Sescon, Jose Narciso Melchor C. MD DPOGS, Geminiano Acosta, Jeramie Diaz, John Kennedy C. Jardenil
Remedios AIDS Foundation, Inc., Pinoy Plus Association, Manila, Philippines

EXPRESS YOURSELF THE ART AS A THERAPY WORKSHOP
FOR PEOPLE AFFECTED BY HIV/AIDS

ISSUE:

With limiting health care costs in the Philippines, the need to look for alternative preventive measures has been thought of as best option in curbing the course of the disease. Art therapy has been thought of as one alternative treatment for people affected by HIV/AIDS.

DESCRIPTION:

Art as a medium of expression has always been an effective tool in processing unresolved and conflicted emotions through color, shape , depth and dimension. REMEDIOS AIDS FOUNDATION, INC saw the potential of art in pursuing a psycho-socio-behavioral type of therapy among People Living with HIV/AIDS.

RESULTS:

Several painting workshops were conducted at Bahay Lingap, San Lazaro Hospital (hospice care for PHIVs), members of Pinoy Plus Association were participants of the project. At the end of the workshop, paintings made are never-before-seen images of  a Filipino PHIV/PWA feeling. It is a breakthrough in the Philippine art where PHIV/PWAs psyche were seen, feelings that could not be verbalized. A total of 18 paintings were done in oil pastel, two art works were made by an inspiring son and a dedicated volunteer worker as they shared the sentiments of the plight of being a PHIV/PWA. All bitten by the creative bug, they are, like the rest of the Pinoy Plus community and its support groups, deeply aware of the HIV/AIDS reality. Our debuting artists surprised not only their mentors and colleagues, but they themselves, with their conscious as well as unconscious visual metaphors and their common turning to natural imagery for solace.

CONCLUSION:

The workshop was indeed a revelation for the Pinoy Plus Association. Participants had consciously and unconsciously spoken of their unresolved conflicts created by HIV/AIDS. Few descriptive words were said but a thousand things can be seen unfolding. Indeed, each work represents a psychosocial puzzle for us to solve.