i arrived at mcdo taft, 30 minutes before the exact meeting time. i ordered a cheeseburger meal but i can’t eat. felt like there was a lump in my throat. at exactly 7pm, his boyfriend came to fetch me. from mcdo we had to ride a taxi going to vito cruz then to an "eskinita" near a creek. there were rows of apartment and their place is on the 3rd door.
"nasa taas sya attorney, akyat ka na lang. alam nya na dumating na tayo"
as i climbed the stairs, i felt some kind of heaviness within but i can feel the excitement because i’ll be seeing "my friend" again after 6 long years.
"yei, nandito ako sa loob ng room, pasok ka na lang".
i slowly opened the door and saw him lying, her head turned towards the door, and he smiled when he saw me.
"kumusta attorney?"
i smiled at him and tried to control the tears from falling. i wanted to hold him, but i felt uneasy and well, hesitant. i pulled a chair and placed it near his bed. he looks so pale, his eyes were teary and he was so thin. but i can still see the cute dimples in his cheeks and that cute nose which i used to pinched when we were still together.
my friend has AIDS. he was diagnosed as HIV positive last 1999 and he said he’s lucky that he was able to survive up to this date. he said his family drove him out when they found out that he was gay, and worst, "tinakwil nila ako nung nalaman na may AIDS ako". he then continued to relate his story — how he acquired the disease, to whom he got the virus and the things that he went through before finally accepting his fate. that day was his birthday and he said it could have been his last so he wanted to make sure that he sees his close friends before making his final vow.
he said he’s been trying to get in touch with me, but "sobrang hirap mong hagilapin. lahat ng mga numbers mo sa akin, not working na lahat tapos di ka na daw sa novaliches nakatira".
his boyfriend, also an HIV positive, but still looking healthy and well, gwapo, interrupted our emotional talk, "jollibee muna". i asked him about his boyfriend and he said he met the guy in a shelter for AIDS patients. the guy was a volunteer worker and they became really good friends. soon after, they fell in love and when he left the shelter, the guy went with him and they live together.and yes , he was the source of the guys HIV.
before leaving the place, i tried to give him money but he refused. "gaga, prayer at dalaw ang gusto ko". so, i promised to visit him again soon. and yes, i will be praying for him. when i went near him, wanting to kiss his forehead, he held my chin and looked into my eyes "hindi ka nandidiri, hindi ka natatakot na mahawa?". "gaga, hindi noh!" was my reply, trying my best to put on my bravest self. so i kissed him on the forehead and hugged him tight.
on my way out, i saw his boyfriend sitting near the door. he smiled and thanked me for coming. he said there’s already a pedicab waiting for me, "hahatid ka nya sa kanto may jeep na doon o magtataxi ka ulit?". i said i’ll take a cab. i wished him well and then turned my back and went straight to the pedicab.
seven years after the enactment of RA 8504 or the Philippine AIDS Law, discrimination remains to be a continuing threat to the liberty, security and dignity of people with HIV/AIDS. i pity my friend and all other AIDS victims who chose to suffer in silence.
RA 8504 is actually a landmark legislation on AIDS. the law seeks to act as the State’s mechanism to ensure that the rights of people living with HIV/AIDS against discrimination. the law particularly prohibits compulsory HIV testing, and even renders it unlawful as a precondition to employment, admission to educational institutions, the exercise of freedom of abode, entry or continued stay in the country, the right to travel and the provision of medical services. sadly, the law does not prescribe penalties for violation of these prohibitions and i think that’s were the law loses its value. (well, there’s a penalty in case of unwarranted disclosure of HIV condition).
the law also deemed unlawful to discriminate against anyone who is perceived or suspected to be HIV positive. the law even enumerated specific acts of discrimination. but, the law and its implementing rules and regulations, failed to prevent the commission of these discriminatory acts. unless our legal system affords full protection to the rights of people with HIV/AIDS in terms of ensuring access to justice and removes the continuing stigma and discrimination, the necessary environment that would really enable these people living with HIV/AIDS to responsibly seek medical assistance as well as enable the public to responsibly look at themselves and their sexuality and thus prevent the transmission of the virus, will never be realized.
i salute the NGOS, COs as well as other charity foundations for their massive and wide scale information campaign for awareness on HIV/AIDS. and i pray that they continue to do this activity.
i feel bad that people with HIV/AIDS have not realized nor tried to exercise their rights to access justice. of course they knew that they are being harassed, discriminated, not given proper and inadequate care and support services and their rights are being curtailed, but they refuse to file cases before the courts. when i brought up this issue to my friend, he said most of them refused to file complaints because they fear public exposure because it will create further stigma, they are not ready to be exposed. they are also unsure of whether the courts can really protect their rights to privacy and confidentiality. court procedures are also stressful and it would greatly affect their emotional, economic and physical well-being and worst, their cases might not be resolved during their lifetime. my friend even pointed out that they really have limited access to legal services, because most lawyers are not knowledgeable and sensitive to their issues and worst, most lawyers are hesitant to take up their cases.
i believe that the protection being given by RA 8504 can only be enforced if the fear and ignorance among us about HIV/AIDS are eliminated. this can be done through continuing rights based information about HIV and the popularization of the law and human rights principles as well.
i then remember my lawyers’ oath and gave a deep sigh.
