngaun mdme nako nrramdaman na kakaiba sa katawan ko, karamihan ng symptoms ng HIV ay nraramdaman ko na, gaya ng swollen lymph nodes (armpit, neck), fever, tapos ngayon meron nmamaga sa gums ko, araw-araw ako nag-iisip kung bakit ngyyre sken 'to, halos mababaliw nko.

Last November 7, 2013, ngpatest aq d2 sa anonymous testing center through finger prick tas after 20 minutes nkuha n kagad ung result which was negative namn pro nde p dn aq satisfied nun time na yun kc sbe mgttest dw ulit kpg 3 months na. 

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My PLHIV Story

Hi, Pozzie Pinoy!

I just want to share my joy & somehow bring hope to other PLHIV's. 

i was diagnosed in March 2013. I had my baseline in May with a CD4 count of 308. Thus, my ID doctor at Makati Med advised me to already start treament, which I did in June. Unfortunately, I developed an allegic reaction from one of the drugs (Nevirapine) and had to stop taking them altogether. In July, she replaced it with Efavirenz. My body responded well to it (save for some bloating and belching). After 3 1/2 months of taking my ARV's, my CD4 shoot up to 496! Short of 4 counts to a normal level. Darn! Hehe. 

I have never been happier since I became HIV+. And I promised to myself that this is just the beginning of my winning battle against the virus. I will not let HIV ruin me. I will have a long and adventurous life ahead! Buckle up! :)

Positively Positive,

Squidmarked

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The Red Ribbon World AIDS Day 2013: Recap

Our Invitation

Our Program

Our Banner

Our Guests

Almost 200 participants graced The Red Ribbon World AIDS Day in UP Sunken Garden Grandstand. We made our voices heard. We made people feel us as we commemorate this international event.

Thanks to all the different NGO's, reporters from GMA-7, ABS-CBN, Bulletin Today and Outrage.

Thanks to our guest celebrities: Rocco Nacino, Aljur Abrenica, Lance Raymundo, Rita de Guzman, Regine Tolentino and Lander Vera Perez for participating, singing, dancing and praying with us.

Thanks Dennis Ranada and Red Castro for hosting the event.

Thanks Pastor Cesar Patrick for the Invocation.

Thanks to the production design of Carlo Adrian Alvarez and his dad with the help of our volunteers, RedRibb, Morris Pagua, Perci.

Thanks to Yomi Artemus KawaiiYoukai and Steve David De Guzman for all the help with the preparation, posters, leaflets, logos, ads, balloons, candles, shirts, etc.

Thanks to our 3 registration volunteers who guided all guests, who pinned ribbons to our participants and guest celebrities.

Thanks to our External Affairs Manager, David Fabros for making everything possible.

Thanks to our Online Managers Malcolm and Jeffrey for sharing our pictures, speeches blow by blow.

Thanks to the University Student Council represented by Arjay Mercado for helping and collaborating with us.

Thanks to your speeches, Malcolm Brown, Yomi, Marky Manlangit, Gerald Santos, Roberto Figuracion Jr., Jayr Barba Chin Jr., Noel E. Bordador, Percival Argonza, Nemo Villarin Lopez, Jeffrey James Garcia , Ace Portes. You have given light to what World AIDS Day truly means as your speeches had been delivered to the crowd.

To all of you, our Red Ribbon family, we made our event so successful with your love and support. 

To our friends who are in the heaven now, may our voices and prayers resonated to all of you tonight, with our songs, with our candle lighting, with all our prayers.

-We are all in this together-
Pozziepinoy

Pledge of Support from the Participants

"WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.

NO PLHIV is alone with his or her struggle with HIV!"

-Pozziepinoy-

Want to be ASSISTED for the HIV TEST?? 

Check this link:

CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

If you have comments or questions, please click this link:

Contact Pozziepinoy

© Copyright. All Rights Reserved by Pozziepinoy 2012

Credits: 

Image by FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Tags: HIV Manila, HIV Philippines, AIDS Manila, AIDS Philippines, HIV/AIDS Manila, HIV/AIDS Philippines

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What World AIDS Day Means to Me: Jeffrey James Garcia

WORLD AIDS DAY

Jeffrey James Garcia

(Read during The Red Ribbon World AIDS Day Event, UP Sunken Garden Granstand,

December 1, 2013)

World AIDS Day for me is a celebration of life.

It is also a time we pause to reflect on the ways in which HIV has changed our world. A time we celebrate the exciting medical progress and continuous research against HIV, while  we grieve for the numerous lives it has claimed.

Many challenges remain but we should all still be optimistic in fighting this battle.

There are still far too many people who aren't educated about HIV and AIDS and who don't get tested. It is a fact that a lot of people right now are living with HIV and others do not know that they have it. These people who are not aware and not benefiting from treatment is a risk of passing the virus on. This means that a lot of other people could be dying from a preventable and treatable condition.

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Email 408: American and Wants to Get Treatment

Hello,

I would just like to inquire how to get treatment in RITM alabang for friend of ours who is tested and confirmed positive with HIV.

What is the first step? He is an American

Thanks

POZZIEPINOY’S RESPONSE

Hi there.

Thanks for your email.

For non-Filipino residents, an alien certificate of residency is required before one can be enrolled in any HIV/AIDS treatment hub. Also, the HIV test needs to be taken here in the Philippines to be added to the registry as required by DOH. Once he has all these documents, he can go to any hub or to RITM-ARG.

I hope I was able to answer your concerns. Feel free to email me again if you have other questions.

