PROJECT ACCOMPLISHMENTS

THE YOUTH ZONE: A SHOPPING MALL-BASED CENTER FOR THE FILIPINO YOUTH:
AN ARH MODEL
The David and Lucille Packard Foundation
November 2000 onwards

The second year of the project ushered in a more dynamic vibrant and promising Youth Zone, the shopping mall based youth center that delivers a wide array of ARH services. The project focused on three aspects namely: community mobilization of the youth facilitators as prime movers of YZ center activities, expansion and replication of YZ to another site- Cebu City Colonnade Mall Oriente, and demonstration of increase utilization of clinic services by clients. YZ Cebu formally started its operations last January 2002.

One strategy that has been adopted that led to the sense of ownership of the project among youth facilitators is the establishment of the three different committees namely: Education and Training, Direct services and Organizing. Indeed this has laid the foundation of more active involvement among youth facilitators of the project.

Various capacity-building initiatives were attended by the Youth Zone team through attendance of various seminars, trainings and workshops. These equipped the staff with knowledge, skills and proper attitudes to provide effective service delivery to their youth beneficiaries.

Ms Rizchel Torres (YZ Tutuban Project Coordinator) participated with the International Exchange Program called International Gente Joven Exchange Program organized by Mexican Family Planning Association (Mexfam) of Mexico, Other national conferences also attended by staff members were as follows :

1. 2nd Biennial Convention with the theme: "Caring for the Techno Generation: Addressing the needs of the New Generation of Adolescents" by Society of Adolescent Medicine in the Philippines (SAMPI) were one of the research papers entitled : "Profile of mall based male adolescent sex workers in Metro Manila has won second place. This paper was authored by former Clinica Remedios staff Maita Cobarrubias, MD who is a Pediatrician at PCMC. Co authors are Alicia Tamesis, Dr Eleonor Gonong and Dr Jose NMC Sescon. The same paper has been presented with various research paper competitions and have gained its laurels.
2. The 1st Visayas HIV/AIDS Convention held in Bacolod and the 6th Philippine National Convention on AIDS held in Heritage Hotel were Ms Liz Ragas (YZ Cebu Project Coordinator) presented YOUTH ZONE and its current programs.

Continuous in-center activities are being conducted by both centers. The table below shows the top three in-center activities conducted by both centers. These activities are jumpstart activities to get the youth imbibe with Youth Zone's programs and serve as entry points in discussing various adolescent reproductive health (ARH). Close to 80% of the youth clients are from the schools/universities within reach. There is notably higher female youth clients compared with males who availed Youth Zone services.

Activity	Youth Zone Tutuban	Youth Zone Cebu
Resource Center/Library Use	696	4692
Training/Workshop	392	-
Fishbowl Discussion	275	344
Computer/Internet Use	222	5262
Board Games/Fun Games	208	2284

Total number of clients whi availed Youth Zone services for both centers are as follows:

	Total clients
	Tutuban	Cebu
Total number of clients	6,103	11,156

Kalusugan@Com

On its second year of operation, Kalusugan@com clinic (Health in the Community) in Tutuban Manila served a total of 1514 clients, a 100% increase from last year's performance. There 908 Female clients while male clients 503. This can be attributed to the given fact that females (homemakers) are more conscious of their health and they are the ones accompanying and prompting males to go to the clinic for consultations. Continuous efforts in thinking various innovative strategies to continuously encourage clients to avail the clinic services.

K@C Cebu on its 1st year of operation reached a total of two hundred fourteen (214) cases were seen and treated at the clinic. Seventy-seven (77) were male and one hundred thirty-seven (137) were female. The clinic is currently being promoted to gain its visibility around the area. Just like the Manilenos, Cebuanos tend to take their health for granted over other concerns more important concerns like food or studies for their children. Thus, health seeking behavior is reactionary and not proactively undertaken.

Clients	Tutuban	Cebu
Male	503	77
Female	908	137
TOTAL	1514	214

As per age distribution both clinics still served majority of the adults as shown in the table. Youth Zone clinics is packaged as family welfare clinic so as not to stigmatize youth availing specific ARH clinic services.

