Gov. Abet leads candlelight ceremony at Bataan People’s Center

BALANGA CITY, Bataan – With hopes of becoming free from Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) for the next generations, advocates all over the Philippines paid tribute to individuals who were infected by this virus and passed away through the lotus and candlelight ceremonies during the 2018 Philippine International AIDS Candlelight Memorial (PIACM) held at the Bataan People’s Center, this city on Friday, May 18.

With the chairs formed as a crossed ribbon, participants said their short prayers in a moment of silence and lit their candles in a ceremony led by Bataan Governor Albert S. Garcia and Department of Health Region 3 Director Dr. Cesar C. Cassion.

Prior to the lighting of candles, the Lotus Ceremony was done where the names of people who died of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), the last stage of HIV, were being read while paper lotus flowers that symbolize the many lives taken by this disease were placed one by one on the floor.

Further, two AIDS patients bravely shared their battle stories where one made a wish to the crowd: “Pwede n’yo ba akong mayakap habang buhay pa ako?” (Can you hug me while I am still alive?) And he got his wish.

Earlier, participants released red and white balloons.

The paintings from the Advocacy Painting Contest held on May 8 were also exhibited and awarded to different organizations and VIPs.

The Bataan Haven of Bataan General Hospital conducted HIV testing and displayed informative fans and brochures regarding HIV.

This is the 35 th year of IACM which was started in 1983.