Davao City — The city prepares to commemorate the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial on May 26, 2026, local health officials are sounding a clarion call for intensified HIV awareness, early detection, and the dismantling of social stigma. The event, held at Rizal Park, aims to honor the lives lost to AIDS while highlighting the reality that HIV is a manageable chronic illness rather than a terminal diagnosis. With the theme “Light the Legacy: Remember, Advance, Act, and Keep the Light Alive,” the commemoration serves as a vital platform to educate the public and encourage young people—specifically those aged 15 to 35, who statistics show are most vulnerable—to prioritize their health and undergo regular screening.
Commemorating Lives and Expanding Access
The day’s activities will kick off at 8:00 AM, offering the public free, confidential HIV screening services, with an added incentive: the first 100 individuals to undergo testing will also receive free chest X-rays. This initiative is spearheaded by the Regional HIV/AIDS Wellness Center (RHWC) and the Southern Philippines Medical Center, both of which emphasize that early diagnosis is the cornerstone of effective management. By providing these essential services directly to the community, health officials hope to bridge the gap in testing rates and ensure that those who may be living with HIV without knowing it can access life-saving antiretroviral therapy (ART) and counseling as soon as possible.
The Fight Against Stigma and Misinformation
A central pillar of this year’s memorial is the urgent need to combat the stigma that continues to hinder people from seeking care. Dr. Jordana P. Ramiterre, head physician of the RHWC, underscores that with modern treatment, an HIV-positive diagnosis is no longer a "death sentence" but a condition that can be managed, allowing individuals to live healthy, productive lives. The 5:00 PM candlelight ceremony acts as a symbolic gesture of unity, aimed at melting away prejudice and "lighting a fire against the silence" that keeps many from accessing their right to medical support. Through outreach programs in entertainment hubs and local communities, the city aims to normalize the conversation around HIV and create a more compassionate environment for people living with HIV (PLHIV).
