Mr. Gay Sugbo 2024 advocates for HIV awareness

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Youth Development Commission (CCYDC) and the Cebuano Youth Ambassadors Inc. unveiled the 12 candidates vying to succeed last year’s titleholder, Axl James Dayon, as Mr. Gay Sugbo. The finals night is happening this Sunday, June 30, 3 pm, at SM City Cebu Cinema 7.

Introduced at the June 22 press conference in the University of Visayas - Main Campus are Joshua Lopez, 27; Arxie Soliva, 27; Reymond Damuag, 26; Ricky Lloyd Navarro, 26; Arnel Guzman, 24; Lloyd Singuillo, 24; Joshua Michael Vergara, 24; Marnes Dave Aying, 23; Sean Neri Doba, 22; Joeraney Cabalida, 21; Michael Joshua Jordan, 21; and Jirvy Dela Torre, 18.

Mr. Gay Sugbo is an advocacy-driven pageant that debuted last year, with candidates promoting various causes related to the LGBTQIA+ community. For its second run, the tilt aims to highlight HIV and AIDS awareness as its main anchor.

“Last year, Mr. Gay Sugbo was about gathering people with different advocacies. While it’s diverse, we have to deal with more pressing issues like HIV and AIDS,” said Dr. Christian Enriquez, President of the Mr. Sugbo Organization.

“That’s why the committee this year specifically wanted to highlight HIV awareness because it’s something that does not only affect specific groups or younger generations. We want to tap into different sectors to open conversations to address concerns and champion causes that will generate productive results.”

CCYDC Executive Director Paolo Martin Saberon added, “The reason we came up with this particular platform is that instead of spreading the stigma, we want to use this to empower young people and foster a safe space for youth organizations to spread awareness on HIV.”

Preceding the press conference was the “Rainbow: Power Up!” open forum, which focused on issues affecting the Cebuano LGBTQ+ community.

“Something that I caught from the open forum was to take up space, and that’s ours to explore. In the LGBTQIA+ community, we all share a common ground in that we are all part of this community,” Aying shared. “We are talented and excel in different fields, so that’s why we should take up our own space in the fields we excel in, make a difference in those fields, inspire others, and align our vision with the visions of the community.”

One of the prominent topics discussed during the open forum was the state of healthcare in the Cebu LGBTQ+ population, including the impact of HIV in light of rising cases in the region.

“Cebu City is one of the top cities in the region with a high number of HIV-positive cases, and it’s alarming. This is due to the lack of awareness and information, so we really need to take up spaces and focus on informing the public about HIV and how to prevent it,” Guzman said.

A few of the candidates, like Damuag and Soliva, joined Mr. Gay Sugbo to honor their friends who passed away due to the stigma imposed on HIV-positive individuals.

“The reason I am in this competition is to send a love letter to a dear friend that I lost a few months ago. The stigma he felt during that time was very strong, and I couldn’t pull him out of his situation,” Damuag said.

Soliva added, “My friend’s death awakened me to realize that the virus is out there and rising. Before being able to empower others, we have to empower ourselves first. I got tested, and I wanted to do it because I want people to realize there is nothing to be afraid of.”

The candidates hope to use their participation in Mr. Gay Sugbo to promote knowledge of HIV prevention for an easier life going forward.

“I know I don’t have the sexiest body among the candidates, but I joined because I believe in the power of my voice,” Dela Torre said. “We could speak our truth and maximize our voices during the pageant, which could lessen the epidemic and strengthen our education. If we teach other students about HIV and AIDS, we could lessen the stigma.”

Navarro added, “Knowing that HIV cases are ramping up, I want to take this platform to be the youth’s voice and educate them, touch everyone’s lives and hearts, and send a message that can not only inspire their minds and hearts but inspire them to be a better version of themselves.”

The candidates also emphasized that preventing HIV and AIDS should not be a task limited to the LGBTQIA+ community, but of the general public.

“We are not doing this for our own sake, but for the next generation to follow. It’s very important to rally for a cause and create good outcomes, such as medical assistance, not just for LGBTQIA+ people but for everyone,” Cabalida said.

“People may think being gay is a sin, that we don’t belong here and are different from them,” Singuillo added. “That’s wrong because we are still human beings. We share the same dreams and hopes for freedom and equality for all.”