Age Distribution	Tutuban	Cebu
Pedia	512 (34%)	15 (7%)
Youth	407 (27%)	93 (43%)
Adults	595 (39%)	106 (50%)
Total	1514	214

For K@C Tutuban, Reproductive health concerns account for 49% of the cases seen, followed by the general medicine 31%. With high cases of PNCU (28%) present in percentage, pregnancy test (26%), and amenorrhea (6%). As part of the strategy of YZ to encourage youth avail clinical services will be the conduct of school tours that will geared towards the topics: adolescent health, HIV/AIDS, STI and Fertility Awareness through the "Pa-WAP ka" Well-Adolescent Program conducted in nearby schools/universities.

Operational Research (OR) on YZ ARH Interventions

Two consultants from the Health Action Information Network (HAIN) namely Professor Gerardo Andamo and Erlinda Palaganas were tapped to review YZ initiatives. Technical assistance was provided in terms of enhancing report writing, conduct of operational research and analysis, and a series of ARH capability building activities.

Operations Research was conducted to document the qualitative aspect of the program - from planning, implementation, and evaluation. This will serve as baseline data for, documentation of successful strategies, project difficulties, and challenges. Part of the initiative is the review and analysis of YZ chat room or mIRC discussions, youth facilitators diaries, and evaluation forms from Youth Facilitators training/workshop as well as clinic clients responses.

Data were used to improve Youth Zone service delivery package being provided by the staff for both training/workshops and clinics. Project team was also taught how to use SPSS , a tool used to analyze quantitative data in research. Thus, ensuring full participation and quality ARH service delivery.

#youthzone Channel

The Internet Relay Chat served as an effective and innovative tool in conveying ARH messages to youths. OR consultants reviewed mIRC discussion and gave constructive comments as to how to improve in giving service. YZ chatters developed their own website: www.youthzone.i-p.com to encourage more chatters to participate in the discussion.

A total of 1664 clients were reached for the whole year, with youths totaled to 1495 and above 24 with 169 clients. The first quarter got the lowest clients because YZ just started to gain popularity. The YZ Interactive website underwent a series of developments. A quick random survey was done to include important data such as, YZ Manila and Cebu activities: calendar of events, picture gallery, directory, and other sites that are popular to adolescents. Top three main concerns in the chatroom are on relationships, sexuality and family (domestic) relationships.

IEC materials were developed as part of the project which includes the First Step Hygiene workbook. This workbook is intended for the young adolescents ages 10-12 years old. Another project is the ARH Komiks which have been subjected to Focus Group Discussion to evaluate on the storyline, technical works and title. ARH Komiks also known as the Youth Zone komiks will have for its 1st publication the title "PROM night" by the 1st quarter of 2003

EXPANDING CARE INITIATIVES TOWARDS AN ENABLING AND SUPPORTIVE FILIPINO COMMUNITY FOR FILIPINO PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS
Ford Foundation 1010-0167
November 2000 onwards

RAF through its Ford funded project ventured on the initiative of creating a Filipino environment that is enabling and supportive to persons living with HIV/AIDS (PHAs). The project started a year ago with the establishment of the Community Support Center (CSC) that served as the nerve center of HIV/AIDS care services. The CSC provided capacity building initiatives for both PHAs and caregivers on various aspects such as HIV/AIDS counseling, alternative livelihood projects, and palliative care services.

For Capacity Building, continuous "Expanded Counseling Care Initiatives for Health Care providers" took off successfully with the conduct of these workshops. A total of 15 participants/workshop attended the Mindanao, Visayas and Luzon respectively. The workshop highlights the development of action plans and will be followed up by RAF CSC.

The Community Support Center (CSC) was dubbed "Nothing Best but . . . Home" which depicts that HIV/AIDS care and support services is best provided at home by family members who are frontliners in HIV/AIDS caregiving. This is also because of the closely knitted family ties and solidarity among Filipino family members in the Philippines that no matter what, still is the family is always there to respond to the health needs of another family member. For 2002, four (4) families had been assisted with home based care and support services. There were difficulties in encouraging families to further stay and to help and support other families caring for PHAs because of distance of CSC from their homes and difference in priorities by family members.

