AIDS Society of the Philippines (ASP) has announced that, as it marks the World AIDS Day (WAD) 2013, it is bringing to the Philippines the much acclaimed documentary film of David France, How to Survive a Plague.
The film, which tackles how HIV activists in the US – particularly ACT UP USA and Treatment Access Group (TAG) – brought to the world access to antiretroviral (ARV) treatment, will be shown for free at the ASP on December 6 and 13, from 4:00PM.
According to ASP president Dr. Jose Narciso Melchor Sescon, showing How to Survive a Plague in the Philippines at this point in time is “very timely. I must say that all AIDS activists/advocates and enthusiasts must know and be aware of how access to ART came into reality,” he said, adding that nowadays, “there may only be a handful of people from the AIDS community who still know about this historical (occurrence), and yet we owe to these people whatever benefits Philippine PLHIV community right now is receiving.”
Sescon added: “It is a documentary film that promises every viewer to be surely touched and be moved into reflection, rekindling their interest to ask: Where are we now in AIDS advocacy work?
WAD is an annual observance of how people worldwide can unite in the fight against HIV.
For Sescon, observing WAD remains important because “we definitely need to intensify our AIDS advocacy work – particularly during December 1 (when WAD is held) and on the third Sunday of May (when AIDS Candlelight Memorial is observed), as these are must celebrations/memorials.”
Sescon, however, hopes that these events will also be “celebrated in more substantive and meaningful ways that will invoke change.” This is because, according to the UNAIDS report in 2012, Philippines is one of only nine countries that registered over 25% increase in HIV prevalence rate (newly detected HIV cases) compared a decade ago. So “with 13 Pinoys getting HIV every day, it is a must to intensify advocacy work,” he said.
ASP is located at 2/F, 71 Sct. Tuason St., Brgy. South Triangle, Quezon City.
It is located near Camelot Hotel, and is at the corner of Flight 101 Bar
For more information, contact Jen Cruz at (+632) 3762541, or email info@aidsphil.org.
