T TALIBON.- This municipality joined the entire world last week in the global commemoration of World AIDS Day with the theme, “Getting to Zero.” World AIDS Day is held on December 1 st of every year. It is a day when people all over the world unite in the fight against the spread of HIV by educating and promoting awareness. It is also a day when people come together to show their support for those living with HIV or AIDS and to all of the people who are affected by the disease. Talibon’s World AIDS Day event was held in the Cultural Center and it was sponsored by the United Nation’s Population Fund (UNFPA) as part of the initiative to achieve its Millennium Development Goals. The day’s activities included several noteworthy presentations and speeches, a Jeopardy Game Show, a Poster Drawing Contest, and a culminating candlelight vigil. The event was organized in large part by Peace Corps Volunteer Wyatt L. Graft with the assistance of RN Ariane N. Madlangbayan of the Talibon MHO, Peace Corps Volunteers Micah Roth and Jessica Miguel, and MPDC staff Joannevit R. Avenido.

Over 100 fourth year high school students and members of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) leadership council were invited to attend the event. Mayor Restituto B. Auxtero delivered the welcome address. His speech highlighted the importance of the millennium campaign which includes combating HIV/AIDS and other diseases through education and awareness. Fr. Bienvenido M. Disu also gave a compelling presentation about HIV from a spiritual perspective. He was followed by Talibon’s Municipal Health Officer Dr. Francisco C. Ngoboc who delivered the statement of purpose address and offered a view of HIV/AIDS in the Philippines from a medical perspective.

The day’s educational activities were mostly facilitated by 13 teen leaders from San Jose National High School, Santo Nino National High School, and Carlos P. Garcia Memorial High School. The teen leaders were Louisse Faith C. Flor, Cristina R. Nogadas, Ailyn Oroyan, Toni Grace E. Autentico, Ma. Amira T. Ricafort, Charmen Laruga, Marijane Bukid ,Evalyn Garcia, John Rio Guia, Ma. Aneli Auguis, Roniemae O. Cajes, Sarah G. Ybañez, and Jiziel L. Ybañez. These students successfully completed a leadership training seminar on HIV/AIDS led by the event organizers. During the event, the teen leaders facilitated a Fact-Fiction Game where they taught their peers the truth about HIV and cleared up many common misconceptions about the disease. Later, the leaders helped host a game show activity composed of questions they prepared about HIV and AIDS. The participants really enjoyed themselves and participated enthusiastically. Based on their responses and correct answers, they appeared to have learned a lot from their teen leaders.

The highlight of the event was the announcement of the winners of the poster drawing contest. The goal of the poster competition was to increase knowledge about HIV and AIDS among the youth of Talibon. All entries had to support the overall theme for World AIDS Day, “Getting to Zero”, by focusing on the connection between education and reducing HIV/AIDS risk. While all of the posters were very creative and well-designed, the judges narrowed down the competition to three winners. San Jose National High School placed first, Mayor Catalino Y. Casoyla Memorial High School placed second, and President Carlos P. Garcia National High School placed third. The World AIDS Day celebration ended with a brief candlelight vigil where the participants including the Mayor formed a circle and shared a moment of silence for all those affected by HIV/AIDS.