A total of thirty-nine (39) Guided Group Interaction sessions were conducted. This type of activity has drawn PHA clients to attend among the popular interactions conducted which include the following: Orientation on Human Rights for PHAs, treatment literacy, session of TB and HIV, alternative therapies and lastly Understanding Human Relationships.

Community organizing by PHAs was one of the highlight accomplishments of CSC. With the support from CSC's Project Implementation Team (PIT), in partnership with the PHAs, sessions on organizing were held in order to strengthen their abilities in involving the communities where they are used to belong.

CSC has reached a total of 82 HIV positive clients availing various services delivered by the project. A total of 90 counseling sessions were conducted. 70 sessions were for PHAs while 20 sessions were for family members, relatives and caregivers.

Alternative therapies have been introduced to clients and families to compliment the psychosocial and biomedical care services. These are the 9 joints exercise, therapeutic massage, acupuncture, and aero yoga among others. These alternative modalities have been found to be effective in drawing clients back to CSC. PHA clients well being were strengthened and re-energized with all of these this giving them more positive outlook in life.

CSC provided resource persons and initial materials for the training along the area of some backyard or home-based Income Generating Projects (IGPs) like chocolate making, candle making, Filipino delicatessen preparation and cooking.

During 1st quarter of 2002, the training design for caregivers/volunteers training workshop was conducted by RAF training team. The Volunteer Caregivers' course was conducted last August held at CSC manila attended by 10 volunteers. The training aims to provide skills and knowledge to volunteers as HIV/AIDS caregivers. All trained volunteers are active caregivers helping with the project operations. As part of their voluntary work, these trained volunteers together with the PIT visited hospitals, homes and communities where the in-patient clients are confined.

Two (2) hospitals were visited in the conduct of HIV/AIDS care and support services for in-patients namely San Lazaro Hospital in Sta.Cruz Manila and Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM). An orientation meeting about CSC functions, objectives and services has been conducted at the start with medical staffs of both hospitals.

COMMUNITY-BASED STRATEGIES FOR THE PREVENTION OF HIV/AIDS
Philippine National AIDS Council (PNAC) grant through partnership of RAF with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)
(January 2000 onwards)

The workshop on Expanded Care Counseling has been replicated with support from UNAIDS and in collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through funding support with the Philippine National AIDS Council (PNAC). There were about thirty-five (35) participants who attended comprising of social workers and community leaders held at Bayview Park Hotel, Manila.

The curriculum development was based on the "Care & Support: Self-Instructional Manual for Social Workers on HIV/AIDS/ STD" developed by RAF for DSWD. This is a pilot of the project were upscaling and expansion is envisioned to unfold by 2003.

ORGANIZATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS
International Council on the Management of Population Programmes (ICOMP)
February 2001 onwards

RAF is one of the four OE partners of ICOMP in the Philippines. Work with RAF formally began in March 2001. RAF's main OE concerns are as follows: Business Plan Development, Organizational Sustainability, Revisit of RAF Strategic Plan, Clarification of the Role of the Board, and Development of Shared Leadership. This is a three-phase intervention. For 2001, RAF finished Phase 1 which includes: Review of RAF's Current Strategies which involves (a) Development of Business Plans for Clinic Operations, Laboratory Services and Training Services; (b) Analysis of current programs; and (c) Examination of management, systems, structures and processes

For the year 2002, Phase 2 includes: Strategic Review of the Organization which involves looking at the overall OE concerns of the organization based on the results of Phase 1 and develop appropriate interventions to address other OE concerns namely: (a) Revisiting of Strategic Plan; (b) Organizational Sustainability and (c) Clarification of the Role of the Board and Shared Leadership. Phase 3 will basically involve upscaling and implementation of OE Interventions.

