I’m glad I was able to have a little chat with an old friend on Facebook. He is now based in San Francisco. Part of our conversation went something like this. By the way, I’m getting his reaction regarding the increasing HIV cases among young professionals (particularly those working in the call centers and citing group sex through the internet.) He is directly involved with HIV/AIDS support group here in the Philippines.

3:53pmYami
huli na yata ako sa balita… kawawa naman mga nagwowork sa call center

3:54pmJigor
sabi ni Kim ATienza
matter of fact daw
nanggaling sa monkey ang HIV
nag transfer sa human
tapos sinabi sa TV PATROL
na ang mga call center daw
dami AIDS
http://watchtvpatrolworld.blogspot.com/

3:55pmYami
kailan kaya sila matuto. ilang taon na ang isyu na yan
if you were from the DOH, how will you address this issue? i have yet to hear from the new health chief.

3:58pmJigor
yon nga
alamin mo ‘te
di ko alam statement ng DOH dyan eh

3:59pmYami
well kanina pala i heard dr tayag being interviewed. di siya nagfocus sa profession or nature ng trabaho, but sa risky behavior ng mga cases which is msm nga

4:01pmJigor
It’s not about profession naman eh

4:02pmYami
ah mas mahirap daw iaddress ang the affected pop dahil unlike sa mga csw in the past may mga health center na nagke-cater sa health needs nila, di gaya sa mga msm na wala pa sa ngayon

4:02pmJigor
madami talaga
haaaay
maswerte nalang ako
nakarating ako ng AMerica
gagawin ko nalang lahat mag stay dito

4:02pmYami
and i’m happy for you
ano na pala status mo diyan
will you be able to practice you profession there.

4:03pmJigor
I can apply for Immigrant VISA
after my Masters

4:03pmYami
that’s good to know

4:03pmJigor
hanap lang ako ng employer
may VISA RETROGRESSION for NURSES pero if you have an advanced degree, you can apply for a higher level of VISA IMMIGRANT

4:04pmYami
that sounds good, whatever that retrogression means

4:05pmJigor
hahaha
sana nga
makahanap ako ng employer

4:06pmYami
active ka pa rin ba sa Pafpi or related group

4:07pmJigor
yup
I am still running a youth group based there
and ako pa rin ang nagpopondo ng mga activities nila

4:07pmYami
back to the issue. meron ka bang gustong ipabatid about this. i can always use my blog, open ang mga ganitong issue.

4:09pmYami
yeah regarding that group sex through the internet…

4:09pmJigor
haha
dati pa anman
ni report mo na yan di ba?
2006 palang
saka yong sa DZRH

4:10pmYami
konti lang nakabasa, at nakalimutan na ng mga nakarinig

4:10pmJigor
may ginawa ba sila
deadma naman sila
kaya ayan
LOBO

4:10pmYami
wala…
asa pa tayo

4:11pmJigor
kaya minsan nakaka frustrate din

4:11pmYami
sinabi mo pa
maingay lang kapag lumabas na ang figure

4:12pmJigor
tapos wala uli
minsan naisip ko
sana nga lumubo
kasi pag konti lang, wala naman nangyayari
eh padamihin

(I cut the conversation here. Jigor is Luigi, the same person I’m referring to my story here.)