BONG's RECOMMENDED FREE TEST SITES

IN ORDER OF IMPORTANCE:  1 being the best recommended site for quality services.

1). LOVEYOURSELF HUB
(RITM Satellite Clinic Manila)
1850 Leon Guinto St. Malate, Manila.
Tel. 5479334 or 09178351038
Monday to Sunday (7x a week)

2). Makati Social Hygiene Clinic
7th Floor, Makati City Hall, J.P. Rizal St., Makati City
Contact - Teresita Pagcaliwagan, RN or YOYIE
Tel: (+632) 870-1615

3). Proj. 7 Social Hygiene Clinic

PROJECT 7 BANSALANGIN STREET

AT THE VETERANCE VILLAGE.

Contact #09082355210,

4). BERNARDO Social Hygiene Clinic

CUBAO QC EDSA ACROSS NEPA Q-MART, 

AT THE BACK OF RAMON MAGSAYSAY HIGH SCHOOL, CUBAO, QC

Contact #09082355210,

5). BATASAN Social Hygiene Clinic

SANDIGAN BAYAN FAIRVIEW QC

Contact #09082355210

6). ASP iCON Clinic

G/F OTM Building, 71 Scout Tuason St.,

Brgy. South Triangle, Quezon City.

Every Friday, 5PM - 9PM

Saturdays from 10AM - 9PM.

Contact us at (+63) 376-2541

Email them at asp.iconclinic@gmail.com 

7). Mandaluyong City - Social Hygiene Clinic 

Dr. Yolanda Tuaño - SHC Physician

Lerma corner Vicencio Sts., Old Zaniga, Mandaluyong City / 5467799; 2115336 

Mobile #: 09178424298 

FOR THE VIPs I WOULD RECOMMEND THE MEDICAL CITY - Ortigas Avenue, Pasig City, Metro Manila Philippines. Tel. nos. (632) 988-1000, (632) 988-7000 email us :  mail@medicalcity.com.ph -- i heard they also do home service for full confidentiality --- but their services are not FREE and sobrang mahal daw but hey if money is not a problem, why not.

ALL OTHERS I WOULDN't WANT TO RECOMMEND DUE TO SOME BAD 1st-HAND EXPERIENCES FROM THE PEOPLE I'VE TALKED WITH.

THE WORST PLACE to get tested are the PRIVATE DIAGNOSTIC CLINICS, most of them are not trained and does not follow the pre-test and post-test protocols.  plus it's NOT FREE.

ALSO if you know that you had risky behavior and you need to undergo a medical examination   as a requirement for working abroad which includes HIV testing - its best that you take the test in any of the above facilities and make sure first that you are negative before taking it at the agency-designated diagnostic clinic.  most of them (if not all) have no idea how to deal with a hiv positive diagnosis.  if the result is positive then just choose a country that will not require HIV testing.

hope these updated info helps!

best way to reach me is through my email... i don't usually have load on my phone and occasional lang ako sa twitter.

to all those who have been wondering about my health status --- I AM PERFECTLY FINE, all my labs are spotless, next cd4 count due this July 2012.

naging busy lang sa lovelife --- yes i found a partner, he knows about my status and we are so much in-love.  am very happy ;)


ito ang aking diary

BONG

Si Nol - Spit or Swallow?

Bong,


hi I saw your email on the internet. Ako si NOL ofw sa Saudi arabia. gusto ko lang humingi ng payo regarding sa risk ko. recently may naka oral sex akong syrian dito. nalunok ko yung semen niya. ano ang chance ko na mag karoon ng HIV? Natatakot kasi akong magpatest kasi bawal ang bading dito sa saudi. balak ko sana sa pinas na ako mag pa test pag uwi ko. kaso by december pa uwi ko. I asked the opinion of AIDSMEDS kaso opinion nila wala daw risk ang oral sex. Totoo kaya yon? napaparanaoid na kasi ako. feeling ko mababaliw na ako kaka isp. hirap kasi dito walang anonymous testing center. Ano kayang risk if ever i delay ang testing? or malaki ba talaga ang chance na magkaroon ako ng HIV dahil sa oral sex? Please Ineed some advice thank you.


