Advocacy Group Encourages the Youth for their First HIV Test

Wazzup Pilipinas!

With 30 Filipinos being diagnosed with HIV every day, LoveYourself, Inc. will hold a free, fast and confidential HIV screening day for the Youth on 28 May 2017 (10:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.) at Victoria Court, Malate dubbed as “Let's TestMNL.”

Let’s TestMNL specifically targets the Youth sector following the rate of HIV infection in this population, but nonetheless, all are invited, to register at this link: go.loveyourself.ph/testmnl to join the event.

“We are aggressive in bringing this free, fast and confidential HIV testing to the Youth because of their apparent vulnerability to the causes of the disease, and most importantly, only through testing that we can detect if one has the virus,” LoveYourself Executive Director Ronivin G. Pagtakhan underscored.

According to the latest Department of Health (DOH) data, there are 2,160 individuals aged 15-34 who have contracted the virus for the first January to March of this year alone.

Pagtakhan clarified, “Let’s TestMNL testing day is for all ages, but LoveYourself highly encourages college students and those in their early 20s to support the movement in knowing their HIV status for the first time, especially in a safe and welcoming space.”

Giving Back Through Community Outreach Programs with Meaningful Travels Ph

Wazzup Pilipinas!

“When we travel, we are ‘takers’. We take a lot of things with us – memories, learning, photos and souvenirs. But isn’t it time for us to truly give back?” 

By the time you are reading this, the Wazzup Pilipinas team is on their way to the Mountain Province, specifically Maligcong and Mainit in Bontoc, for a community outreach program cum travel organized by Meaningful Travels Ph.

We met the main organizer at an event where she was one of the speakers., and we got so interested in what she was doing that we approached her personally to tell her that we want to write about her and Meaningful Travels Ph.

She was not able to get back to me that very moment as she was about to join a mini-contest on stage as one of the activities for the event of the Australian Embassy, but we received a text message from her later that day to ask us how we are going to go about it.

Now, that led to finally joining their trip, together with our best partner photographer, who was also eager to join the exploration to two communities.

Meaningful Travels Ph is appropriately named to depict how the organizers make it a very "meaningful" travel. When most travellers will just go to a site to take selfies, photos, videos, and some souvenirs, Meaningful Travels Ph aims to give back.

Yamaha Safe Riding Science for Women as Mother's Day Special Treat

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Yamaha Motor Philippines conducted a special edition of its Yamaha Safe Riding Science for Women on Mother’s Day. This was a way for Yamaha to give their own gift to all the mothers out there by giving them the opportunity to learn how to ride a motorcycle. By sacrificing most of their time for their families they can enjoy this new experience that is solely for them. 

The participants had their own take on the event with some mother’s attending to develop their skills, influence their children to ride motorcycles, and to deviate from the usual celebration of the occasion. They all received roses when they arrived at the Yamaha Flagship shop – YZONE where they started with a seminar about the basics of motorcycle riding and traffic rules. Afterwards they headed to the test ride area where they were greeted by their instructors and Yamaha’s Mascot, Revvy Bear. When the test ride went on, Revvy Bear walked around the Greenfield District and offered Roses to all the mothers in the area. 

In order to complete the YSRS program the moms had to go through different stations that teach them more about riding. They were taught how to properly wear their riding gear from gloves, to knee pads, elbow pads, and their helmet. Next, they learned more about the parts and different functions on a motorcycle such as signal lights, horns, and how to switch the engine on and off. Then their balance was tested before they began the riding proper. First, they experienced how to slowly begin throttling and braking before they were guided across the course on their Mio Motorcycles. 

After receiving their certificates, the Mother’s were all smiles because of the exhilaration they felt during their session. They celebrated a special day and have grown from the experience that turned them into riders. This won’t be the last special edition that celebrates the women in our lives and Yamaha will continue to take this program across the country to women of all walks of life.