MR. UNSURE

Hi, Bong

I'm ben, hindi ko totoong pangalan, nais ko sanang maliwanagang tungkol sa HIV. actually hindi nman ako sexually active. peru pra ma sure ung status ko, nagpa test ako sa RITM leon ginto, ke kuya Lean. and Thank GOD. it was negative naman nagpatest ako 36 days na sya after ng exposure ko, peru my condom nman at hindi naman napunit. it was my first time. my assurance nba ako sa result ko?

maraming slamat, nawoworry pa ksi ako. peru gusto ko pa bumalik after 3 months pra super sure. peru my nagsabi na sken na sa loveyourself na pwede na, na hindi na ako bumalik after 3 months. peru worried prin po ako.

Sana po matulungan nio po ako. maraming salamat po! God is Good!
He'll always protect you and guide you!

BEN

hello BEN,

maraming salamat sa iyong sulat, medyo naging busy lang ako kaya ngayon ko lang masasagot ang tanung mo.

mabuti at nagpatest ka sa RITM Leon Guinto, isa ito sa pinaka maayos na testing sites na inirerekumenda namin.  masinsin ang kanilang proseso at sinisigurado nila na naiintindihan mo ang  pinagdadaanan mo.

"36 days after ng exposure"  --- anung ibig sabihin mo rito?

36 days mula nung nakipagsex ka ng safe???

exposure saan???  may HIV ba yung kasex mo???

unang una, kung nagcondom ka naman at hindi naman ito nasira/nabutas -- ito yung tinatawag natin na safe sex --- low risk ito sa HIV.

pangalawa, hindi mo naman sigurado kung may HIV ang kasex mo, low risk pa rin yun

pangatlo, nag "non-reactive" ang test mo sa RITM.

with all the three - you have all the reason to celebrate ben...

dapat nagtatatalon at super happy ka na...

bakit worried ka pa rin?

base sa kwento mo,

i think ang pagiging UNSURE mo ay dahil naguguilty ka sa sexual practices mo... particularly anal sex sa kapwa lalaki?  (tama ba?)

wrong attitude yun sa aking pananaw, sex is a natural thing, its a biological need, dapat di ka maguilty, dapat di ka matakot sa sex, or magworry sa consequenses nito --- mas lalo pa ngayon na educated ka na sa HIV, alam mo na kung paano ito maiiwasan at paano mo proprotektahan ang sarili mo.

with all the new knowledge that you gained that came with the pre test and post test counseling, you should be confident sa sarili mo ben.  alam mo na ang risky at hindi risky.  put it to good use.

nakalulungkot namang isipin na mukhang nagiging paranoid na masyado ang mga tao at mga kabataan tungkol sa sex (maybe because of all the bad news or misinformation that they've been hearing about HIV or how it is related to man to man sex)

ibig sabihin lang hindi pa rin nila naintindihan ang HIV, mali pa rin ang kanilang kaalaman, kaya mas kailangan paigtingin ang pagpapalaganap ng edukasyon tungkol sa HIV.

remember that IT IS NOT WHO YOU ARE THAT MAKES YOU SUSCEPTIBLE TO HIV --- IT IS WHAT YOU DO THAT PUTS YOU AT RISK!

OKAY LANG MAKIPAG SEX - BASTA PROTECTED - BASTA SAFE.  LAGI NATIN TATANDAAN YAN.

wag maguilty, wag mag alala, wag magworry.

you can have an HIV test every 3 months for the rest of your life, if you want to be sure. libre naman sya.  pero kung alam mo naman na safe ka, why bother?

salamat ulit

ito ang aking diary

BONG

MAKATI NEEDS VOLUNTEERS

Calling our Makati and nearby city volunteers!

Loveyourself Inc. in partnership with City Health Department, Makati City & Philippines Business Sector Response to HIV announces the availability of volunteer opportunities as Peer Educator for the Love Yourself Project (TLY). Requirements are as follows:

1. The heart to help: all TLYP volunteers have the genuine heart to help, regardless of personal benefit or remuneration.