Based on the results of Phase 1, the leadership initiated a reflection session with the entire staff members in early January 2002. RAF has adopted a new vision of becoming a cutting-edge organization in the area of HIV/AIDS and RH. As such, if it becomes a cutting-edge organization, it has to undergo some changes especially on staff functioning.

On Sustainability

Due to recent developments in terms of dwindling support with external donor funding in the Philippines, RAF is concerned with its sustainability more than ever. A sustainability framework for RAF is therefore important to help the organization navigate through in the coming years.

A quick sustainability analysis was undertaken last May 2002 with RAF using ICOMP's Diamond Sustainability Diagnosis Framework. The assessment process involved looking at the organization's financial sustainability, organizational sustainability, program effectiveness, and community impact. RAF likewise focused on other OE initiatives like: diversify sources of income, increase client base and lastly, strengthen RAF's core competence in HIV/AIDS management and services.

For 2002, major OE accomplishment is seen on Youth Zone projects where YZ Manila has earned close to PHP134, 145.00 (2002). These were generated from clinic/lab services as compared to PHP 35,000.00 (2001). YZ Cebu, on the other hand, was able to generate close to PHP 151,646.00 (2002) on its first year but this is as a result of the internet rentals and only close to PHP 26,877.95 were generated for clinic services.

RAF is seriously considers to build its OE capacity as well as its gains for 2002. More innovative application OE intervention awaits for 2003. RAF, as a health NGO, will continue to trailblaze and address both expertise in the delivery of the technical as well as OE management concerns.

EXPANDED CARE COUNSELING INITIATIVE WORKSHOP FOR NGO CAREGIVERS: THE PHILIPPINES
Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)
November 2001 to August 2002

Another replication activity on HIV/AIDS Care and Support training, this time targeting non-government organization (NGO) workers. There were 2 batches conducted attended by 20 NGO workers per batch. The workshops were conducted April 30-May 3 2002 and May 27-31, 2002. Held in Villa Virginia Resort,Antipolo City. Overall, the project achieved more than what is expected. NGO caregivers' committed themselves to deliver doable HIV/AIDS care and support services at the community level. They realized that the involvement of support groups such as families of persons living with HIV/AIDS (PHAs) in providing care and support services.

LEVI STRAUSS FOUNDATION (LSF)/ LEVI STRAUSS PHILIPPINES INC (LSPI) - COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT TEAM (CIT) HIV/AIDS EDUCATION-PREVENTION PROJECT
Levi Strauss USA through the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP)
November 2001 to June 2002

Part of the commitment of the project is the conduct of a Peer Educators' Training Workshop on HIV/AIDS was conducted among 16 LSPI employees last 09-10 May 2002 attended by Levi Strauss employees. Following this initiative is the conduct of orientation meetings/sessions by the trained peer educators that reached 60 employees.

LSPI-Community Involvement Team (CIT) spearheaded last 20 May 2002 the celebration of the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial and Mobilization activity within the premises of Levi Strauss and Co office. The "lotus ceremony"(unfolding of the quilt) followed by names calling and sharing of two (2) PHAs were conducted. Many participants were touched by the ceremony, many eyes were put into tears, some people in astonishment, and aroused their compassion to HIV/AIDS.

500 new posters were produced "Are you complete with your personal safety equipment?" along with reproduction of 1,000 HIV/AIDS brochures as peripheral materials for distribution.

THE TRAINING INSTITUTE

For the year 2002, RAF has been very busy in the conduct of its workshops on HIV/AIDS care and support services, adolescent reproductive health. Target participants were from health care providers, NGO workers, social workers, community leaders and volunteers, employees, persons living with HIV/AIDS and their family members, potential youth facilitators for the project. The table summarizes the various training activities conducted by RAF.

