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There is a growing need for education about HIV/AIDS here in the Philippines. While there are many resources out there (online, print, support groups, health centers, etc.) that are readily available to many of us, it still is undeniable that some of us do not know anything about HIV.
Some of us think that reading literature about the virus is too tasking and taxing, some think that they know everything and are pretty safe, and some others are too scared of HIV (even just the mention of those three words make some cringe).
But what do we really know about HIV and AIDS? Just because there isn’t any celebrated news about it, it doesn’t mean that the virus has been completely annihilated and that everyone is safe.
I’m currently reading Orosa-Nakpil Malate, a novel about a young gay man’s experiences, escapades and love affairs (not auto-biographical, by the way) set in Manila’s hottest gay district. I have not finished the book yet, so I am unable to share my insights about it yet. Also, if anyone is interested in reading this book, just let me know and I will give it for free (along with other gay Filipino books) once I’m done reading it - details to follow in the upcoming days.
Going back to HIV and AIDS. While many of us think that HIV is not a big deal, there are many things that we can still learn about it. If you want a personal account of a Filipino man and his experiences as he deals with the virus, you can check out Pinoy Poz: On Being HIV Positive in the Philippines. Learn about the tests, living with HIV, and many more educational yet entertaining stories about living with HIV in the Philippines. (We nominated this blog to the Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs of 2008). Another interesting read is also a blog of a Pinoy who is HIV positive: Confessions of a Pinoy HIV Plus. Learn about HIV treatments and tests from a Pinoy’s point of view, but this time, all the way in the United States.
But if you’re the type who is not keen on reading a lot of text, we offer you the video option. We have previously featured the first interactive gay web series, In the Moment. And this time, we are presenting another web series called HIV Big Deal .
HIV Big Deal is an ongoing, multi-faceted, internet-based effort to motivate gay men to have safer sex and to get tested for HIV. At the core of the project is a series of 10-minute video dramas that tell the story of a young gay man in New York City. In style, the videos are realistic and riveting, but they are also research-based educational tools, designed to effectively challenge misconceptions and prompt critical thinking.
HIV Big Deal has released two episodes in the series and more are in production. The first episode, “The Morning After,” was evaluated for its effectiveness in changing behavior using baseline and follow-up surveys with a group of 500 men. The results showed that the men were three times more likely to disclose their HIV status and about 1.5 times more likely to get tested for HIV three months after seeing the video.
The videos are semi-NSFW (Not Safe For Work) so we suggest you view them at home. The website is also full of resources about HIV and AIDS. These include tips on making sure you’re safe, talking to your partner about it, tips on starting a conversation with your sexual partner, protecting yourself and your partner, and what to do if you’ve just been exposed to HIV. There are many more that this website offers and this is a definite good read!
Links to the videos:
Episode 2: The Test
