Category Archives: Young Person with HIV

Whatever Happened To Luigi

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If you happen to visit this blog and read about Luigi’s story (see the following links here – Alternative Lifestyle, So Young, Chatroom, AIDS Advocacy) you’d probably wonder how he is now or his present state of health.

Luigi and I have been in touch for a time. We were connected through Facebook. Yesterday, I saw his status dated March 5 and feel deeply saddened by what he said in it. He is not feeling well (again) caused by his compromised immune system. He lacks enough sleep and barely eats because he vomits a lot.

His status tells a lot about what he feels and what young people need to know about being responsible individuals. Please read on:

When my time comes, please never idolize me. Include me in your prayers. Go back to the living God. Be good and repent for the sins we commit.

More than a month of not sleeping well, 2-4 hrs of sleep for the past 10 days. I have been vomiting and can’t eat for the past 2 days.

I just want to say farewell to all of you. My previous post was deleted by a friend with my request to protect my family but I believe it is my purpose to share it so I am posting it again to encourage everyone to look at their lives and to go back to God.

For the youth, especially the Filipino youth, live in simple ways and stay away from sins and evil things like drugs and sex. Do not do what I did. Enrich your soul. Always talk to Him in spirit.

This day, March 5th marks the 6th year of me receiving a news from a partner that I have to get tested for HIV, which came back positive. Please do not be stigmatized (which some of you may do). I am asking for understanding that I do commit mistakes.

I am sharing this so that our young people will somehow learn from me. Stay away from temptations and evil things. Always pray. Read the Bible and seek for its understanding. Don’t be like me who is a risk taker. We do commit mistakes but never let it happen again and again.

The Almighty Father has a plan for everyone. I am trying to accept and live mine. He is great and I believe he has mercy.

For God so love the world that he give his only begotten son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but live an eternal life. (John 3:16).

It was nice knowing you all. I am planning to go home to my province soon and might not be on FB anymore though my friend knows my account.

I want to take this opportunity to say sorry for those I have done wrong. Hugs!

I wish to make a follow-up story about his present condition, but will have to ask his permission again.

UPDATE:

More than three years after the interview above, I checked on Luigi’s FB account and I learned that he is in the US now. He looks healthy and living on his own.

AIDS advocacy

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(Last of a series)

HIV warrior Luigi, 19, has reached the last stage of the grief cycle. After blind denial and rage, he has finally accepted his fate. He is now in the process of healing himself and other people living with AIDS. 

Luigi is currently devoting his time in completing his Nursing studies this year. His ultimate goal is to serve people with HIV/AIDS, specially in the last stages of their lives.

“I am here to save people at risk of having the same illness that I have now. I would like to serve as an inspiration so others may be spared,” reads a message posted by Luigi on the Net.

Luigi’s perception in life took a 360-degree turn with HIV.

“Dati, wala akong iniisip kundi ang mag-abroad, kumita ng pera ’pag naging nurse ako. Now, I’m urging my co-students to value life and their patients more than the comforts and benefits the nursing profession might offer them,” the former altar boy said.

Luigi is currently supporting the Department of Education in its advocacy to include sex education in the curriculum of high school students. The proposal will highlight HIV/AIDS/STI and other major diseases.

“If there will be no serious campaign, what will happen to the youth sector? Panawagan ko po na mag-allot ng three-hour lecture sa loob ng isang linggo for HIV/AIDS/STI and other major diseases such as tuberculosis. It would be a big help to increase the awareness of our young people,” he said, adding that developed countries have already included information on major diseases in their school curriculum.

Luigi stressed that young people should be provided with informed choices because they have the right to health.

“Through sexual health, malalaman nila na ang HIV/AIDS ay hindi dapat pagtawanan. Dapat siyang bigyan ng pansin dahil wala siyang gamot and it will cost a lot kapag tinamaan ka nito… ”

The DepEd recently included lectures in school on adolescent reproductive health and reproductive rights. This was slammed by the Catholic Church, which claimed that exposing students to vulgar terms and languages is a form of child abuse.

The Catholic prelates insist that it’s the sole right and responsibility of parents to teach sex education to their children.

While Luigi is against the Catholic Chuch’s stand opposing sex education, he is one with them in saying that teaching children about sex should start at home.

“I’m not saying na mahina ang foundation ko sa family ko, pero never akong tinuruan ng mga ganyan. And I don’t remember I was taught about sex in high school,” Luigi said.

Luigi said he will continue posting messages in the chatroom as long as there is a need to convince people to practice safe sex and stop the spread of HIV.

“They don’t have to experience what I’m going through. I hope they will learn from me. Sana sa pamamagitan ng ginagawa ko ngayon ay makatulong ako sa bansang ito at sa dulo masabi ko ‘Consummatum est,’ mamamatay akong masaya,” Luigi said.

Luigi is presently residing in the US where he is completing his master’s degree. He is a registered nurse.

‘Chatroom’

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( This is a compilation of Luigi’s  interviews in 2006. I wish the readers will get something from his life story.  Warning: some words may be too graphic.)

A CHATTER could earn P12,000 with the use only of his fingers. All it takes is a click on the Net, a webcam, as well as raw guts to play with himself in front of a complete stranger. This was revealed by Luigi, a Nursing student infected with HIV by a chat-lover.

“Hindi na uso ang callboy sa kalye. Sosyal na ang negotiations ngayon, sa chatroom na,” he said.

Luigi said foreigners would visit chatrooms and engage boys in cybersex.

On this note, Luigi has come out to reveal his dark chatroom experience and warn surfers on the dangers of having sex with chat-lovers.

“I am a Filipino teenager and I’m infected with HIV. Nandito ako as living proof. Magshi-share ako kung paano ako nagkaroon ng HIV,” reads one of Luigi’s messages psoted on the Internet.

Luigi began posting AIDS information when he tested negative for HIV in December.

The HIV patient is glad that forum members appreciate his effort to disclose sensitive information about himself.

“Ang mga tao kasi gusto ng pruweba. Ang nasa isip ng mga tao a ay hindi sila tatamaan,” Luigi said.

The HIV patient said followers have been asking him where to get HIV tests.

“Gusto rin nilang malaman ang story ko,” Luigi said. He revealed that indigent youths resort to Internet sex for tuition. He also urged people practicing unsafe sex to undergo HIV tests.

Luigi said those concerned may call the Remedios AIDS hotline at…