TRAINING/WORKSHOP	PARTICIPANTS	VENUE	INCLUSIVE DATES
Volunteer Counselor's Training Workshop Batch 11 20 Part 1: RAF Center Part 2: City of Springs, Laguna 14-15,21-22 February 01-03 March
Youth Facilitators Training Workshop on Adolescent Reproductive Health 16 YZ Manila: Hotel Miramar, Manila 01-03 February 2002 14 YZ Cebu: Cebu City
Expanded Counseling Care Training Workshop for Health Care Providers in:   Mindanao 13 Waterfront Hotel, Davao City 08-12 April Visayas 14 Cebu Plaza Hotel, Cebu City 20-24 May Luzon 14 Tepayac Hotel, Baguio City 08-12 Sept
Expanded Counseling Care Training Workshop for NGO Workers   Batch 1 20 Villa Virginia Resort, Antipolo City 29 April to 03 May Batch 2 20 Villa Virginia Resort, Antipolo City 27-31 May
Youth Camp   Unifying Rules for Effective Performance 13 YZ Manila: Hardin ni Lola, Bataan 23-26 April Teambuilding and Leadership Training Workshop 14 YZ Cebu: BSP Campsite, Cebu City 15-19 May
Adolescent Reproductive & Sexual Health Workshop for the Lihok Filipina Youth 37 P. del Rosario Ext., Cebu City 19 October
LSPI Peer Educator' Training Workshop 20 LSPI Office, Makati City 09-10 May
Social Workers Training on HIV/AIDS 17 Bayview Park Hotel, Manila 18-21 June
Community Volunteers Training on HIV/AIDS 22 Bayview Park Hotel, Manila 25-28 June
CSC Volunteer Caregivers' Training Workshop 11 10 Community Support Center 31 Jul - 02 August 14-17 August
Care for the Caregivers Workshop: A Stress Management Workshop   1st Visayas Convention 15 Bacolod City 09 August DOH-PNAC funded 9 City of Springs, Laguna 11-13 Dec
Community Organizing Workshop 9 Pansol, Laguna 05-07 Dec

RAF conducted various lectures on RH among its partners namely: San Juan De Letran College, OHNAP, The Library Foundation, KAIBIGAN Foundation, World Bank Office, Philippine Women's University, GAP International Sourcing Inc., Star Motor Laguna, PBSP. There were a total of 10 lectures/ seminars on Reproductive Health conducted for the year 2002.

International and Local Conferences / training/ workshop were also attended by the project staff. Among those who attended are as follows:

TRAINING/WORKSHOP	PARTICIPANTS	INCLUSIVE DATES & VENUE
International
Comprehensive Course on Prevention & Care in Bangkok Thailand	Ms. Tes Urban-Cubero	Bangkok, Thailand
MEXFAM Study Exchange Visit & International Gente Joven Exchange Program in Mexico	Ms. Rizhelle Torres	Mexico City 14-28 September
Australian Gay Games Cultural Event	Dr. Jose NMC Sescon, Ms. Nenet Ortega & Dr. Loyd Norella	Sydney, Australia 29 October - 5 November
Conference on Palliative in Resource Constraints Setting	Ms. Nenet Ortega	Toronto, Canada Octboer 6
XIV International AIDS Conference 2002 help in Barcelona,Spain	Dr. Jose NMC Sescon & Ms. Nenet Ortega, Mr. Mar Legaspi	Barcelona, Spain July 7-12
Local
Project Proposal Development Training	Ms. Rizhel Torres & Ms. Nenet Ortega	Villa Virginia Resort, Antipolo City 20-23 May
1st Visayas Convention on HIV/AIDS	Dr. Jose NMC Sescon, Grace Binay-Devara, Liz Ragas, Dr. Libby Santos & Mr. John Jardenil	Bacolod Convention Center 18 & 19 September
Positive Lives Training for Volunteers - Positive Responses to HIV/AIDS Projects	Ms. Garce Binay-Devara & Ms. Ellen Corpus	PBSP Training Center, Intramuros 23-24 August
2nd Biennial Convention "Caring for the Techno Generation: Addressing the needs of the New Generation of Adolescents" (Society for Adolescent Medicine of the Philippines)	Ms. Liz Ragas, Dr. Jose NMC Sescon & Ms. Holly Annlyn Santiago	Shangri-La Hotel, Makati City 16-17 September
6th Philippine National AIDS Convention	Dr. Jose NMC Sescon, Ms. Nenet Ortega, Ms. Liz Ragas, and other Staff	Heritage Hotel, Manila 18-19 October
Distance Learning Seminars Health Care Management Workshop (5 modules)	Dr. Jose NMC Sescon	Asian Institute of Management, Makati City March - December

