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DOH Asec. Eric Tayag and Bernardo Buddies Dance In Fight Against HIV

Department of Health (DOH) Assistant Secretary Eric Tayag surprised everyone at an art exhibit with a dance performance to support the fight against HIV/AIDS. Joined by Seb Castro of “Bubble Pop” fame and Quezon City’s HIV testing advocates, the Bernardo Buddies, Tayag swayed to Chris Brown’s “Five More Hours.”

DOH Assistant Secretary Eric Tayag dances with Seb Castro and the Bernardo Buddies

The exhibit was the culminating activity of the “You’re Sexy When You Know It” campaign, which was launched on World AIDS Day last year. Jointly organized by the DOH and the Quezon City Government, the campaign makes innovative use of digital tools (social media, blogs, Grindr, Youtube) to encourage males-who-have-sex-with-males (MSMs) to sign-up online and set an appointment at Klinika Bernardo, a health facility in Quezon City that provides free HIV counseling, testing, and therapy.

DOH Assistant Secretary Eric Tayag talks about HIV incidence in Philippines

Art Exhibit featuring works by Niccolo Cosme, Angelo Magno, Jason Moss, and Datu Jainal

Disrupting the stigma related to HIV testing, especially among most-at-risk populations, is crucial in the face of the steady increase of HIV incidence in the country. In his opening speech, Tayag talked about the gravity of the current trend, saying: “As of June 2015, there were 772 new HIV Ab sero-positive individuals. This was 56% higher compared to the same period last year. This means that every month we’re getting the highest numbers of reported cases since 1984.”

Bernardo Buddies at Art Exhibit

Divine Lee with Quezon City Councilor Eufemio Lagumbay

TV host, socialite Divine Lee with Niccolo Cosme, Seb Castro and Bernardo Buddies

Aside from awareness campaigns, the government has also been investing in facilities that would help curb the incidence of HIV in the country. Quezon City Councilor Eufemio C. Lagumbay talked about the importance of innovation and underscored Quezon City’s commitment to addressing HIV/AIDS, proudly announcing that “Quezon City has two more social hygiene clinics, aside from Klinika Bernardo, that will help encourage testing and therapy among our MSMs.”

Assistant Secretary Eric Tayag, Councilor Lagumbay, and other partners with Bernardo Buddies

Check out how they’ve started the drive for “You’re Sexy When You Know It” Campaign.

DOH Asec. Eric Tayag and Bernardo Buddies Dance In Fight Against HIV

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Joemar Belleza

Blogger-In-Chief at Bakla Po Ako, Confirmed!

Joemar is the Blogger-In-Chief of BaklaPoAko.Com. He is currently a graduate student in University of the Philippines Open University. He also studied at Maquillage Professionnel School of Makeup Artistry and School of Fashion and the Arts (SoFA). He is a bold advocate of education, environment and LGBT issues. An earner, dreamer and a lover. Before he was once a dream-sprouting seed. Now he's a tree in his renaissance and will always be evergreen. Hear him speak with his intelligent guide for gay news of the Philippines and worldwide, Bakla Po Ako. Confirmed!.Follow him on Twitter @belleza_joemar. Gay it forward!