Bohol marks AIDS Candlelight Memorial 

with call to end stigma, expand testing

By Elvira C. Bongosia

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA) — Bohol health workers, officials, and advocates gathered at the Capitol Grounds in Tagbilaran City on May 21 for the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial, renewing calls to eliminate stigma and strengthen support for people living with HIV/AIDS.

The event carried the theme “Light the Legacy: Remember. Advance. Act. Keeping the Light Alive.”

The program opened with a Holy Mass, followed by a video presentation on HIV/AIDS advocacy and community stories.

Provincial Health Office (PHO) Officer-in-Charge Fruserma Mary Uy said in her welcome message that unity, compassion, and continued awareness are essential in addressing HIV/AIDS in the community.

Bohol Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado said the event underscored the need to eliminate stigma and build a more supportive environment for people living with HIV/AIDS.

“What truly hurts many people is not only the illness itself, but the stigma, judgment, and silence surrounding it. That is why activities like this matter — because they remind us that kindness, awareness, and empathy can save lives too,” Aumentado said.

Aumentado said individuals diagnosed with HIV/AIDS should never be deprived of hope, dignity, and opportunity.

“HIV/AIDS is not a punishment. HIV/AIDS is not the end of a person’s dreams and future,” he added.

Keynote speaker Chito Pobar said fear of discrimination and social rejection continues to discourage testing and treatment among people living with HIV.

“People are still delaying testing and avoiding treatment because they are terrified of being judged, ostracized, or discarded by society. Stigma is a lethal barrier,” Pobar said.

Pobar, who has been involved in HIV-related programs and patient care for 13 years, also spoke about the personal toll of the epidemic.

“Throughout my thirteen years in this program, I have witnessed this tragedy firsthand, seeing my own patients die one by one because of HIV, and heartbreakingly, many of them were my friends,” he said.

Anthony Oliver Julacdon, a nursing aide and HIV counselor, delivered a testimony on the realities and challenges faced by people living with HIV/AIDS, and called for greater understanding and acceptance within the community.

Health workers, advocates, and stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening information campaigns, encouraging early testing, promoting treatment access, and addressing misconceptions about HIV/AIDS through community engagement.

The International AIDS Candlelight Memorial is observed annually on the third Sunday of May to honor lives lost to AIDS, raise awareness, and mark progress in HIV/AIDS advocacy. (ECB/PIA-7 Bohol)

Participants gather at the Provincial Capitol Grounds in Tagbilaran City on May 21, 2026, for the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial, honoring lives lost to HIV/AIDS and expressing solidarity with individuals and families affected by the disease. (Photo courtesy of the Provincial Government of Bohol)