NOL

_____________________________________________




Hello Nol,


Yes its very low risk, you don't have to worry. Hiv virus will not survive sa stomach because of the gastric acids not unless you have lesions in your mouth or throat during swallowing. I think its okay for you to wait til december and get tested here in manila. 


Next time its always better to spit than to swallow.


Stay safe.


Bong

______________________________________________




Bong,


Thanks po. medyo lumuwag ang loob ko. kaso medyo kabado pa din ako kasi recently may LBM ako then may tumubong mouth sore sa bibig ko. medyo maliit lang pero kinakabahan ako. Hindi kaya symptoms ng HIV yon?


Nol




_______________________________________________




Nol,


Almost anything naman can be a symptom of hiv infection, dipende sa reaction ng katawan ng tao pa rin yan, madalas nga walang kahit anung signs ans symptoms. Taking HIV out of the picture, anybody can have LBM or mouthsore at kahit sabay sabay pa, doesnt necessarily mean meron ka.  There is no way to tell, Hiv test is the only way to know if indeed ur infected. 


Minsan lang medyo napaparanoid tayo. Just take the test the soonest possible time na alam mong safe ka. Don't worry too much. Minsan masama lang talaga ang weather at madalas tayo magkasakit.


Relaks ka lang, kung may makikita kang anonymous testing site dyan, much better para malaman mo na ang katotohanan.


Bong

My EX is Parteeing N Playing!

Hi Bong,

I love your blog site as it delivers a clear message to Filipino people engaging into activities that put them at risk to acquire HIV. I decided to write an email because recently I learned that my ex boyfriend was engaging into risky sexual practices. We separated last July 2011 and still I know in my heart I still care. When I learned that he is engaging into partee and play without protection I was alarmed. A friend of mine whom I introduced him when we were still together exchanges messages to him in planetromeo. Sharing stories and sex trips. From ecstasy, he is now taking ice/slam. Engaging into pnp 1on1 but most of the times a group of 6 and more. Sadly, none of those events did he use condoms according to my friend.

I do not know PnP then until I researched every detail of partee and play. The rising incidence of HIV according to an article and even a feature news from an international tv was due to PnP. I was very curious that i researched colloquial terms they are using. To understand further pnp, i tried it once (of course observing safe sex from start to the end) to know how it feels. It was indeed ecstatic but a person in pnp was still in his sound mind and there was a period after the pnp that you would feel down even without reason (crashing is the term according to my research).

I wanted to help him, he was still young  (25 years old and I am 30). I took HIV test when I learned he was doing pnp, fortunately it was negative (feb 2012) because I know in myself i am not engaging into unprotected sex except to my bfs. I am convincing him to take the test and he refuse to talk about it. I care and i consulted hiv + in pr how to convince him to take the test...

I wanted to help him because i still care. Please help.

Thank you.

CARING EX


-----------------------------------------------


hello Caring Ex,

i will reply to your letter in my next blog (medyo busy lang) --- i also want to blog in details about the topic of PnP, there's a reason my blog is titled as such... i'v been wanting to talk about it, i always hesitate but because you opened the topic na, maybe this March is the right time to talk about it.

thanks for writing to me Caring Ex...

(anybody who wants to comment and help would be highly appreciated)

ito ang aking diary

BONG

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

We are all living with HIV!

are we really???

I NEED HELP!

Hi Bong,

I read your blog today (all of your entries) and made me think of my own status.

Ive been very promiscuous and deep inside me alam ko 99.9% na meron na ako HIV.

First time kong sumulat sa isang blogger and lakas loob lang talaga. I am sure youre wondering nag pa test na ba ako? - hindi pa. Wala akong lakas ng loob para mag pa test. Natatakot ako, nakakahiya...

Kung ngayon pa lang na hindi pa confirmed status ko na discriminate na ako outside. Nasa mall ako with friends, may group of gay guys na naka tambay sa isang coffee shop kung san din kami ng friends ko pumunta. Pag dating naman dun ang rami kaagad parinig.
"gosh, he really looks sick"
"naku sana mawala na sya dito... " Etc...

Nung nakaupo na kami, mas maraming parinig, patama na alam naming lahat para sa akin. Minadali ko coffee ko at umalis kunyari tumawag ang bahay at importante.

Ngayon, sobrang takot ako lumabas, dinner with family and friends dahil sa nangyari na pwede ulet mangyari sa akin.

