The living legend

CEBU, Philippines - "I never thought it could happen to me," said a former seaman who has been living with HIV for 15 years.

But Roger (not his real name) likes to believe that his longevity all depends on his acceptance, faith, lifestyle and support from family. A 57-year-old HIV positive from Cebu, he broke his silence because he wants others to be more aware about HIV/AIDS and erase the many misconceptions circling around it.

"Walay gipili ang HIV/AIDS" (Anybody can get affected with HIV/AIDS), he said. "I am HIV positive," he admitted. "It is easier said than done."

Although he opened up initially because he had a hard time going back to work, he then realized that he could be an advocate for change. He used to earn $ 2,000 a month as a fitter welder but now he volunteers most of his time in sharing his story to OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers) and their families, to put a face to the condition.

Apart from volunteering, he is also one of the founders of Cebu Plus, a non government organization answering to the HIV incidence in the area. Composed of 60% HIV positive and 40 % non positive individuals, the vision of Cebu Plus is "greater and meaningful engagement of people living with HIV, their affected families and significant others, towards improving wellness and quality of life in a supportive environment."

With the help of Pinoy Plus Association, Inc. (PPAI), Action for Health Initiatives (ACHIEVE) and Positive Action Foundation Philippines, Inc (PAFPI), his P50, 000 worth of basic anti-retroviral drugs (ARV) and medical bills now have been free. He said that the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS (UNGASS) have granted poor and developing countries the chance to avail of free anti-retroviral drugs which compress the virus and prevent it to multiply. 

PPAI, according to lga.gov.ph, is a Philippine association composed of all members living with HIV/AIDS which offer services like counseling, referrals, care and support programs and skill building for members and other groups. ACHIEVE, according to its website, is a non-stock, non-profit organization engaged in the implementation and development of programs and projects addressing migration, health, gender, sexuality, reproductive health, and HIV/AIDS issues.

And PAFPI, according to World Health Organization (WHO), is described as an organization that helps people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs) and their families especially those who are displaced from their jobs because of HIV. PAFPI provided college scholarship for two of his children, Roger disclosed. 

Philippine National Aids Council (PNAC) defines the Human Immunodeficiency Virus as a retrovirus that lowers body immunity and leads to a spectrum of diseases. The HIV infection, according to PNAC, has four stages – Primary Infection, Asymptomatic Illness, Symptomatic Illness and Advanced Diseases. Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is described to be the most advanced stage of HIV infection.

According to the WHO, HIV is transmitted through unprotected sexual intercourse (anal or vaginal), transfusion of contaminated blood, sharing of contaminated needles, and between a mother and her infant during pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding.

Personal Story

In sharing his story, he took a trip down memory lane. A high school graduate, he started out as a welder in Cebu. He later continued as a welder in Saudi in 1981 to support his family. He then went on to become a seaman working as a fitter welder in 1989. He only stopped working abroad when he was diagnosed as HIV positive in 1997. 

During the days when he was at sea, he did not know much about HIV/AIDS. He would encounter many beautiful girls in South America and refer to them as "labanos panitan" (fair skinned). He used to think he was physically invisible but he was proven wrong when a medical test revealed that he contracted the virus.

"Bisaya, mamatay ka na!, Wala na, HIV ka na!” (Bisaya, you will die!, No more, you are already HIV positive!), according to his agency’s memo. Upon hearing the news, he went through depression and tried to commit suicide. He confided that he used to blame Sto. Niño and the Virgin Mary on what happened to him.

He shared that when he tried to kill himself, he could not do it because of the pain and that of a powerful force that guided him not to go through his plan. He realized there and then that he was an instrument of God to inspire and change other people's lives.

He belongs to the 1,985 HIV positive OFWs since 1984 reported in the Philippine HIV and AIDS Registry of the Department of Health as of July this year. The report further shows that there are around 36 new reported cases of affected OFWs from which 31 are males and five are females.

The affected OFWs, according to the registry, are part of the total 10, 242 HIV positive cases in the country of which 9,164 are asymptomatic and 1078 are AIDS cases from 1984-2012. Of the 1078 AIDS cases, 352 have already died. Sexual contact is the most common mode of HIV transmission. 

Family Life

A married man with five children, Roger knew that breaking the news to his family will be very hard. He took his third child and eldest daughter to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) where doctors and nurses tried to explain to her the situation. Afterwards, he said that his daughter hugged him and assured him of her love.

But it was the other way around for Roger's eldest son who took a long time accepting the situation. His son had to get used to the sudden decrease in income and increasing bills for basic needs like electricity, water and food which were unpaid. He compared his home to a storm (intensity 10) where plates crashed everywhere, in contrast to the peaceful life the family had before.

His wife Lina (not her real name) was told the truth by doctors at RITM. Lina could not accept it at first. In a separate interview, Lina revealed she felt so angry and betrayed upon hearing the news, especially since her husband got the virus through sexual contact. "Maayong patyon!" (I wanted to kill him),” she revealed. 

Fortunately, volunteers would visit their house, explain and conduct counseling for his wife to accept the new situation. Lina said that with the help of faith and prayers, she slowly accepted the situation. And so did her children. They all remain HIV free.

Four of Roger and Lina's children are now college graduates and their youngest child is a high school scholar. 

Personal Goals

Apart from volunteering and fighting for his advocacy, Roger also wants to help lessen the discrimination of HIV/AIDS patients and erase the misconceptions about the virus. He wants people to realize that people living with HIV/AIDS are still normal people and they deserve to be respected.

Under Republic Act 8504 or the Philippine AIDS Prevention and Control Act of 1998, policies must be promulgated and measures must be prescribed for the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS in the Philippines; nationwide HIV/AIDS information and educational program must be instituted; a comprehensive HIV/AIDS monitoring system must be established and the Philippine National AIDS Council must be strengthened.

Roger said that people living with HIV/AIDS before were blamed for their condition but now, they are being slowly accepted into the society. He wants people to keep an open mind and not to be afraid of HIV/AIDS patients.

According to the PNAC, HIV is not transmitted through kissing, casual contacts or handshakes, sharing of living quarters, eating or drinking with an infected person, or through mosquitoes and bed bugs. It is not even transmitted through spit according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HIV detected in saliva is in extremely low quantities.

Roger said that HIV/AIDS patients have a chance to have a family and bear children. According to the AIDS Resource Center website, the virus is not found in the sperm cell and egg cell but within the body fluids.

He wants to teach, especially the students, on the difference of HIV/AIDS and there are other modes of HIV transmission rather than just sexual intercourse because he sees a rising trend of HIV cases in the country. Before, there were only about 2 or 3 cases but it has now reached to 300 cases. It is like 10 cases per day.

Beliefs and Learnings

Roger believes in the Reproductive Health Bill, or the Responsible Parenthood, Reproductive Health and Population and Development Act of 2011, which recognizes and guarantees the exercise of the universal basic human right to reproductive health.

He pushes for age appropriate sexual education in school so that students are more aware and become open minded about reproductive health and sex education. Teachers should be more prepared and trained to teach sensitive matters to students.

For prevention of HIV/AIDS cases, he believes that the use of condom is 99.9% effective and the government must understand how to deal with HIV/AIDS. For PNAC, there are five ways of prevention – abstinence, being faithful to one relationship, careful sex, no sharing of needles and education and information.

But still without a solid cure, he compares his life to a ticking time bomb instead of feeling fear, he chooses to have hope and live life to the fullest. "I believe in God. I believe in hope. I believe in miracles!" (FREEMAN)