Bagani Community Center, a health-based non-government organization, holds Pride Fest 2022 today, June 25, in celebration of Pride Month. This is the second Pride event hosted by Bagani in Negros Occidental since its establishment in 2019.
About Bagani Community Center
Bagani exists in order to help Persons Living with HIV (PLHIV) in Negros Occidental.
During the event, Bagani will launch its HIV-treatment hub, the first and only NGO-run treatment center on Negros Island, as well as a self-care HIV testing program.
Bagani’s Hub Manager Butch Lavaro said the event will be a venue to celebrate pride, as well as an advocate for LGBT+ acceptance in our community. They also want to spread awareness about HIV that it’s not only affecting the queers but also everyone.
Celebrating Pride Month with Pride Fest 2022
At the Pride 2022 here in Bacolod City, the event will feature local talents from the LGBT+ community. They will also incorporate their advocacy for HIV education, awareness, and prevention.
This special affair will be held at the pool area of Acacia Hotel from 9 a.m. onwards.
The event will be also highlighted by the performance of the Bacolod Drag Queens and Artians Cheerdance Squad. There will also be local DJs, Masskara Dancers, and other surprise performances from various Bacolod local talents.
The most important part is that there will be booths for free HIV testing.
Bagani’s program and projects, SafeSpaces Initiative, and caravan initiative “Prisma”, which has been touring around Negros in the past two years spreading HIV education and awareness, will be highlighted.
Bagani Cares
Ticket to the event is P300 and all of the proceeds will go to Bagani Cares, the NGO’s philanthropic arm. It aims to help PLHIVs in Negros Occidental afford the medication and treatment against HIV/AIDS.
Based on the records of the Department of Health, there are around 2,000 HIV cases in the province in 2021.
“While we celebrate pride, let us also remind ourselves that breaking the stigma against the LGBT+ community and PLHIV is still a long way. Let us lend ourselves to fighting it through education and engagement,” Lavaro added.