In every bad there is good. And I can see the good side in this Ondoy phase. Every Filipino seems to be wanting to help, in whatever way they can. (Boo to politicians who’s using this time for campaigning. Boo!) This is good, the Filipino is waking up, removing the numbness from everything that’s around us. Go Pinoy! Kaya natin ‘to!
And yes, we’re still smiling.
We should have more TVC’s like this.
Now where do I get that doggy tag?
May 22, 2009, Mall of Asia Concert Grounds.
A free concert to promote awareness on how to end exploitation and human trafficking. Lots of bands attended, but my faves were performances from Parokya ni Edgar, Kamikazee, Itchyworms, Spongecola & Gary V (saw Yael dance! Cool), Rico Blanco, Kitchie Nadal and Bamboo.
Hope the people who watched actually learned something. To learn more about the cause, you can visit this site.
When you have talent in a certain field, you get famous for it. You earn money. And more often than not, these people spend and spend on material things (or illegal things). There is nothing wrong with it really, we are human after all, and we all want beautiful things around us. The only difference is that the amount splurged can actually help feed a country, or the amount is equivalent to feeding a country.
But then there are those who do not forget about helping. George Clooney, Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt. Sadly, I really cannot think of any local artist/actor/actress who has done anything. But I’m hoping that there are.
A little over a month ago, I found out that someone connected to my family has been diagnosed with HIV Positive. I have never known anybody with that virus. (Except maybe for Sarah Jane who got so publicized because her life was turned into a movie and she was portrayed by Gelli deBelen.) Some of his parents friends were genuinely concerned and made ways to help him. But we had to keep quiet about it since the his immediate family was still in denial about it. Then a little over a week ago, he finally came out. Wanggo Gallaga announced that he was HIV Positive.
The virus is real. Anybody can get it. Not just jologs people. Not just the homeless. Not just prostitutes. Prominent people can get it. Ke pangit ka o maganda. Matanda o bata. Girl, boy, bakla, tomboy. No one is who is spared. No one. The only way to protect yourself from this virus is to be careful.
Since Wanggo opened up there has been all this talk about the virus. Publicity. And timing naman na I was working for MTV Music Summit which was for that cause. I found out artists lowered their fees for the Music Summit. Photographers are taking fashionable steps, like Project Headshot Clinic. Writers are writing more about the virus. Even the news gave airtime to air Wanggo’s story. Most efforts are now being noticed.
I do not mean to sound too preachy, but people, follow suit. If you can do something about it, do something. If you have the ability to help, help. Not just for this cause, but for any cause you feel strongly about. You do not have to be rich to help, you do not have to do something grand. Kahit mag-tabi ka ng Php100 a week tapos i-donate mo. I admit that I started recently with helping out WWF. Caring and doing something (anything) is good enough. You can make a difference.
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What is HIV?
Human immunodeficiency virus. Infection with HIV occurs by the transfer of blood, semen, vaginal fluid, pre-ejaculate, or breast milk. Within these bodily fluids, HIV is present as both free virus particles and virus within infected immune cells. The four major routes of transmission are unprotected sexual intercourse, contaminated needles, breast milk, and transmission from an infected mother to her baby at birth( Vertical transmission). Screening of blood products for HIV has largely eliminated transmission through blood transfusions or infected blood products in the developed world. Eventually most HIV-infected individuals develop AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). [from Wikipedia]
What is AIDS?
Acquired ImmunoDeficiency Syndrome. A set of symptoms and infections resulting from the damage to the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). [from Wikipedia]
HIV Virus/AIDS Links:
- Telling It Like It Is
- Staying Alive
- UN Programme on AIDS
- Positivism: Stay Negative, Think Postive
- Department of Health Philippines
- Aids Online
MTV Music Summit 2008 at the SM Mall of Asia grounds
Every year, for 10 years now (4 or 5 years now here in the Philippines), MTV holds a Music Summit to give entertainment and share information and awareness about the HIV virus. It’s really something that we should be aware of.
I just hope that the crowd who attended last night listened to the information given to them. Though I seriously doubt it. They weren’t even listening to the VJ’s who were talking in between sets or to the videos being played. I guess they were too busy catching their breaths from all the body slamming they’ve been doing. (Na after every body-slamming-worthy band performance, you can actually smell their pawis in the air. And I am sitting at the control booth located about 15feet high.)
The blurry part are the body slammers.
It’s just sad because they are the ones who actually need the education (not just on the HIV virus but also on family planning).
You can check out MTV’s HIV prevention website Staying Alive. Learn more about condomes the funny (and kiddie-like) way by watching FurTV on Telling It Like It Is.
Remember: You have the right to refuse, and you have the right to demand. Bawal magkasakit, kaya mag-kapote.
Here’s the correct way of how to extinguish a fire from the kitchen stove. We should all learn this to prevent bigger accidents, and even death.
