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Featured at page G4 of Manila Bulletin on Nov. 30, 2011. (Click image below to enlarge.) To read the article, you may go to  http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/343105/the-love-yourself-project

The Love Yourself Open Shoot Part 4 is now scheduled on December 18, 2011. Register  here ! You are invited to participate in Ian Felix Alquiros' fourth batch of the charity photoshoot for the benefit of The Love Yourself Project. All profit generated will be used in the training of new HIV counselors who will help and assist the youth and key population affected by HIV/AIDS. Photoshoot participants donate Php1,000 which entitle them to (1) one Love Yourself t-shirt or singlet; (2) grooming services for the shoot; and (3) one digital photo layout, in the style of "Love Yourself." They say a picture is worth a thousand words -- in this special charity photoshoot, it's worth a thousand pesos and a lot of love, for yourself and for a society we envision free from the scare of HIV/AIDS. This photoshoot is open to all generous souls and beautiful people who have the heart to help. It will be on Sunday, December 18, 2011, from 12 NN to 8 PM, at #88 Panay Avenue, Quezon Cit

Have you been thinking of getting tested? Perhaps you are not ready yet for testing but you want to talk to someone about it? Here's the event for you. First, you will find here friendly, professional, and well-trained HIV educators and counselors. And, secondly, the event is scheduled on a   Sunday ! And very importantly, it will be held in a private (not in a government clinic) and discreet location, for your own privacy and convenience. What : HIV Confidential Counseling and Testing - it's FREE! No charge! When : Sunday, 11 December 2011 (10am to 4pm) Where : Playroom - 35 West Avenue, Quezon City Some frequently asked questions (FAQs): 1.  I am afraid to go for testing, I think I'm not ready yet. Can I still go and just talk to someone without getting myself tested? Absolutely. There will be trained HIV educators and counselors there that you can talk to. They will respect your feelings, and if you feel you are not ready to go for your HIV testing, that's okay. Ther

DISTRITO - the weekday lifestyle market located at the Amorsolo Open Parking lot (beside Makati Med) is opening on Nov 25 (Fri)! Enjoy great food, fun, and friends. Love Yourself folks will be there to sell shirts and singlets to raise funds to support education and counseling programs we provide for HIV affected youth and key population.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT : the Love Yourself Open Shoot 4th Round, originally scheduled this Sunday Nov.20, 2011, has been postponed to December (exact date TBD). We were not able to receive the ordered t-shirts from our supplier, and our current inventory has dried out due to unforeseen demand. Apologies to all for any inconvenience caused. We shall announce a new schedule in December within next week. Thank you for your understanding.

As of Nov. 13, 2011, Love Yourself has 30 DOH-certifed HIV counselors and 52 trained educators/agents of change . How do you bring them together in a fun but meaningful exercise? We played the balloon game during the first ever Love Yourself General Assembly.  Here's a snippet of the experience. Video by Ian Felix Alquiros, editing by Jedd Rommel.

Introducing the Limited Edition Love Yourself Singlet! Grab them during the Open shoot on Sunday, November 20, 2011. Details here .

Have you at one time or another wished you had a venue to talk about love and relationships among men without having to fear being laughed at or smirked on by judgmental trolls? Gay and bisexual men also, if not very frequently, think about how we can connect intimately or romantically to another person. And because of the stigma, many go underground, looking for love in chatrooms that, more often than not, offer a quick-fix, a band-aid solution to our deep, profound desire to connect. Given this, we have little to no chance of substantiating our thoughts on questions like: How do I find a partner? How do I deal with my insecurities? Is monogamy for me? Or open relationships, perhaps? What do I do when I fall in love with a straight man? What is the importance of sex in a partnership? What do I do, I’m afraid of being alone in my twilight years? Now, imagine having a cozy, casual conversation among friends about these questions — open, friendly, funny, yet substantial and enriching. Th

On November 5-6, 2011, seventeen volunteers from The Love Yourself Project participated in the Self-Efficacy Training (SET) conducted by the Department of Health’s Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) at their Satellite Clinic in Leon Guinto, Malate, Manila. The workshop is based on the principle that educators and counselors doing HIV advocacy work are essentially agents of change, and that the first essential step for one to be an effective agent of change is examining one’s own behaviors, attitude, and self-image. The SET enables the participants to (1) acquire motivation to embark on a personal behavioral assessment related to one’s susceptibility for contracting HIV; (2) learn knowledge and techniques related to changing one’s own behavior; and (3) come up with action plans to concretize the resolutions made during the training. The training was facilitated by Dr. Rossana Ditangco, Head of the AIDS Research Group of RITM, and RIta Bantigue, Ph.D., Counseling Psychologis

Ian Felix Alquiros, TLY Director of Education and Counseling, explains the program details  during the launch and press conference. Pasig City, November 6, 2011 -- Love Yourself, a group of volunteer educators and counselors, together with the Mr. Gay World Organization and Ladlad Partylist, launched today the LAB (Laboratory Assistance Benefit) initiative, a new program to help people who are newly diagnosed with the Human Immunodeficie ncy Virus (HIV). The LAB initiative provides financial assistance specifically to pay for baseline laboratory tests that are required to initiate the lifelong treatment process for People Living with HIV (PLHIV). According to the National Epidemiology Center of the Department of Health, the number of HIV cases in the Philippines continue to increase with unprecedented rates, now at 8 new confirmed cases per day. A critical strategy in decelerating the spread of HIV is to ensure that those who are diagnosed positive are immediately provided with approp

More and more people are wanting to have their "Love Yourself" portraits! So we bring you: The Love Yourself Open Shoot -- Part 4! You are invited to participate in Ian Felix Alquiros' fourth batch of the charity photoshoot for the benefit of The Love Yourself Project. All profit generated will be used in the training of new HIV counselors who will help and assist the youth and key population affected by HIV/AIDS. Photoshoot participants donate Php1,000 which entitle them to (1) one Love Yourself t-shirt or singlet; (2) grooming services for the shoot; and (3) one digital photo layout, in the style of "Love Yourself." They say a picture is worth a thousand words -- in this special charity photoshoot, it's worth a thousand pesos and a lot of love, for yourself and for a society we envision free from the scare of HIV/AIDS. This photoshoot is open to all generous souls and beautiful people who have the heart to help. It will be on Sunday, November 20, 2011, fr