By: Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – Thousands of people were educated about the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), as the city government of Bago in Negros Occidental highlighted their awareness campaign on the said disease during the 12th edition of Lights of Bago on January 1, 2020.
The said disease is a pressing concern hounding the country today. Thus, the local government has thought of using the popularity of the annual event for a certain cause.
Mayor Nicholas Yulo said that Negros Occidental is reported to have one of the most number of HIV and AIDS cases in the country. In fact, the city ranks third in the province.
Aids victims got their sickness elsewhere but they came home for treatment that’s why about 36 cases of the said disease were recorded in the city as of July last year.
“There seems to be an alarming trend of the disease affecting especially the youth so an increased awareness is needed,” Yulo said, expressing optimism that the musical fireworks show will surely convey the message to the audience.
People from the city and neighboring areas in the province as well as tourists witnessed a 26-minute musical fireworks show dubbed “A Rhapsody of Colors and Diversity,” the 12th Lights of Bago held at the Manuel Y. Torres Sports Center in the city during New Year’s Day.
The fireworks display and light show featured nine greatest hits of the Queen, a rock band led by british singer, songwriter, record producer and vocalist Freddie Mercury who died in 1991 due to complications from Aids.
Yulo, on the sideline of the event, said one of the solutions for the said pressing concern is to bring it out to the open and let the people be knowledgeable about it.
“Local government units (LGUs) around the country and various sectors should help us lead the advocacy. We are here to educate the people,” the mayor said.
Yulo also noted that the city is also promoting awareness on gender equality and diversity.
“We should not discriminate them because they are also human beings and we should respect their gender preferences,” he said.
Aside from the entertainment value it gives to the people, Yulo said that the Lights of Bago also symbolizes hope for a brighter light awaiting every Bagonhon.
He also said that the event has been positively impacting the tourism and economy of the city,” adding that it has put Bago City on the map.
Last year, on its 11th edition, the 20-minute fireworks display featured some of the greatest hits in the 80s, themed “Beyond a Decade of Symphony and Music.”
The staging of the annual event every January 1 was initiated by European Raymond Stoffel, a retired international corporate lawyer from Luxembourg, whose wife has roots in Barangay Poblacion.
Stoffel had to go back to Europe which paved way for the city government to assume the hosting of the musical fireworks display since its second year.
Meanwhile, Dan Carlo Poblacion, lead communications officer of the The Red Whistle, a Manila-based organization which is a collaborative platform for people to come together and show their support to those living with HIV and AIDS, said they were very happy to see that a local government unit was able to put up a big event for an advocacy related to HIV and AIDS.
“I am very glad to see the efforts of the city government of Bago for this cause,” he said, adding that the city is the pioneering LGU to do such show with the said cause.
