For 2002, Youth Zone Cebu City with the support for the Department of Health Philippine National AIDS Council celebrates this year's World AIDS Day dubbed "Live and Let Live: Stigma and Discrimination on AIDS". Five different activities were conducted for this celebration spearheaded by Youth Zone Cebu City held in partnership and collaboration with various agencies :

For the Government agencies :

Department of Health Region VII, Social Hygiene Clinic Cebu City, Cebu City
LGU Cebu City Councilor

For the Non government agencies :Free Lava, Bidlisiw Foundation, Inc, Family

Planning Organizations of the Philippines Cebu Chapter, DKT Philippines, Remedios AIDS Foundation, Inc, Names Project Philippines, Pinoy Plus Association, Levi Strauss Philippines, Philippine Business for Social Progress

For the community :

Barangay Duljo-Fatima youth

For the schools and universities:

University of San Carlos ,University of Cebu,University of Visayas, Cebu Normal University, Sibonga National High School and Southwestern University

And for the Private sector we have

Colonnade Mall Oriente, Colon Cebu

The main objective of these five (5) activities for WAD is to campaign it to prevent, reduce and ultimately eliminate HIV/AIDS related stigma and discrimination, wherever it occurs and in all its forms.

Activity 1: HIV/AIDS Stigma and Discrimination : On-the-spot Poster Making Contest

The said activity was conduced on Sunday December 1, 2002 held at YZ Center, Colonnade Mall-Oriente, Colon St., Cebu City. The contest had the same theme as the WAD celebration. How HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination as being portrayed in our daily lives.

A total of fourteen (14) participants from the partner in-schools and out-of school groups have joined this event. All contestants were provided with the briefing on the theme as well as the mechanics. Contest judges where: Merlyn Rodriguez., Deputy Director, Commission on Population-Region VII, Mr. Rey Remonde,Regional Advocacy Officer FPOP-Cebu Chapter, Mr. Jason Bangueran, Educator, DKT Phils., Inc.

Contest winners were given cash prizes and special gifts: 1st prize- Mr. Christopher Ti-in BSPT graduate, 2nd prize Mr. Remus Ugang, 3rd year BSBA student of the University of San Carlos 3rd prize- Mr. Jude Carnable, 1st year AB Humanities student of Cebu Normal University.

Activity 2 : HIV/AIDS Symposium

An HIV/AIDS Symposium was held Monday December 2, 2002 at the University of San Carlos. This was co-organized by the Supreme Student Council of the University of San Carlos. A total of eighty nine (89) students and guest have attended the said affair.

Dr. Ilya Abellanosa Tac-an was the Resource Speaker from the Social Hygiene Clinic Physician, Cebu City Health Department and she talked about "Transmission and Prevention of HIV/AIDS". Providing a living testimony of a person living with HIV/AIDS is another invited guest from the Pinoy Plus Association Ms. Geena Gonzales.

Activity 3 : HIV/AIDS Exhibit

Another advocacy activity was likewise held on Monday Dec. 2, 2002 at the 2nd floor, Colonnade Mall-Oriente, Colon St., Cebu City and this the HIV/AIDS Exhibit launching. The exhibit showcases two important art exhibitions which are internationally renowned for namely :

"The Positive Lives" exhibit by the Levi Strauss and Company through the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) where 10 pictures that shows how people around the world face the realities of HIV/AIDS captured in big picture panels provided with the narrative captions. And

" The Philippine AIDS Quilt" exhibit where two sections of the panels where on display for the said WAD Cebu celebration. The Philippine Quilts is affiliated to the internationally acclaimed Names Project USA and have traveled internationally through various quilt displays in various Conferences in Geneva, Amsterdam, Australia, Italy, Spain, and the USA and now on travel in the Philippines. These memorabilia quilts were made by families, friends and loved ones who have cared and known the person who owned the quilt.

The HIV/AIDS Exhibit launching was attended by two hundred fifty guests and participants. The program run as follows with the following guests:

Dr Cora Lou Kintanar ,HIV/AIDS Coordinator of Dept. of Health Region VII, did the ribbon and gave the Opening remarks She was assisted by Dr. Felicitas Manoloto Cebu City Health Officer.

