Celebrating 2019 at Kink: The LoveYourself Ball

By Carlos Diego A. Rozul

LoveYourself has had a jam packed year this 2019. Spearheading new projects, events, and campaigns, its stronghold of volunteers have been hard at work to spread love and create ripples of positive change in the Philippines. On December 7, 2019, volunteers gathered to look back on the year that was with merriment and recognition at Kink: The LoveYourself Ball.

This 2019, LoveYourself has expanded its reach starting with the launch of LoveYourself White House in Cebu, the organization's first community center outside of Metro Manila. Together with its Cebu team, LoveYourself is helping fellow community based organizations nationwide grow in their localities. Most notable was the launch of the Oro Pia Community Center by Kagay-an PLUS.

LoveYourself also launched its response to the mental health service gap in the Philippines called Flourish Circle. As a community-driven initiative, it aims to use peer support as a framework to mediate depressive, anxious, and suicidal thoughts through a 12 session program.

Photo by Philip Villaluz

Beyond the days of its operations, events and campaigns have been hallmarks of the organization to keep the HIV advocacy in public consciousness. With fundraising and awareness efforts like ETUF Fashion Auction, and the second Love Gala: Courage Amplified - Asia's Premier Charity and Awards Gala, LoveYourself continues to make itself known. 

Hot Nurses of Pinas and KYS (Know Your Status) and Play were also  monumental campaigns for the organization, working with community based organizations nationwide for National HIV Testing Day.

The landscape of the HIV advocacy was also forever changed with the introduction of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) this year. A daily pill that protects from HIV infection among people with a nonreactive HIV status. LoveYourself's partnership with Hi-Precision Diagnostics also made it available to those who cannot access LoveYourself Community centers.

Photo by Ronald Bugarin

All of these wonderful things wouldn't not have been possible without its passionate volunteers. At Kink, outstanding volunteers and staff were recognized for their efforts in the advocacy with the Love Award.

Love Award for Awareness
Ria Brines and Diego Rozul

Love Award for Education
Joy Daguiso and Leo Pura

Love Award for Engagement
Jhay Dee and Noel Evasco

Love Award for Innovation
Joy Daguiso and Shude Navarro

Love Award for Operations
Neithan Ceran and Ronald Bugarin 

Kink: The LoveYourself Ball 2019 could not have been a success without our partners Victoria Court, Sip Okada (Cove Manila), The Wrkspce, Hairdressers Against AIDS by L'Oreal, TRAEVENTS, and Lauvette. Kink was copresented by Unilever, Anytime Fitness (Royal Plaza Mandaluyong), Bliss, and Usana (True Health Foundation). The organizing team would also like to thank the sponsors: Sunsilk Dove, Surf, Vaseline, Aya Care, Canva, RedDoorz, PREP, Fashion & Beyond Nail Spa Salon, Kratos Pomade PH.