Nakita ko yung post mo sa hiv travel restrictions... Biglang pumasok sa isip ko eh kung lumabas ako g bansa at mag trabaho sa walang restrictions... Kaya lang, paano yung maiiwan ko dito? Paano yung pamilya ko?

Naisip ko din... Na para matahimik ako, sige mag papatest na ako. Pero saan? Saan walang tao mastado? Saan yung di ka mapapansin? Siguro by now, masasabi mong i really care what other people would think about me - at affected ako, may it be good or bad.

I read several blogs today and chose to write  you a letter, i dont know why. But i hope you can help.

Thanks.

PEDRO

______________________________

hello pedro,

ang pagsulat mo sa akin ay isang malaking step, salamat at naglakas loob ka.

unang una nais kong malaman mo na diskriminasyon ay talamak sa ating kultura.

madalas:
ang mga babae ay nadidiscriminate.
ang mga payat ay nadidiscriminate.
ang mga matataba ay nadidiscriminate.
ang mga mabababa ang height ay nadidiscriminate.
ang mga pangit ay nadidiscriminate.
ang mga bakla at lesbiyana ay nadidiscriminate.
at oo ang mga PLHIV ay nadidiscriminate din.
basta kakaiba, may potensyal na madiscriminate.

dapat nating tanggapin na andyan yan, kaya nga may mga adbokasiya
na lumalaban para ito ay wakasan, dahil hindi ito makatarungan.

ngunit sa ganang aki'y matagal pa o baka imposible pa sa ngayon na ito'y
mabura sa lipunang ating ginagalawan.

at dahil dito, dapat ay hindi dito magtatapos ang ating mundo, ang iyong mundo.
kung may nagdidiscriminate sa yo, tumayo ka at ipaglaban ang iyong sarili.
o maging matatag ka at wag mo silang pansinin.

ANG POINT KO IS - we cant please everyone, halos lahat ng tao may opinyon sa iba.

QUEBER NA! DONT CARE! TATANDA KA AGAD! PROMISE!
DONT RESTRICT YOUR LIFE. INSTEAD START ENJOYING IT.
LIVE IT.

pagmamahal sa sarili, unang una sa lahat.  ito ang pinaka importante. tanggapin ang sarili ng
walang pag  aalinlangan --- kapag tiwala at mahal mo ang iyong sarili,
walang sinumang tao ang makakasira sa iyo.

totoo ngang maraming taong negatibo,
sila ay dapat iwasan.

ngunit totoo ring mas maraming taong sadyang mababait at positibo ang pananaw sa buhay,
siguro sila ang kelangan mong hanapin at samahan.

unang una na rito ang iyong pamilya lalong lao na ang iyong mga magulang,
naniniwala akong sila ang magiging karamay mo sa hirap at ginhawa.
humugot ka sa kanila ng pagmamahal at lakas ng loob.

gayundin ang iyong tunay na mga kaibigan, magtiwala ka sa kanila.
sila ang unang unang makakaunawa sa iyo at nakikilala kang lubusan.

sa isyu naman ng HIV...
dapat tandaan na ang sobrang "promiscuity" per se ay hindi sapat para sabihin
na ikaw ay siguradong may HIV na.

maaaring promiscuous ang isang tao pero siya naman ay may sapat na kaalaman
at naprapraktis ng safe sex.

maaari ring minsan lang lumandi ang isang tao ngunit dahil naging pabayasiya,
ay buminggo na sya ng bonggang bonnga at confeeeermed na sya.

ang katotohanan - ang risk for HIV ay nakasalalay sa maraming bagay, isa na rito ang
"high-risk" sexual behavior tulad ng unprotected penetrative sex. at marami pang iba.

ang lahat ng ito ay matututunan mo kapag nagpa HIV testing ka.
sapagkat ayon sa panuntunan, kaalinsabay dapat ng HIV Testing ang
1. HIV 101, 2. Pre-Test Counseling, at 3. Post-Test Counseling.
ang prosesong ito ang nagsusulong na maipalaganap ang tama at bagong
impormasyon ukol sa HIV/AIDS at iba pang Sexually Transmitted Infection (STIs).
layunin ng prosesong ito na magkaroon ng 'behavioural change'  ang mga
taong daraan dito para makasiguradong maiwasan na ang paglaganap ng
HIV AIDS sa pilipinas (at least for those people who took the test).

