Earlier last year, Igor Mocorro, founder of Youth AIDS Filipinas Alliance (YAFA), had met a young person living with HIV. This person was supposed to be a graduating student in one of the universities in Metro Manila.

“I saw it in his eyes how hard it was for him to live with the virus. I was really affected. I asked myself if I could do my work (at YAFA) and help him without being too emotional. I want him to be strong but I just could not impose on him my strength. No one can really help him except himself,” says Igor, a 22-year old nurse who is currently taking up master’s studies in Public Health at the San Francisco State University in California.

In March 2008, Igor formed YAFA, an online network of Filipino youth committed to help end the sufferings and inequities brought about by HIV and AIDS stigma and discrimination. With his volunteer work, Igor is able to impart knowledge, share experiences, and help young people realize the importance of their sexual health. Likewise, it gives him joy and fulfillment knowing that he is helping his fellow youth.

“Working with NGOs for HIV, AIDS and reproductive health, I realized that there are no youth groups on HIV and AIDS run by and for young people in the country. Together with some friends, we formed YAFA so that young people would have a place to go online to look for information about the disease and at the same time to create awareness that HIV is now affecting Filipino youths,” says Igor.

WHAT IF IT WERE YOU

Why the youth?

A decade ago, statistics showed that most of the Filipinos with HIV or AIDS were either sex workers or OFWs.

Today, according to Department of Health (DoH) studies, patients infected by HIV have become younger, with more than 60 percent between the ages of 20 and 29 years old.

Because of stigma, people living with HIV are vulnerable to discriminations and violations of their human rights. Although the country has a law (R.A. 8504) to protect them, it is however poorly implemented.

“Every Filipino must understand that HIV is not contagious. There are a lot of misconceptions about this disease and we need to eliminate that. I have high hopes for the youth that someday a person with HIV can live his or her life or walk on the streets even if the whole world knows his or her HIV status without having the fear of being stigmatized or discriminated,” Igor adds.

SEX ED IS NOT JUST ABOUT SEX

YAFA is pro-sex education and it disappoints Igor that some people do not see it as a tool that will benefit the youth.

“Those who are anti-sex education in schools are misleading the public by saying that sex education will promote sexual activities or abortion among young people. Sex education is not just about sex. It is about how a person learns the knowledge and skills to promote and maintain his or her sexual health and well-being. As a young person, I would rather learn this in school than being caught unprepared to deal with this later on in life,” he relates.

Sex education is primary prevention, says Igor, and young people need it, not later, but now.

“By having sex education, we are creating a safe space for young people to talk and learn about different sexuality or reproductive health issues that confront them in a daily basis. We are providing them informed choices and encourage discussions that can eliminate misconceptions,” he adds.

YAFA volunteer Ador Hurtado suggests that sex education be comprehensive and ladderized, in the same way that education is age-appropriate.

“Through education, we are creating an environment that will allow them to make responsible choices and to exercise their sexual and reproductive health and rights. We are solving the problem of the spread of HIV and STIs or STDs, of unwanted pregnancy, early marriage and even of abortion. We are laying the ground for them to be responsible parents of the future,” explains Ador, who works as an executive assistant at the City Mayor’s Office of Catbalogan.

YAFA recognizes that sexuality is fundamental to human nature and meeting sexual needs is basic for every human being. But then, the youth is a diverse group.

“We have to understand that young people are composed of, but not limited to, young women, young men, young migrant workers, young men who have sex with men, young transgenders, young people who use and/or inject drugs, out-of-school youth, youth with disability, etc. We need to make sure that our interventions are reaching those who most need them,” Igor explains.

A SAFE PLACE

The problem, Igor believes, is not whether young people are sexually active or not. The problem is how our society thinks of young people and how it accepts their realities.

The government, for one, is in denial and Igor says that until it finally accepts this reality, it won’t be capable of coming up with better programs, education and options for young people.

“Of course we cannot have it if we will not meaningfully engage young people and have them participate in the discussions, policy-making process and program implementation,” he adds.

LIFE GOES ON

Pity and apathy will not help people living with HIV regain a normal life, says 19-year-old volunteer Leo Christian Villacortes Lauzon, a third year college student of the University of the Philippines Tacloban College.

“We, the ones who know and understand our friends who have HIV and AIDS must have the conscious effort to educate other people who still live in the myths and misconceptions about this disease. It is our way of helping them to be more accepted in the society,” he adds.

Igor advises that if you break the rules, learn to forgive yourself, have yourself tested for sexually transmitted infections and move on with your life.

“You need to realize that you’re not alone. There are people who have the same illness. You need to reach out to them. If you need support, there are people out there who are willing to give that support,” Igor ends.

(YAFA is open to everyone and is looking for more volunteers to advocate and create awareness on HIV and AIDS. Log on to www.youthaidsfilipinasalliance.org)