Atty. Baby Rabillas represented City Councilor Gerry Carillo who gave the responses for the LGU. She stressed the importance of lobbying and supporting the ordinance proposed by the Hon. Carillo which is the Cebu City Multi-sectoral STD/HIV/AIDS Council .

From the Cebu City Health Office, Dr. Lily Batiancila emphasized the importance of the STD/HIV surveillance conducted by the Social Hygiene Clinic of the Cebu City Health Dept., it is through this effort that STD/HIV/AIDS will be monitored and prevented in Cebu City.

For youth responses, Mr. Vincent Joseph Vincent Sandoval ,President, Supreme Student Council of the University of San Carlos said that the youth plays a significant role in the prevention of HIV/AIDS. It is necessary that young people be equipped with information and education especially on matters relating their sexuality. The Supreme Student Council of USC will support efforts and initiatives that will be undertaken in the prevention of HIV/AIDS in Cebu City.

For the NGO responses we have Bidlisiw's Deput Director Dr. Debra Catulong delivered the NGO responses. She said stressed that NGOs cannot do it alone nor the government as well. The general public is invoked to help support in this task. Dr Catulong candidly invited the general public to read and see the exhibit and disseminate the information they gained to their families and friends.

Mr.Crisanto Amper, Program Manager, Free Lava Inc. He said that initiatives of Free Lava who actively lobbies the passage of the Local STD/HIV/AIDS Council. He said that through this ordinance that efforts for the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS will be strengthened. Other agencies should likewise support this proposed ordinance.

Ms. Liz Tagimacruz-Ragas, Project Coordinator, Youth Zone Cebu Project-Remedios AIDS Foundation, Inc said that Young people are the center of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Majority of the new infection worldwide occurred among young people due to lack of correct/factual information and services. Today, more and more young people are vulnerable to HIV/AIDS. Hence, it is important that HIV/AIDS prevention will also focus among adolescents and young adults. In celebrating World AIDS Day in Cebu City, it is important that NGOs and GOs actively collaborate and consolidate effort to be able to stir public consciousness and awareness on the issue and the social impact of HIV/AIDS. With our local celebration of World AIDS Day, it is hoped that this year's campaign will be strengthened and that we will be able to have a coordinated, sustained and determined local response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Dr. Ilya Abellanosa Tac-an ,Social Hygiene Clinic Physician-Cebu City Health Dept gave the inspirational message. She said that HIV/AIDS prevention and control activities in Cebu City have began a long way since the 1st HIV case were identified in 1989. Baseline data showed very limited knowledge on AIDS not only among the general population but even among health professionals. Recent studies now show that Filipinos including Cebuanos generally have high knowledge about AIDS but inspite of the high knowledge there are still misconceptions and risky behaviors are still practiced, and people with HIV/AIDS still suffer from stigma and discrimination.

After the long run of speeches from the guests the symbolic highlight of the said activity is the unveiling of the AIDS Memorial Quilt (Lotus ceremony) conducted by the Youth Zone staff and youth volunteers. This was accompanied by the reading of what the quilt is and what is symbolizes.

After that an intermission number was presented by Youth Zone Youth facilitators/Youth trainees through the rendition of an interpretative dance that speaks of the elimination of stigma and discrimination in our society through the music "Magdalena" by Freddie Aguilar.

As part of the exhibit the winning entries for the On the Spot Painting Contest were put on display. Awarding of the winners likewise take place in this event.

Activity 4 : WAD Motorcade

On Saturday December 14, 2002 , another WAD celebration has taken place in the form of a motorcade. Assembly point is at Dept. of Health-Regional Field Office VII, Osmena Boulevard, Cebu City.

The motorcade took the route of Osmena Boulevard - Jones Avenue - Colon Street. About nine (9) vehicles were used participated in by fifty four (54) guests. The motorcade was spearheaded by Dr. Cora Lou Kintanar, HIV/AIDS Coordinator, DOH-VII and participated by the following:

1. DOH VII
2. Youth Zone-Cebu
3. Bidlisiw Foundation, Inc.
4. University of the Visayas
5. Southwestern University
6. Barangay Duljo-Fatima youth

Activity: YZ Dance Contest for In and Out of School Youth in celebration of World AIDS Day 2002