THE REMEDIOS HOTLINE

The Remedios AIDS Hotline received a total of 14,554 calls for this year. Female callers have a ration of 31.02% (4,140) while male callers account for 68.98% (9,206) of the total actual calls. Most of these actual calls are Reproductive Health in nature. The top three 3 callers' concerns were HIV/AIDS, STI and sexuality issues. The bulk of callers belong to the 21-25 age group, which represent the 29%(3976) of the total callers.

Quarterly Frequency of actual callers for the Year 2002

The above graph shows that there are more male callers than female callers for 2002. The highest number of calls was received during the second quarter (2910 callers). RAF Website played a significant role in increasing/maintaining the number of calls for this year (10.17%). It has even surpassed the number of calls generated by the newspaper advertisement, which has consistently been a major source of hotline number.

From the profile of callers the top three types of callers are those classified under general public, students and callers with risk exposures and likely signs of Sexually Transmitted Infections. While the top three occupations were; students with 4,066 or 30.47%; followed by the unemployed (2,542 or 19.05%); and the clerks (807 or 6.05%). The main reason for contacting the hotline was to obtain information or materials needed for their projects in school such as research/term papers.

As with the previous years, the city of Manila topped the list of areas where most of the callers emanate (23%). This is followed by Makati, Quezon City and Pasay (17%, 12% and 10%) respectively.

The hotline also received 1 long distance call from Mindanao and 4 International overseas calls particularly Hong Kong. Apart from the other RAF projects, the hotline serves as the major link between people seeking assistance anonymous STI clinic services at a reasonable cost.

Hotline project cited as one of UNAIDS Best Practices

In October 2002, RAF's Hotline project was selected as one of the 4 Case Studies to be part of the UNAIDS Best Practices for Telephone Counseling. The document is entitled "HIV/AIDS counseling, just a phone call away. published by UNAIDS Geneva" RAF hotline story is one of the four case studies chosen from around the world to share its experience in telephone hotline/helpline projects." This article offers an opportunity to learn from the experiences of these well-established hotline/helpline counseling facility from India, the Philippines, South Africa, and Trinidad and Tobago. They have demonstrated the principles that have made helplines globally successful, outlining the challenges involved and have come up with innovative/creative approaches in meeting these challenges.

THE RESOURCE CENTER

Resource Center received a total of 793 clients this year. Of which, 602(76%) were students/ researchers while the remaining 191 (24%) were visiting agencies. Of the 596, (72 %) were practicumers from several schools such as: Our Lady of Fatima University, De La Salle University, Philippine Christian University, San Beda College and the University of the Philippines-Manila. Females comprised about 458(58%) while 335 (58%) were males.

The Resource center underwent a 4-month refurbishing to improve its facilities and enhance it operations. The following were implemented: accessioning/ cataloging of reading and audio/video materials, shelf reading/ sorting, weeding, continuous photocopying of newspaper clippings, binding and labeling. The immediate plan for the following year is to continue encoding the accessioned materials in the database and eventually promote the availability these materials to key partners.

Resource Center Total Number of Collection

Materials	Year 2002	Total
Compact Disc	85	87
Diskette	10	16
Flipcharts	14	26
Poster	768	784
Tape Records	64	67
VHS	241	253
Booklet	-	7
Transparency	-	1
Slides	-	4
Books	936 volumes/titles	2159 volumes/titles

Exchange Student Program

RAF has tied up with the University of California Education Abroad Program through the Ateneo de Manila University and UP Diliman Campus. For this initiative in 2001, there were 3 interns who worked with the YZ Tondo Manila for three 3 consecutive months (October - December 2001) as apprentice for the project. For this year there was one who worked at YZ Tondo Manila and RAF Health Laboratory for three months. This is an ongoing partnership with UCLA-Ateneo de Manila as to whoever would want to continue their apprenticeship work with the Foundation.

