Theme: Reflecting on our past, preparing for our future.
Balay Kalingkawasnon is a treatment hub that offers help and services for people who are in need to know their HIV status and people who are already infected with the virus but not yet under treatment. Offer free fast and confidential HIV screening, access to treatment, support group and care for persons living with HIVs
The Candlelight Memorial began in 1983 during a time of confusion and misconception about about a mysterious disease sweeping the gay community in San Francisco in the United States. Knowing they would die withn the yar and with no political support, four young men – Bobbi Campbell, Bobby Reynolds, Dan Turner and Mark Feldman — decided to put a “face on the disease” by coordinating a small vigil behind a banner reading “Fighting for Our Lives.”
The original coordinators planned a march down the Castro District to City Hall and created a poster. As others joined in the Candlelight drew thousands, beginning a movement that would inspire countless other people living with HIV and AIDS in other countries to bring HIV into the light for comunitiees and national leaders, to foster support, and move people to action
Since that day, now for almost 30 years, the Candlelight Memorial has brought together people in every region of the world to honor those lost to AIDS, support peopleliving with HIV and demonstrate the importance of civil society, which plays a central role in HIV treatment, prevention, care and support. Organized annnualy on the third Sunday of May, over time tens of thousands Memorial evnts have been held involving millions of people.
In 2011, the Internatinal Candlelight Memorial returned where it started, again hosted and coordinated by people living with HIV, throught eh Global Network of People living with HIV. In the visiton of the Global Network of People lving with HIV, the Candlelight remains one of he most important civl society-led efforts against HIV and AIDS as it demonstrates the invaluable role of communities, including poele living with HIV and affected by HIV.
Input on Philippine health situation by Dr Erlinda Posadas.
Input Regional Updates on HIV and AIDS by Dr. Van Philip Baton, RN, DOH NASPCP
Testimonials from persons lving with HIV.
Walk against Stigma and Discrimination to Fuente Osmena
The mission of the Internatinal AIDS Candlelight is to honor, support and advocate for those who have been affected by the global HIV epidemic thorugh mobilizing commjnities for w awolrd where peolel do not die of aIDs and people lving with HIV can live in health and with dignity.
The International AIDS Candlelight Memorial provides opportunity to:
1. To commemorate loved ones who have lost their lives to HIV
2. To show solidarity with people lving with HIV
3. To raise awareness around HIV within society.
4. To reduce HIV relaed stigma and discriminatin
5. To reduce stigma and discrimination against key populations, including men who have sex with men, people who use drugs, sex workers and young people