kung lahat ng tao lang sana magpapatest. hayyyyy :(

datapwat subalit, hindi lahat ng HIV testing sites and private clinics ay
sumusunod sa ganitong proseso, lalong lalo na ang mga private testing
and diagnostic clinics (base sa aking mga panayam) - ito ang mga clinics
na hindi naman prayoridad at espesyalisasyon ang STI HIV AIDS.
kalimitan rin sa kanila ay may bayad.

para makasiguradong tama ang proseso at maasikaso ng mabuti ang iyong
pangangailangan hinggil sa HIV AIDS at STI, ang rekomendasyon ko ay pumunta
sa pinakamalapit na  SOCIAL HYGIENE CLINICs (libre dito) narito ang listahan
http://theloveyourselfproject.blogspot.com/p/hiv-test-sites.html

gayundin sa mga NGO and advocacy groups na nagbibigay ng mga special testing dates.
halimbawa :

1. ASP (Aids Society of the Philippines) --- FREE HIV Confidential (with Pre and Post) Counseling and Testing every 1st Friday (5pm - 9pm) and 3rd Saturday (10am - 3pm) of the month - 2/F OTM Bldg. No. 71 Scout Tuason Street - Bgy South Triangle, Quezon City - For more info please call 3762541

2. The Love Yourself Project  - nagsasagawa ng FREE testing every quarter (next one is on MARCH 4). http://loveyourself.ph/

narito ang aking blog entry about these groups:
http://parteeandplay.blogspot.com/2012/01/stakehoders-ngos-advocacy-groups.html

sa aking experience, mas kumportable ang pumunta sa mga social hygiene clinics at advocacy groups dahil ito ang kanilang forte (HIV AIDS STI)  gayundin ay sila rin amg mga aktibo sa pagsusulong mga mga anti-disrimination and stigma campaigns kaya sapat lamang na isa alang alang nila ang mga espesyal na pangangailangan at atensyon nga mga tulad natin na sensitibo rito.

kung gusto mo talaga konti lang tao i highly recommend,

Makati Social Hygiene Clinic (discreet tinted & unmarked room at 7th floor of Makati City Hall),
JP Rizal St. Brgy. :Poblacion, Makati City / 8701615
look for Yoyie or Ms. Tess (Nurse)

or

Mandaluyong Social Hygiene Clinic
Dr. Yolanda Tuaño - Social Hygiene Clinic Physician
Lerma corner Vicencio Sts., Old Zaniga, Mandaluyong City / 5467799; 2115336
Mobile #: 09178424298

or

RITM Satellite Clinic
#1850 Leon Guinto Street, Malate, Manila
Phone: (+63-927) 704-8646
Contact person: Lean
Clinic hours: Mondays thru Saturdays, 9 AM to 6 PM

kung kailangan mo ng further refferal or gusto mong may makasama
pwede pa rin kitang matulungan, just ask.

bothered lang ako sa claims mo na 99.9% alam mong positive ka.
at nadiscriminate ka ---
do you look sickly?
did you lose a lot of weight?
are there any visible signs & symptoms?

and even if you answered YES on all my questions above, hindi pa rin ibig sabihin na may HIV ka na, dahil marami pang ibang sakit na maaaring iyon din ang sintomas.

HIV test lang ang tanging paraan para malaman mo kaya go ka na bilis.

ukol din sa option mo nag mangibang bansa sa mga bansang walang restrictions, malaking konsiderasyon din na dapat mong isipin na kung HIV Positive ka, libre ang gamot sa pilipinas para sa mga pilipino - pag  nangibang bansa ka, maaring hindi libre ang gamot para sa mga dayuhan at ngayon pa lang ay sinasabi ko ng may kamahalan ang mga ARVs (anti-retroviral drugs) kaya dapat mo itong pag isipan.

unang step. magpatest ka. kung kailangan mo nga makakasama, magregister ka dito:
http://theloveyourselfproject.blogspot.com/p/i-want-to-get-tested.html

salamat at ako napili mong sulatan. touched ako promise ;)

okay sya keep me posted kung anu ng nangyari sa yo.

hiling ko na maging maligaya ka.


