Six Months and Counting......

So it had been six months since Love Yourself's inception.

Currently the Philippines HIV/AIDS incidence is at an all-time high with ‎212 HIV cases for November 2011 alone, 2,081 from Jan-Nov 2011, and a cumulative of 8,096 cases since 1984 up to Nov. 2011. of the 212, 61 are among ages 15-24 years old, of the 212 reported cases, 199 are males(Source: National Epidemiology Center AIDS Registry as of November 2011).

Our group has a long way to go and a tough battle ahead of us.

And today, we lost an HIV-positive client in his teenage years because of related complications. He had tested with us just last Dec 11, but as he waits for the confirmatory results, his condition worsened brought about by an opportunistic infection which eventually led to his untimely death. Our colleague one of the Love Yourself member who was his counselor during the testing had been helping him and his family from the confirmatory process up to the burial preparations.

The death of one of our clients is indeed very sad and heartbreaking... we grieve... but, this day marks not just a loss for us...

We should recognize that this is NOT A LOSING BATTLE.
As long as there are people who dare to care and share;
We come together to stand and fight against the disease... let us use this feeling of sadness and turn it into a renewed fire for our cause...

As long as there are people dying of HIV... Man, Woman & child... our advocacy will not stop! Let us keep that fountain of love, that dares us more, to show people how much we care..

Awareness and action is the key. And out there, everyone's concern & help matters, starting with loving oneself.


FOOT NOTE; Some parts are quoted from Vinn one of our founders/Princess