Catholic leaders lead AIDS candlelight memorial in Iloilo

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By Leonard T. Pineda, I (JBG/LTP/PIA-Iloilo)

ILOILO CITY, May 20 (PIA) -- Catholic leaders in this city spearheaded the commemoration of this year’s International AIDS Candlelight Memorial (IACM) on May 19.

The Philippine Catholic HIV and AIDS Network (PhilCHAN)-Iloilo, which is under the PhilCHAN of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), in collaboration with the Department of Health-Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD)-6, led the IACM at St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary in Jaro district here.

Sr. Mila Grace Silab, SPC, PhilCHAN-Iloilo chair and president of St. Paul University Iloilo, said the IACM commemoration is part of their mission to spread and raise awareness on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and aquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).

“We are spearheading the activity to strengthen our support to our brothers and sisters living with HIV and promote our mission to raise awareness,” she said.

The event started with a Eucharistic celebration at 5:00 p.m., followed by a short program and the Candlelighting Ceremony.

“It was an evening of songs and prayers. There was also be a special presentation by the group ‘Little Theater’ from the University of San Agustin,” she said.

She added that the PhilCHAN gave the group a session tackling HIV which enabled them to come up with an original play.

“The script was based on the session provided to the group,” Silab said.

During the Candlelighting Ceremony, the participants were grouped into sectors including faith-based organizations, support groups, health sector, business, youth, government agencies, civil society organizations, among others.

Rev. Fr. Dan Vicente Cancino Jr., executive secretary of the Commission on Health Care of CBCP, also attended the event and delivered the inspirational message.

Silab said that various multi-sectoral partners from the different government and private agencies, organizations, hospitals, and schools also joined the event.

This year's local theme is "One Big Fight for PLHIV Health and Rights."

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