2. Actual experience or observable potential for skill acquisition related to teaching, facilitating, or training.

3. Commitment to being part of the Peer Educator Pool for at least 1 year.


100 selected candidates, from the registration will attend the Makati HIV SUMMIT (Peer Educators Workshop) on FEBRUARY 24, 2012 (Friday) - 9am to 5pm - Makati City Hall Session Hall. Register here: (http://theloveyourselfproject.blogspot.com/p/hiv101-summit-registration.html)

Upcoming HIV Testing Schedule : March 4, 2012 (Makati City)

Peer Educator is first and foremost a peer -- he is the same and equal with his audience. As such, he is able to easily relate to his audienceʼs specific circumstances, to intimately understand their challenges, and therefore more effectively facilitate not only learning but, more importantly, the application of such learning. In short, a peer educator is a very effective instrument to inspire, initiate and encourage behavior change among members of his audience. This workshop enables one to be a Peer Educator. In this workshop, one learns the following:

(1) the fundamental body of knowledge on the topic of STIs and HIV/AIDS;

(2) issues faced by people who are most at risk to be affected by HIV/AIDS ;

(3) facilitation and teaching skills to effectively deliver a learning session among peers. A critical goal of this workshop is to raise the self-awareness of its attendees so as to rid themselves of prejudices that stand in the way of being a true peer to his audience.

From the 100 participants of the HIV101 Summit, 30 people will be asked to attend the 3-day HIV Confidential Counseling and Testing Counselors workshop on March 23, 24, 25 (Stay-IN at FRIENDSHIP SUITES)

If you are interested, we would like to invite you to register as a potential Peer Educator here:
http://theloveyourselfproject.blogspot.com/p/hiv101-summit-registration.html

Registration ends February 19, 2012, or when all slots are filled up, whichever comes earlier.

ang BB at iPhone at si PETE

...am loving my smart phones!

PETE:
Good morning! I got tested last friday at san lazaro for HIV when a good friend told me he is a poz.
Good thing wala kaming past pero i got tested and im really sure im a poz too.
Had risky encounters in the past and im just sure it will turn out positive...so ayun hahaha.
Its cool, i have already accepted it and iniisip ko nalang its like diabetes na i need to change my life style and take some meds for maintenance.
Though i still feel uneasy like im doing this unprepared kaya when i saw your blog i  just wanted to ask for your guidance like gawin mo akong little kid bro na who is now clueless and a bit scared?
Thanks and i just hope you could help me out.
Btw im Pete hahaha.


BONG:
Hey pete.
Lumabas na ang result?
Or are you just assuming pa lang.
What did the counselor said.
Stay cool.
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld


PETE:
I am assuming hahaha.
But i pretty sure im already poz besides the day before i got tested, signs of genital herpes started to show.
And yeah the doctor at san lazaro confirmed na its genital herpes nga daw.
Haven't talked to any counselor at san lazaro hosp even the counseling was just a simple series of questions
"you know hiv?"
"you know the risk?"
"you know what will happen if you're positive?"
"you have questions?"
I really hated san lazaro pero i dunno other hiv hubs aside from pgh.
Well honestly, im just assuming pero its a gut feel. I just want to be prepared and informed rather than me moping around kaya im researching things like arv, hiv hubs and thr like.
I want to take hiv by the horns and control it.
Thanks bong, and im sorry if im a bother
Sent from my iPhone


BONG:
Ur not a bother at all.
www.thebody.com is your best source of information.
They have a newly diagnosed section which is all the information that you need.
Its still best to wait for the confirmatory.
Meanwhile I commend you for being a strong person for staying 'positive' inspite of the dillemma.
And all without proper counseling.
Anytime you need to talk, I'm just here and you can call my globe number. And my twitter.
Dami options for treatment hubs.
You don't have to stay in san lazaro.
I heard a lot of sorry situations there.
Good morning.
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld


PETE:
Bong thanks for the help really.
I honestly fell a lot better right now knowing that someone who has this is willing to help out.
Yeah my friend who is a poz knows - but he is just diagnoaed recently and will start his arv - and my best friend and a close friend who are there to give emotional support pero i still feel the need to talk to guys who has been living with this and will tell me "it will be ok"
Sent from my iPhone


BONG:
It is okay pete.
Now we can focus on the more important things in life.
Take care of yourself more.
Love yourself more.
And live a full life.
Just follow the steps.
Ul be fine.
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld


PETE:
Yeah with regarding to taking care of myself.
Haven't checked the site you gave me pero would it be possible to get at least tips on how i should take care of myself?
I really abused my body from staying up late, going out, drinking and smoking.
Pero i haven't been sick nor hospitalized since grade school, so is it still advisable for me to continue dragon boat?
I mean are there restrictions now?
Like i cant paddle in manila bay kasi the water is tainted?
Thanks again bong.
And im sorry if im disturbing your work
Sent from my iPhone


BONG:
U can live a normal life so long as you be more careful.
Upon enrollment sa treatment hub, ichecheck lahat ng buong katawan mo, all the works.
Dun mo malalaman kung ano ang mga bawal.
Kung everything is still good.
You can still do most of the things ur doing.
Spend time at www.thebody.com
Cheers.
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld


PETE:
Thanks bong
Sent from my iPhone