Paji: HIV Positive for a Cause

With over 56k HIV cases per year, Philippines has been marked as the fastest rising number of cases in the Asia-Pacific with approximately 142,00 cases in the near 2022. This alarming percentage of people suffering from HIV or Human Immunodeficiency Virus has been one of the biggest problems in the country. It triggers numbers of unfair judgements from people resulting to the fear and lack of confidence of an HIV positive. However, when almost all of those HIV positive people felt fear and disappointment for themselves, Fostino Luell “Paji” Angeles, 29 years old, stood tall and took the virus as a way for him to help and educate people. Paji has been diagnosed with HIV for four years now. According to him, he does not want to use condom because he does not feel comfortable with the stares that the people give him when he buys one. “Nahihiya akong bumili ng condom kasi alam mo yun? Iba yung tingin nila sayo eh kapag bibili,” Paji said while laughing. One of the things that Paji promotes is the Anti-Retroviral Therapy or the ART. According to him, the tablets that he takes slows down the progression of virus through hois body making it undetectable. When it comes to his family, although they are a very religious family, they never make Paji feel ashamed. In fact, his mother supported him from the very beginning and also served as a mother of “Pedal for HIV” one of the campaign programs raised by Paji. “Hindi niyo dapat pagalitan. Kasi hindi naman nila ginusto yun eh. Biktimalang din sila dito diba?” his mother explained while keeping asmile. Paji also got a recognition when he wore a gown with 2, 303 crystals representing the number of Filipinos who suffered from AIDS-related infections since 1984. Paji Angeles never thought of HIV as a curse, he used it as an instrument to encourage people in continuing their lives despite of carrying this condition. And he could never be more proud to9 say that he is an HIV positive for a cause.