Mr. Gay Sugbo '25 must 'walk the talk' in HIV awareness advocacy

With the concerning rise of HIV cases in the Philippines including in Cebu City, it was important for Mr. Gay Sugbo to continue its advocacy of raising HIV awareness through its annual Pride Month pageant.

- By JANUAR JUNIOR AGUJA

Now on its third year, the Mr. Gay Sugbo 2025 competition will take place tomorrow, June 28, 6 p.m. at Plaza Independencia, following the Cebu City Pride Parade walk.

For the organizers, it was crucial to select candidates with substance who can lead the organization's awareness campaign.

"Most pageants will always look at the beauty of the face, body structure, and presence in general. We are an advocacy pageant, and we have always emphasized this to the core," Mr. Gay Sugbo President Dr. Christian Emmanuel Enriquez said at a June 25 press conference held at Quest Hotel and Conference Center.

"We are looking for potential ambassadors who can really walk the talk. It's a rigorous process of not only knowing the candidates on a personal level, but doing a background check to see if they can embody the advocacy we are promoting."

One of the hopefuls vying to succeed Marnes Dave Aying, last year's winner, is Glosim Abal, a 25-year-old resident of Barangay Guadalupe who is a cum laude graduate from Mandaue City College and has participated in pageants for seven years.

"It's sad that, based on the statistics this year, the cases are increasing. But we should look at the bright side, which is to continue spreading awareness on HIV in an ever-changing world," Abal said.

He stressed one of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals - Quality Education - as key to informing people about addressing the issues surrounding the virus and preventive measures.