23/07/2025
๐๐ซ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง ๐
๐จ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ ๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ฉ ๐๐ฎ๐ก๐๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐๐๐
In an effort to broaden youth awareness on drugs and HIV, the Sagip Buhay Movement, in partnership with the University of Nueva Caceres, held an in-depth discussion on substance abuse and HIV awareness as part of the Positibong Buhay Tour 2025, at 2 PM on July 22, 2025, at AMS 207. The event was attended by students from 12 STEM G, Peer Facilitator's Club, and the Supreme Student Government.
The session began with an opening message from Ms. Rhoni Marjonelle Escaro, which signaled the start of the talk by Mr. Tom Aquino Mariano, National President of Youth Peer Against Drugs, on the topic of substance abuse. He emphasized that drug consumption may be common, but it is the abuse that is wrong.
He identified SAD (Sigarilyo, Alak, Droga) as the primary substance with increasing consumption among the youth this year. Afterwards, Ms. Elena Felix, a member of the Sagip Buhay Movement, led a session on HIV 101, where she thoroughly discussed the symptoms, transmission, principles of spread, misconceptions, stigma, discrimination, and data confidentiality in consultations and HIV testing.
Ms. Elena encouraged the youth to normalize conversations about HIV in order to help curb the rising number of cases. According to her, from being "slow and steady," the Philippines has now become a "fast and furious country."
The discussion concluded with Mr. Tomโs call to action to the participants: "uuwi kayong hindi gumamit, hindi gagamit, at nawaโy maging kasangga sa pagpapalawak pa ng proyektong ito. Isaisip na, kung hindi tayo, sino? At kung hindi ngayon, kailan pa?"
| Venice Rejeka Beatriz, Raven Isabelle Galang / The Pantograph x Malaya
