Davao lit candles and prayed for HIV-AIDS cases and deaths

Attendees and advocates lit candles formed in ribbon shape in memorial of the people who succumbed to AIDS (Photo by Jecy Opada)

The Davao City AIDS Council in partnership with the City Health Office of Davao, Health Ministry of the Archdiocese of Davao, LGBT and other concerned organizations/institutions celebrated the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial last May 13, 2016 at the People’s Park in Davao City. The theme of the event – Engage, Educate, and Empower – signified the importance of raising awareness towards preventing the spread of HIV and giving hope to those people who are living with the said disease. It also served as an avenue to promote the necessity of HIV testing and to commemorate those people who succumbed to death because of HIV/AIDS.

The event highlighted the community singing and the lighting of candles that symbolized the unified advocacy of eliminating the spread of HIV. Also, Fr. Alfeo G. Botero, DCD, the director of the Health Ministry of the Archdiocese of Davao offered a prayer for the strengthening the support of various agencies towards the program. The event concluded through awarding of prizes to the winners of various games paralleled to the celebration. (Corrine Grace Casia/ICP SocCom/DDH CSR)