Stay healthy,

Pozziepinoy

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Email 407: Oral Sex and HIV

hi there good evening and thanks for having this kind of site para sa mga katulad kong positive at naghahanap ng kalinga.. anyway may tanong lng ako..

may boyfriend ako ngyn at alam po nya ung tungkol sa sakit ko at handa daw sya kung sakaling magkaroon din sya kasi talagang nagmamahalan kami pero lagi kong sinasabi sa kanya na ayokong matulad sya sa akin.. pero one time umuwi kami sa province nila, nung natutulog na kami hindi sya nakapagpigil and he sucked me.. nung nakauwi na kami sa kanya-kanyang bahay natxtx sya sa akin na may nalasahan daw syang cum ko pero konting-konti lng daw at idinura nya agad..

posible po kaya na nahawa na agad sya ng ganun? sana po matulungan nyo ako kasi hindi ko kakayanin na pati sya mahawa sa akin.. mahal na mahal ko po sya.. maraming salamat po

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Email 406: Pre-employment /Annual HIV Test?

Good day, pozzie

i want to ask if there's any HIV test for pre -employment and annual medical test in private company such like HOTELS or FLIGHT ATTENDANT?

Thank you!

POZZIEPINOY’S RESPONSE

Hi there.

Thank you for your email.

The Philipines has strict HIV Law and there no mandatory HIV testing and HIV test can't be taken for employment  purposes. This goes to hotel personnel and flight attendants. I know people who are PLHIV's who work in the local hotels and/or are flight attendants.

I hope I was able to answer your concerns. Feel free to email me again if you have other questions.

Stay healthy,

Pozziepinoy

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What World AIDS Day Means To Me

for Mirvan Ereon

Hi Viral Brothers and Sisters.  What is World AIDS Day and what does it mean to me?  

World AIDS Day is held on December 1st each year.  According to the Foundation of AIDS Research, at the end of calender year 2012, more than 35 million people were living with HIV/AIDS, 3.3 million of them were under the age of 15 and since the beginning of the epidemic, more than 75 million people have contracted HIV and nearly 36 million have died of HIV-related causes.

These are very alarming statistics but what can I do about it?  I'm just one person.  How can I make a difference? 

This is what World AIDS Day means to me.  It means each and every single person making a difference!  It is a time for reflection followed by action.  I remember and reflect on those who have passed and think of those currently living with HIV.  I remember the 1980's in Sydney Australia before triple combination of ARVs (Anti Retroviral Drugs) were developed. Back then, HIV almost always lead to AIDS which almost always lead to death.  Now it is a chronic, manageable condition.  I think of Africa, South East Asia and particularly in the Philippines in 2013.  It makes me determined that history will not unnecessarily repeat itself.
   
There are numerous things that ordinary people like you I can do this World AIDS Day and continue throughout the years to come to make a difference. 

These are just 7 to begin with.

1).  The number one thing you can do on World AIDS Day is to get tested for HIV and make sure you know your status.  The vast majority of new infections occur because HIV+ people don't know they are HIV+.

 2).  Make your voice heard via the ballot box.  Ensure your elected officials know you care about HIV and want to see them take action.  Write letters and/or emails to them so your voice is heard.  Ask your MP to show HIV leadership this World AIDS Day and every day by ending stigma and discrimination!

3).  Use social media.  If you have a Facebook or a Twitter account, add a red ribbon to your user photo, post a HIV/AIDS awareness red ribbon or symbol on your time line or tweet one.  It's easily done and it reminds all your friends and followers that HIV/AIDS is still a global pandemic.  Write a post saying what world AIDS Day means to you.  Join a group on social media that is dedicated to raising HIV/AIDS awareness ans advocating on behalf of people living with HIV/AIDS.   

4).  Educate your local GP and Nurses.  If there isn't an NGO in your area, form a group of concerned citizens an encourage health care professionals in your area to update, or just gain some knowledge of HIV.  Those HIV+ people who die, do so in part, due to a late diagnosis.  GPs and nurses are often in a position to identify symptoms of HIV infection if they are aware of them.  They are also able to consider other risk factors, if they know what they are, that could lead them to recommend an HIV test.

5).  Demand that Governments improve HIV education in schools, or to initiate it if it doesn't exist.  Ignorance is not bliss!

6).  Talk to your local religious/faith leaders.  In some areas this may prove difficult.  However, it is better to begin a reasoned dialogue than shout at each other from across an abyss.  If you cannot find a religious leader in your area who is willing to be supportive, try searching for one online.  Often adverse reactions of a religious community can have very detrimental on the health of people living with HIV who have strong religious beliefs.  If a person feels they have the support and understanding of their community, this is likely to have a decidedly positive impact on the way they manage their HIV response.  However, if a person feels rejected or unsupported they may very well become isolated and are far less likely to stay well.  

7).  Reflect for a moment.  Remember those who have passed and think of those currently living with HIV.  Let their images and memories energize and galvanize you into action today, and every other day!

So Viral Brothers and Sisters, get active, get tested, stay healthy and, if you’re HIV+, compliant with your ARV regimen,

Malcolm Brown  
PLHIV 

"WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.

NO PLHIV is alone with his or her struggle with HIV!"

-Pozziepinoy-

Want to be ASSISTED for the HIV TEST?? 

Check this link:

CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

If you have comments or questions, please click this link:

Contact Pozziepinoy

© Copyright. All Rights Reserved by Pozziepinoy 2012

Credits: 

Image by FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Tags: HIV Manila, HIV Philippines, AIDS Manila, AIDS Philippines, HIV/AIDS Manila, HIV/AIDS Philippines

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