REMEDIOS HEALTH LABORATORY

Remedios AIDS Foundation being dedicated to serving the community through educating the people on reproductive health issues and eventually addressing their medical concerns, started offering laboratory services. As of 2002 it has served a total of 345 patients in the form of STI test 215 (62%) and 130 (38%) for non-STI's (Pregnancy test, Complete Blood Count, Urinalysis, Fecalysis, etc). Most of the patients are males belonging to the 21-30 age group.

Most of the patients seeking consultation have a common STI concern except during the month of September where the constituents of the NGO partner Family and Children Empowerment and Development (FCED). RAF has forged partnership with the American Chamber of the Philippines wherein RAF provides medical health services to youth clients of their three partner agencies namely Kabalikat, Drop-in, FCED. Most of the patients seeking consultation have a common STI concerns. At the start of the year, the Remedios Heath Laboratory is also offering a 50% discount in selected tests as a "come- on" strategy for potential clients in the community.

IEC MATERIALS DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION

After the success in publishing the "Counseling Manual for People with HIV" as well as "Exploring Alternative and Complimentary Therapies" from the previous year, RAF has continually embarked on developing new IEC materials on various RH topics. Among its three (3) major publications for 2002 include:

• Gabay sa HIV/AIDS: Para sa mga Lider at Boluntaryo ng Pamayanan (DSWD & PNAC)
• Tatu: A Guidebook to Tattoo Artist and Body Piercers (RAF, Philippine Tattoo Artist Guild (PHILTAG) & PNAC)
• Care & Support: A Self instructional Manual for Social Workers on HIV/AIDS/STD (DWD & PNAC)

Other IEC materials produced were:

• "Are you ready with your personal safety equipment?" poster - for the workplace
• RAF Website Promotional Pocket calendar

Other RAF IEC reproduced for the year were as follows:

• "Kayang-kaya kung sama-sama" brochure
• "You should know this" brochure

The following materials have been started this year. Their finalizations are geared towards 2003

• NGO Directory 2003 -
  Email postings, letters, phone contacting of NGOs working on HIV/AIDS/STI were done during November - February 220 to update their organizational profile. Review of the layout and publication and finalproduct will be out by May 2003
• "I am not Sarah Jane" -
  The book is currently on its final draft. Lay outing and printing are the next steps and targeted to be finished by March 2003.
• "RAF at 12 Years" -
  Several interviews among previous and current staff memebers and organized partners were conducted. However, data gathered were not sufficient to give subs tance to this particular publication. Re-Interviews are headed on the first or second month of 2003. Also, further fine tuning if writing of styles as well as content review are being undertaken.

ADVOCACY

RAF staff, volunteers, CSC clients and family members participated in various advocacy activities. Some were also organized, in collaboration with other agencies, to help in reinforcing the general public's awareness on the different issues in relation to Reproductive Health which of course include HIV/AIDS.

AIDS Candlelight AIDS Memorial Celebration

YZ facilitators participated in the Candlelight Memorial celebration organized by the AIDS Society of the Philippines last 17 May 2002. It was a photo exhibit held in Eastwood Libis, Quezon City which was highlighted by the "mask-making" participated by young children.

However, the Community Support Center organized another celebration activity at the Mehan Garden last 19 May 2002. This was worked together with the Positive Action Foundation of the Philippines and the Pinoy Plus Association. The activity was enjoined by different GOs and NGOs that was highlighted by a parade and the lighting of hundreds of candles while a soulful original song was rendered on stage.

World AIDS Day 2002 "Live and Let Live: Stigma and Discrimination"

Again, through the CSC, RAF worked with other NGOs in organizing the WAD 2002 celebration. It was held at the Quirino Grandstand last 01 December 2002 and was highlighted by kite flying.

