“So that there should be division in the body, but that its part should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now that you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” -1 Corinthians 12:25-27
Today is the third Sunday of May, a day to honor everyone who have lost their lives due to AIDS-related illnesses. The 40th International AIDS Candlelight Memorial (IACM) is remembered globally as a campaign to raise social awareness of the impacts of HIV/AIDS on the individual and the community. Today, we acknowledge and recognize the people living with HIV (PLHIV) who have suffered and endured not just their medical condition, but the stigma and discrimination that comes with their status.
The theme for this year’s IACM is “Spread Love and Solidarity to Build Stronger Communities”. This calls and reminds us of the need to build a community and society that is way stronger than our biases related to HIV/AIDS. Every day, someone dies from AIDS-related illnesses. In March of this year, there were 2, 078 reported cases from all regions in the Philippines. An average of 54 reported cases daily were recorded in the HIV/AIDS & ART Registry of the Philippines. However, these reported data came from people who were able to access their treatment. Still, there are a lot of unreported cases due to the stigma and inaccessibility of services, mostly in the rural areas.
People living with HIV struggle for equal access to health services that will lessen their risk of acquiring an opportunistic infection that will cause AIDS-related illnesses or death. Moreover, they struggle for a just and accepting community. PLHIV come from all walks of life, some are experiencing socio-economic struggles, some are experiencing chronic illnesses but all of them have and are still experiencing discrimination and stigma. These hinder them to live a full life.
We must recognize the struggles and challenges that create fear in an individual. We must also recognize that as a church, we can help in building a community of love and solidarity that we can courageously express through our ministries and advocacies. In love, we must accept every being with their strengths and to look beyond their illnesses.
In a community, if one part suffers, every part suffers with it. We must not forget that if the marginalized, othered, and oppressed suffer, every aspect of the community suffers as well. There is a need for us to build loving and accepting communities rooted in justice, where the rights of the people are being upheld.
The NCCP calls on its member churches and partner organizations to rise together with and for all people living with HIV and AIDS and their families. This coming May 27, 2023, Saturday, let us remember and honor the lives of those who have gone before us and honor their memories with solidarity and hope.
Signed:
21 May 2023
REV. FELIPE B. EHICAN, JR.
Chairperson
RT. REV. JOEL O. PORLARES
Vice Chairperson
DR. GAY B. MANODON
Vice Chairperson
MA. KAY CATHRINE F. ALMARIO
Vice Chairperson
MAJOR ALLAIN M. NIETES
Corporate Treasurer
MS. MINNIE ANNE M. CALUB
Acting General Secretary
