Chris Tiu's new health advocacy

MANILA, Philippines - Chris Tiu is no stranger to fame and admiration. For the 24-year-old Management Engineering graduate from Ateneo de Manila University, however, it is not all just about the spotlight.

Despite being a champion basketball team captain, the face of several endorsements and the host of several TV shows, Chris remains admirably unassuming with a grounded view on celebrity and fame.

“It is important for me to always value my work in any field I engage in. I think if we treat our jobs and our colleagues with a lot of respect, then we are creating an environment where good values prevail,” says Chris with conviction rarely seen in young celebrities.

“The opportunity to have a certain amount of fame gives someone the chance, and more importantly, the responsibility to transmit and relay the right values to others,” added Chris. True to his conviction, Chris has taken up various social advocacies, including building decent and affordable housing projects for the poor, leading literacy sessions for street kids, and promoting Filipino volunteerism, among others.

Chris is lending his voice to Help Fight HPV, a concerted call to raise awareness on an insidious virus that affects both men and women, but has long been viewed as an exclusive female issue. “I was alarmed when I found out that approximately 12 Filipinas die each day from cervical cancer. More so, when I learned that even men can be infected by the Human Papillomavirus or HPV and pass the infection on to women,” revealed Chris.

HPV infection is a common, and highly communicable infection among men and women. Most infections resolve on their own. However, for those that persist, diseases such as genital warts, cervical cancer and other HPV-related diseases can develop.

Chris agrees on the urgent need to convey a strong message on the risks of HPV. “Times are changing and the values of the youth have now become more liberal. This more liberal attitude may increase the chance of acquiring HPV infections,” he propounds.

To reach people, a TV ad to help promote awareness about HPV related diseases was conceptualized. Creative agency AM&P, which has been behind the concept of the groundbreaking campaign for the past three years, has again tapped commercial director Gus Cruz to helm the TV ad.

Gus said Chris and his co-advocate Lexi Schulze — a socially active, versatile media personality, and a new mom — worked well in representing the modern Filipino male and female concerned about health and mortality.

“Lexi has that heartfelt character that women relate to, while Chris has that credibility of concern for the welfare of others. Taking his lead could get more guys to consider the repercussions of HPV,” said Gus.