The Youth Zone Cebu also organized several WAD activities namely:

1. On the Spot Poster Making Contest
• Held on December 1 2002 at the Colonnade Mall. It was participated by 13 youth who are YZ clients and referrals from the partner agencies.
2. WAD Symposium
• Held on December 2, 2002 at the University of San Carlos. It was participated by eighty-nine (89) youth mostly students of the USC. A speaker from the City Health Department talked about STIs and HIV/ AIDS. A major highlight of the activity was a testimony of a Person Living with HIV. The participants raised interesting questions to the speaker and sharer, who clarify the issues and concerns with facts and proper explanation. A Press Conference followed at the DOH.
3. HIV/AIDS EXHIBIT
• It opened on December 2, 2002 after the Press Conference at the DOH. The main highlight of the opening ceremony was the unveiling of the AIDS Memorial Quilt. It was participated by the different partner agencies collaborating for the said celebration. The exhibit runs for three days and there were 274 people who come and view the exhibit.
4. WAD Motorcade
• Held last December 14, 2002 as a culminating activity of the World AIDS Day Celebration. It was spearheaded by YZ - Cebu and was actively participated by the collaborating agencies. The motorcade started at the DOH - 7 en route to Colon Street The objective of this activity is to raise public awareness on the issues surrounding HIV/AIDS.

Microbicides Symposium

The symposium was held last August 5, 2003 at the UN NEDA sa Makati Building, Carlos P. Romulo hall. Close to forty participants from the non government organization and government sector have attended the First Microbicide Symposia organized by the Remedios AIDS Foundation, Inc in cooperation with the Global Campaign for Microbicides and UNAIDS. For this meeting, Ms Imogen Fua, is the Information Officer for the Global Campaign for Microbicides as guest speaker.

The symposia gave the participants basic information on microbicides, what are the current research studies on Microbicides and what are the next steps in terms of Microbicide advocacy. Dr Dominic Garcia from the AIDS Society of the Philippines gave a reaction on the topic and this was followed by the open forum.

Basically the major issues raised were as follows: a) acceptability, affordability of microbicides, b) when is it going to be availability in the market c) dose efficacy/absorption rate vagina vs. rectal application among others.

A lot of interest has been drawn from the participants and hopefully such 'women-initiated" will be readily available soon. Remedios will follow through the developments and will continue to keep its ties with Global Campaign for Microbicides in terms of advocacy work in the Philippines.

Research Dissemination Forum

Research Dissemination Forum on Stigma and Discrimination of PHAs was held last December 19, 2002 at NEDA Makati City, Carlos P. Romulo hall. It was a collaborative effort of the Department of Health, the Philippine National AIDS Council and the Remedios AIDS Foundation and Pinoy Plus Association, Inc. It was organized as part of the month long celebration of the World AIDS Day. There were a total of 35 participants coming from other NGOs, and GOs. In this forum, three papers where presented namely:

1. Living with HIV/AIDS in Asia: A Multi-City Participatory Action Research on Social Stigma, Discrimination and AIDS by Asia Pacific Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (APN+ and UNAIDS Geneva)
2. Discrimination and AIDS by Pinoy Plus in collaboration with APN+ and UNAIDS with support from the Futures Group: The First National Consultative and Consensus Workshop on HIV/AIDS Related to Stigma and Discrimination.
3. A situational Analysis of HIV/AIDS Related Stigma and Discrimination in cooperation with the Deakin University (Melbourne, Australia), Ford Foundation and Remedios AIDS Foundation.

Overall, the research presentation was a success in addressing and clarifying the issues specifically on stigma and discrimination.

NETWORKING

The Remedios AIDS Foundation has been a favorite venue for study visit by other stakeholders both local and international. This was seen as advantage to widen RAF's horizon in networking with various agencies.

The following agencies have been supportive in giving endorsements and vital source of referrals.

• Vietnam, Cambodia and Lao PDR government officials (through the CHASPAR study tour visit)
• National Youth Commission
• Department of Education (DepED)
• Division of City Schools - Manila
• Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Manila
• Philippine General Hospital - Adolescent Clinic
• Commission on Population (POPCOM)
• Barangay Bureau of Manila
• Danish Red Cross
• Pamantasan Lungsod ng Maynila

EPILOGUE