A friend of mine admitted this to me yesterday: "I've been positive for about three years." I was completely caught off guard by the sudden revelation, but at the same time, I couldn't help but think, But you're so..."normal."

Here is a guy whom I whined to about being single and turned to for all sorts of advice, and in the one year that I'd known him, I never guessed that he had more "important" concerns than my petty woes. But then again, that's just the sort of guy he is. He is a man with a huge heart, always willing to give a guy a helping hand or a shoulder to cry on. It didn't matter to me how it happened, what's important is the fact that he is okay. I figured that if it could happen to my friend, it could probably happen to anyone. Bad things happen to the best of us. The important thing is how you handle the situation.

Don't Be Negative

My friend is a spokesperson for the National Federation of Filipino Living with HIV and AIDS. He has made it his mission to promote treatment, care, and support for people living with HIV. And while someone else might just give in to depression and rage, my friend opened his eyes and let this make him become a better person. "My infection showed me the goodness of life. I gained friends and met extremely loving, supportive, and understanding people. I realized that there is more love and hope in this world than we think there is. I felt apathetic when I knew [I was positive], but later on it sank in that I am gonna have this for the rest of my life—and that struck me like lightning. [I] felt sad at first, then I came to realize that you have to live more productively and happily," he admitted to me.

It Could Happen To Anyone

I think that's the thing we have to remember. STDs aren't exclusive to homosexuals, a specific gender, social status, or how promiscuous a person is. The fact of the matter is, the person beside you—your officemate, friend, or even the next guy you sleep with—may have an STD. I always assumed that I could judge a person just by looking at him, just like I thought I could tell a cheater from someone who was faithful. But sometimes, you just never know. And people in general, not just men, will surprise you sometimes. I personally respect him more after he opened up to me--especially since he's actually doing something positive because of such an unfortunate turn of events.

In this month's  issue, we have an article on how to prevent the spread of STDs, which is a must-read for everyone. We're also celebrating our Fun, Fearless Female Awards, and among them are inspiring women like Raissa Laurel who have also turned their personal tragedy into an advocacy. Make them your role models.

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