BONG


(PS:  hiv is a matter of life and death, the key is early detection, for once you should stop thinking about other people and put yourself on top priority, isa lang ang buhay natin - huwag sayangin dahil lamang sa hiya or sa takot sa sasabihin ng iba)

YEAR OF THE WATER DRAGON: 2012

happy new year!

happy ba talaga ang pasok ng taon natin???

sa aking palagay araw araw dapat maging happy tayo.  sabi ko nga sa mga previous blogs ko, nobody can say exactly how long i will be healthy, because of that i will not waste my time worrying about it and instead start enjoying and living it.

2 days ago, i went to RITM for my 6th month check up. i had my routinary CBC and cd4 Count.

CBC was spotless, cd4 Count has improved from 379 last July 2011 to 401 this January 2012.  kaya nga todo ngiti ako for the past few days.  honestly i was expecting my cd4 to drop.  the last 6 months was really toxic.  madalas puyat ako sa dami ng trabaho and events na kailangan puntahan.

all my laborartory tests were perfect and i couldnt ask for anything more.  because of that i am opting NOT to start my ARV treatment yet.  Dra. Cunanan of RITM said that starting ARVs is still an option, but there seems to be NO urgent need to start it yet, given that my stats are getting better.  pero nagrerequest sya ng Viral Load Count most especially pag dumating yung time na magsisimula na ako ng ARVs, that would cost about P 7500 so i have to put that on my checklist.

i am thankful that everything is turning out well for me, so far.  i wish the same for everyone.

but it's not all good news for 2012.

2 boys from the our adapted MSW group has recently died due to opportunistic infection.  based on my queries, our efforts has not been able to reach them in time and they have not attended any of our testing nor counseling session.  too bad  :(  but this makes our resolve to intensify our efforts more solid.

last week of december one of our HIV testing clients abruptly died about 18 days after getting tested positive. about the same time his confirmatory results was being released, he has to be confined to San Lazaro but he died the next day.  unfortunately, the opportunistic infection has worsen that the doctors can no longer help him.  he was 19y.o.  this incident was the first direct casualty related to our work as advocates and it was so difficult for us to process.  while at the same time, it has reminded us that we are doing the right thing.  so long as people are dying of HIV/AIDS unnecessarily, our work will never stop.  

sana ay maiwasan na ang mga ganitong eksena.  we need everyone's help. we cannot do it alone.

kung gusto nyong maging aktibo sa laban na ito.  magregister lamang dito:
http://theloveyourselfproject.blogspot.com/p/set-registration.html

we need volunteers!


salamat

ito ang aking diary

BONG

HIV Travel Restrictions

(i got this link from @casuallypositiv)

Which Countries Will Want to Know About Your HIV.

From Mark Cichocki, R.N., former About.com Guide
Updated August 11, 2010  (may be outdated)

The HIV epidemic has been with us for what seems a lifetime. For some, there has not been a time in their life without HIV being in the news. While there has been great progress toward understanding the virus, there are still parts of the world that don't know the true nature of HIV transmission and risk. And because they lack an understanding of HIV, they still have rules and regulations in place that discriminate against those living with HIV. Countries like China and the United States have finally lifted their bans regarding HIV and immigration. But unfortunately there are dozens of countries around the world that continue to limit travel, immigration, and residency based soley on HIV status. This feature provides you a list of the countries with the strictest policies regarding HIV.

Declaration of HIV is REQUIRED

The following countries require HIV status declaration for entry and in order to stay in the country.

Brunei

Oman

Sudan

United Arab Emirates

Yemen

VISAS DENIED

These countries deny visas to anyone living with HIV.

Egypt

Iraq

Qatar

Singapore

Turks and Caicos Islands

HIV-Positive People DEPORTED

The following country deports people from their country if they are HIV positive.

Armenia

Bahrain

Brunei

Egypt

Iraq

Jordan

Kuwait

Malaysia

Moldova

Mongolia

North Korea

Oman

Qatar

Russia

Saudi Arabia

Singapore

Sudan

Syria

Taiwan

United Arab Emirates

Uzbekastan

Yemen

SOURCE: http://aids.about.com/od/healthytraveling/a/HIVtravel.htm