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HIV and AIDS in the Philippines
Entry Feed TrackbackLast December, the whole country got to know Wanggo Gallaga, son of director Peque Gallaga, when he admitted on national television that he has HIV. Most viewers were confused: how can a healthy-looking, professional, young man be infected with the dreaded virus. In the minds of many Filipinos, Wanggo does not fit the mold of someone with HIV or AIDS.
More than a decade ago, statistics show that most Filipinos with HIV or AIDS are either sex workers or OFWs. Now, according to the Department of Health, infected patients are getting younger and younger. Last year, more than 60% are between the ages of 20 and 29. Most are males, infected through sexual intercourse with the same sex. Are they the new face of HIV and AIDS in the Philippines ?
In his interviews, Wanggo says that the main reason why he came out is to help educate Filipinos about the virus. Having HIV or AIDS is no longer the death sentence it was a before. With medication and a proper lifestyle, people with HIV and AIDS can live normal lives. He also stressed the importance of getting tested for the virus.
In the US , experts are continually researching for the cure and finding ways to improve the lives of people living with the virus.
Learn more about HIV and AIDS on World View this April 12, after Ful Haus. Hosted by Vicky Morales.
(PR from a GMA contact)
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Wanggo is sooo cute pa naman! huhuhuhuh
i love you wanggo!!!!
herbs at Apr 8, 09 at 1:12 am
i heard about him a long time ago,he’s really brave in doing that.is he gay by the way?
sabagay many of us filipinos dont really realized that aids is here until they get to know someone or a friend dear to them thats the only time they realize the threat of this disease.
maccallister at Apr 8, 09 at 1:14 am
masarap pa naman ang bareback LOL
maccallister at Apr 8, 09 at 1:15 am
this should really serve as a wake up call to everyone, gay or straight, about the risks of unprotected sex.
“Having HIV or AIDS is no longer the death sentence it was a before. With medication and a proper lifestyle, people with HIV and AIDS can live normal lives.”
i disagree. Once you get HIV, you can NEVER life a normal life again. There will be so many things that will be, and should be restricted. The medications are there to prevent/delay progression to full-blown AIDS.
Once you get HIV, you will be immunocompromised and any infection, however small it may be, can be fatal.
Be wise. Wear protection.
Mura lang yun.
jedong at Apr 8, 09 at 1:36 am
listen to Pope Bene-dick, condom is not the answer but being celi-bate is!
anu daw? ang gulo!
jimg29 at Apr 8, 09 at 2:26 am
i had unprotected sex once(i’m top). and i’m afraid to have catched the disease. i have limited knowledge on this particular disease.
sicklovepuppy at Apr 8, 09 at 8:23 am
@sicklovepuppy – best thing to do is have yourself tested.
migs at Apr 8, 09 at 10:30 am
I’m not afraid having AIDS.
Everyone will go away in the end anyway…
Adrammelech at Apr 8, 09 at 6:02 pm
In my personal opinion, HIV/AIDS is just another type of disease that mankind can succumbed into. It is creating such controversies because of the manner that you can acquire the disease. There are still other diseases that take lives quicker and more painful. Always practise safe sex!
Cheers!
pinoybigbro at Apr 8, 09 at 9:30 pm
There is no such thing as protected sex. The only ways not to get AIDS is to only have sex with an honest partner/lover.
Asyano at Apr 9, 09 at 12:45 am
Education and abstinence are the surest ways to avoid the dreaded disease.
Courage Philippines at Apr 9, 09 at 3:08 pm
anything that is sobra is not good and of course with precautionary measures… always maintain safe sex and clean happy leaving…
cheers
renee
kabul guy at Apr 9, 09 at 3:59 pm
VAKLUSHI VA YANG C WANGG00? KC NAPAN00D K0 XA SA TV UNG THINK P0SITIVE PALABAS KUNG SAAN FINEATURE UNG MGA MAY AIDS. TAS NAKITA K0 DUN C WANGG0 NAPANSIN K0 BAKLANG BAKLA SYA KUNG MAGSALITA.. TANUNG K0 RIN, CNU NAMAN KYA KA PARTNER NYA BK8 XA NG KA AIDS, BABAE BA O LALAKE.. VAVU!
