The 'Acting on HIV' campaign hopes to bring together advocates and eradicate one of the biggest culprits of the worsening HIV epidemic in the country — its stigma.
The Philippine Educational Theatre Association (PETA) draws its 52nd theatre season to a close by responding to an issue that has long become one of society’s most taboo topics — the HIV epidemic in the Philippines.
Together with esteemed HIV advocacy groups The Red Whistle and LoveYourself, Inc., PETA launches the Acting on HIV campaign with Rody Vera’s anthology drama Under My Skin, directed by Melvin Lee, as the front-liner.
The campaign consists of workshops, exhibits and an online EduSeries solely focused on promoting HIV treatment and awareness. They aim to debunk myths and misconceptions about the disease, and push to alleviate the stigma around Persons Living with HIV (PLHIV). To give audiences a more immersive experience, the campaign also holds talkbacks with HIV experts after every show of Under My Skin.
This year PETA will also become a part of Love Yourself, Inc.’s annual Mass HIV Screening event, and The Red Whistle’s annual Project Headshot Clinic in November 2019.
“PETA believes that by using arts as a medium, Under My Skin and other advocacy-oriented activities can become an effective platform for probing conversations, and a coming-together of various HIV experts and advocates,” says PETA Executive Director Beng Santos-Cabangon.
According to PETA's Artistic Director Maribel Legarda, partnering up with Love Yourself, Inc. and The Red Whistle is in line with keeping the association’s commitment to take an active role in using the arts for education and advocacy. “We believe that theatre can be another approach to HIV awareness, be an effective means of public engagement, introspection, and action,” expresses Legarda.
An opportunity to collaborate
While Love Yourself Inc., and The Red Whistle both employ their own distinct approaches to the HIV issue, the Acting on HIV campaign provides a stage for advocacy groups to unite and strengthen their cause.
Love Yourself, Inc.’s response to the HIV epidemic has always entailed a holistic approach that covers education, prevention, testing, and treatment. Meanwhile, The Red Whistle approaches the HIV epidemic through addressing the need for a change in mindset.
Acting on HIV’s front-liner, Under My Skin, will feature artists and HIV advocates such as Cherry Pie Picache, Roselyn Perez, Miguel Almendras, Mike Liwag, Anthony Falcon, and more. With the play and the rest of the activities brought by the campaign, PETA, The Red Whistle, and LoveYourself, Inc. hope to reach out to more PLHIV, recruit more advocates, and promote treatment and testing among Filipinos.
The Acting on HIV campaign launches on October 2019 leading up to PETA’s 52nd Theatre Season finale, Under My Skin from 7 February to 15 March 2020 (Fridays at 8:00pm, Saturdays/Sundays at 3:00pm and 8:00pm) at the PETA Theater Center, #5 Eymard Drive, Brgy. Kristong Hari, New Manila, Quezon City.
For tickets and inquiries, please contact PETA at petatheater@gmail.com / 725.6244, or TicketWorld at www.ticketworld.com.ph / 891.9999.