Time to move

MANILA, Philippines - The Fashion Walk on Greenbelt 5 had a different buzz that night. A photo exhibit, with personalities from all walks of the visual spectrum, was the centerpiece that gathered scenesters from the style set. The iconic AIDS ribbon was the unifying factor that weaved through the portraits, all shot by Headshot Clinic head honcho Niccolo Cosme.

From being a project that empowered social networking fanatics by giving their profile picture a boost, the Headshot Clinic has now gone full force into advocacy, adopting the issue of AIDS and HIV awareness in the Philippines via digital photography as main medium of representation. The word of mouth is fast, as publicity is done through prevailing social networks, each profile pic probably taken at one of the Headshot Clinic projects.

Same time last year, UNAIDS supports The Headshot Clinic: AWARE to spread the issues and facts of HIV and AIDS. This year, UNAIDS and Project Headshot Clinic are working together once again to call for ACTION in fighting the spreading of HIV and AIDS. “It is a sad realization that as much as we are aware of the dangers, still more and more people are diagnosed with the desease — and so we have to MOVE,” said the photographer devoted to this cause.

The UNAIDS director Teresita Bagasao started work on HIV awareness back in the ’80s. She met one heterosexual woman who transmitted HIV from her husband. “If it happened to her, it can happen to me, too,” said Miss Bagasao, who asked to be called Bai. “A few years back, there was one case reported every three to four days. Now it is three to four cases of HIV infection every day. The numbers have risen,” Bai spoke in a calm and clear manner over cocktails at Greenbelt while walking through Niccolo Cosme’s portraits of people.

“We will fight it together, everyone has a voice and it should be heard,” said the visionary photographer who uses his distinctive style of hyper reality, for a purpose.

To date, the Headshot Clinic project has taken more than 5,000 headshots locally and abroad, and is continually spreading the call for freedom of expression. Niccolo believes that photography is his way of helping out, and has indeed conceptually created change, through his lenses.

Your move, up next.

Kristine Hermosa

Actress 

AIDS awareness is extremely vital in eliminating the spread of this disease. We must all recognize the gravity of this virus and educate our society on how it is contracted and more importantly prevented. Let us all seriously be involved in keeping the statistics down and also be support pillars to those already infected, let us make change! God heals and restores!

Shola Luna

HIV Counselor for RITM, HIV Positive 

I have lived with HIV for 18 years, when I first learned I was positive I thought to myself that it was the end of the world. Now it has become a purpose and my life has become about fulfillment and not the material. I want to serve as an example that there is a future and that they can live a normal longer life then people originally think. Information and education! That will help a lot! Ignorance kills! God bless you all! Peace!

Malu Marin

Activist

Safety and pleasure are not necessarily mutually exclusive. We need not fear sex or sexuality, as these are natural aspects of human life. In responding to HIV and AIDS, sexuality education must not be biased, fear-based, moralistic and judgmental. Safer sex means safer lives.

RJ Ledesma

Editor in chief of UNO Magazine, yoga instructor 

What’s worse than HIV/AIDS? Apathy. 

HIV/AIDS doesn’t discriminate, there is no such thing as color, creed, political alliances, sexual orientation; it is definitely an equal opportunity disease.

Gelli De Belen

Actress, TV host 

When I portrayed Sarah Jan Salazar (HIV/AIDS activist) it made me more aware of the issues involving HIV and the lifestyle that she had as a female sex worker. This was a marginal lifestyle that I would have never been able to see. It made me realize the importance of these issues and the life these women had. 

HIV positive cases have drastically increased among the youth between 18 and 24 years old. I believe the most important way to combat this is the right education among the youth. It’s really about bringing up children in a good home and teaching them.  

Education is the key.

Risa Hontiveros

Congresswoman 

I think we can begin to MOVE people by starting through our families and homes. The family and home is the center of our society and we have to start with those closest to us to make a radiating impact.

We must start cherishing, respecting, supporting each other, and have the right to loving who we want to love.

Camille Villar

Youth advocate 

I believe that if we’re going to make a difference, it starts with the individual. So I live my life as an example and I truly believe that knowledge is the best weapon against HIV/AIDS.

Robby Carmona

Top fashion director

There seems to be a generation lapse when it comes to HIV. The youth now have forgotten about the disease and aren’t taking it as seriously as it should be. HIV has risen through all these years but awareness and personal actions to prevent it has decreased.

It’s time to make a stronger stand then ever before.

Niccolo Cosme

Being involved with advocacies such as this has made me more aware and more sensitive to the issues involving HIV/AIDS. I believe that it is up to us to make a difference about this and to take it seriously enough to make a significant change. HIV isn’t going away and in fact it’s spreading faster then ever before in our country. Last year we have become AWARE but now is we have to MOVE.

Joey Reyes

Film director

People need to realize that ignorance is not an exemption from HIV/AIDS, because what you don’t know may and can harm you. People are constantly not taking this issue seriously!

HIV is so dramatically disturbing that it has the ability to change the entire future of a person’s life.

Dr. Eric Tayag

Director of the National Epidemiology Center

I’ve worked on the HIV/AIDS epidemic for 20 years and 10 years exploring potential cures. I truly believe that time is catching up, this will affect our country and in turn affect progress. It is now taking it’s toll on so many of the younger generation and could potentially become worst. 

Every life counts. 

Edgar O. Chua

Country chairman

Shell Companies in the Philippines 

Most people infected with HIV today do not know they are infected so there is always the risk of infecting others. With early detection, appropriate precautions, and a healthy lifestyle, a person living with HIV and AIDS can continue to have a fulfilling life. This is why it is important to get yourself tested to know your HIV status.

Noemi Leis

Information manager & blogger

HIV is rapidly increasing. Our neighboring countries’ HIV is steeply increasing and it might happen to us soon. We have to act soon. We have the law, but we need to act to stop the spread of HIV. We need to respond soon because for every HIV infection, a hundredfold of issues come with it. Not just about medications but the stigma attached to it. Not just about care but the economic impact of it even at the household level. We don’t want to see more orphans. We don’t want to see more families suffering from it.