CHUKCHAK! at Apr 13, 09 at 1:29 pm
I suspect the average age is getting younger because their generation did not reach the time when AIDS was a dreaded disease that killed mostly gay men. When the interest in the disease went, so did interest in the condom.
Those who can practice celibacy, good for you. Those who practice monogamy, make sure your one and only partner is not HIV+. And for everyone else, condoms condoms condoms please!
Marco Jordan at Apr 13, 09 at 3:24 pm
If you failed to watch GMA-7 HIV/AIDS special documentary entitled Think Positive, follow this link:
http://www.gmanews.tv/video/39736/SNBO-Think-Positive
Courage Philippines at Apr 15, 09 at 10:15 am
on my own opinion, HIV/AIDS is really a scary disease/ i mean a threat to health you will ever have because it attacks and destroy the immune system of an infected person. Meaning, that person will be very susceptible to infection because the immune system cannot erradicate them anymore and since our immune system is our defense. any infection will it be can be malignant.
The worst part, HIV/AIDS has NO cure!
Oh! God help these people and protect those who are not infected of these dreadful virus. I pray …
prince09 at Apr 15, 09 at 7:19 pm
pero masarap tala ang bareback, mararamdaman mo talaga ang labas pasok at ang init, so my best option is to find a partner for good para walang c at walang hiv. its a choice, be faithful to your partner and be happy.
niah at May 6, 09 at 4:59 pm
Actually, the window period for HIV is 3-6 months. if you had unprotected sex last month and was found negative your HIV test, u will be advise to re-examine your blood after 6 month.. and no sex of course.. so please submit yourself for HIV testing if you are sexually active.. (sabihin na nating at least once a month), before it’s too late..
jaypee at May 10, 09 at 12:02 am
3mos. after the exposure to the virus is enough to see accurate result,its 99% sure.In rare case some will take up to 6mos.
scotch at May 12, 09 at 5:24 pm
guys, have you heard of hiv/aids fraud? that hiv is still not proven to be the cause of aids.
scotcht at May 12, 09 at 5:26 pm
I really think God created HIV/AIDS to punish homosexual people +PeAcE…..hehe
eagle09 at May 17, 09 at 8:15 pm
The whole point about new HIV medication is that those infected CAN live a normal life, contrary to some comments here. Medication is designed to lower the viral load and strengthen the immune system, so that should one be exposed to infections, the immune system is strong enough to respond normally and fight infection off. These days, you live with HIV, not die of it.
That does not resolve us of the responsibility to use condom protection, despite the black propaganda put out by the Catholic church.
keith at Jun 1, 09 at 9:33 pm
HIV/AIDS is a sexually transmitted diseases that destroys the immune system of the person. In that case, the person is not able to fight back against common infections that tries to invade the body. In others words, the person will be sickly many times than the person who is not infected.
Sa dinadami daming ng succesful treatments against HIV, it STILL leads to AIDS and death+. Pare, ingat lang!! mahirap na..
popoy at Jul 14, 09 at 6:10 pm
any updates on mr wanggo as part of the AIDS awareness?
pet bottomesa at Sep 6, 09 at 8:59 pm
i have T.B i atke my medicine wala aq palya.. pero pinag tataka ng dr. q bat hangang ngayon my ubo pa q.. binigyan ndin nya q ng antibaiotis na mlaks.. but stil mylema padn kaya he deside na mag pa lab aq hiv en para sa diabectic normal nman aq sa diabetic but now im waiting for my result ko post psitve aq sa hiv please help nyo q wag mag isip ng mega.
bench at Jan 29, 10 at 1:54 pm
how much is hiv testing?
jared lee at Feb 26, 10 at 4:55 pm
please please can you please at least read and edit your post? in terms of spelling , nakakahilo pls lang
lalo ka na bench, how can we help u if we cannot understand what u r saying
eric at Feb 27, 10 at 1:03 pm