Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach Pledges to Stop HIV

  

Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach Pledges to Stop HIV

Pia personally committed herself to generate awareness on HIV “which is timely and relevant to my country” as her answer on why she should be Miss Universe. With the explosive growth of infection, the monthly average of 44 patients in 2006 increased 10 times to 995 in 2015. What is alarming is that those infected is from 15 to 24 years old and 85% of new cases is male-to-male contact.

 

After winning the title for the country after 42 years, her victory was met by jubilation shown by thousands who cheered her during the citywide motorcade. She won the goodwill that can turn into positive influence to promote timely causes. Marquee stars from Hollywood from Audrey Hepburn to Angela Jolie engaged in activism that can influence public policy. By adopting children of color Jolie set by example racial integration.

 

Among Pia’s most emotional fans are members of the third sex who sport improvised crown and sash who potentially represent future victims of HIV. Pia personally thanked members of LGBT for their active support and vociferous welcome. Almost 8 out 10 were infected from male to male contact. That it will be truly meaningful for Pia to use her influence in convincing them to practice preventive measures in their relationships.

 

Although identified more for her glamour and physical assets, an international title holder is a source of pride of countrymen and look up to as an ideal example. As with other worldwide known celebrities, Pia enjoys goodwill and prestige that can win fans and admirers to her side. At present there are no screen or television stars that show interest in promoting safe sex among the young who tend to be sexually active in taking personal risks.  

 

As in Hollywood, actively promoting a cause gets to be a fad with several stellar names adopting colored children. Whether it is to get rid of racial bias or gain goodwill for their advocacies, they deserve kudos for lending their names to worthy causes. With the explosive growth of HIV infections, the limited efforts of the government to discourage unprotected sex and the sharing of needles among drug users had dismal results.  

 

Capitalizing on being a public figure that is idolized by the third sex, her willingness to be the voice for a national campaign to put a halt on HIV infection should be funded by the government. Before she leaves for New York it will be a dramatic gesture for Pia to comfort AID victims living up to her promise to lend an active hand in stopping HIV infection among young Filipinos.

 

 

 

Black is Beautiful?

Black is Beautiful?

As Miss Angola was crowned Miss Universe it caused collective disappointment which placed its big hope on the Philippines representative, Ms. Shamsey Supsup.  Being one of four black persons adjudged the most beautiful in the universe in the past 60 years, the ratio of black winners greatly favors those of races of lighter skin tones.  All physical and intellectual assets being equal, non-white is handicapped when pitted against women from the West at least in this one   beauty contest.

This is not really a surprise considering that those in beauty product business have lined up their pockets with billions from women who desire a fairer complexion.  Don’t you ever wonder why Caucasians have to fly halfway around the world to get the sought after tan in Boracay or Palawan?  While Filipinos with their almost bronzed complexion have to shell out hard earned money to spend on melathion, gluthation and other chemically induced formula to whiten their complexion.

Pioneered by local manufacturers early in the sixties, the whitening formulation easily caught fire among  users that now practically all multinational brands have created their own versions.  Understandably, these variants of well-known French and American brands are formulated solely for the Philippine market. Heavily advertised, they are endorsed by fair complexioned movie stars who have no need for the product in the first place.

As a people we have always put values on fair complexion that parents expectantly hope that their first-born will not turn out to be “baluga o sunog-araw”.   This is simply a reinforcement of cultural values that place handsome price tags on those with fair complexion.

Now that considerable educational efforts are initiated to foster equality regardless of color or racial origin, this specific bias on skin complexion still affects many of us.  Blame the combined forces of dermatologists and cosmetic companies that pour billions in advertising and promotions to flaunt that white are unquestionably beautiful.

Liberal do-gooders in classrooms and politics have a daunting  task to sell the idea that beauty have nothing to do with the skin color.  And position against the unending barrage of propaganda and promotions that hold dear that light complexion open the door to romance and fame, that will be a tough selling job indeed.