Albert Josef Lirio

Effect of social stigma on HIV testing, treatment spotlighted in new film

Ang Pagyakap sa Linya poster. (Courtesy of Pakak Studios/Lahat ng Bata)

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17641423354642025112513114_068b316773f410a8515685cb3523bc37923ca178ae107c21a9e347909dc522c9.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Effect of social stigma on HIV testing, treatment spotlighted in new film"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Effect of social stigma on HIV testing, treatment spotlighted in new film </span></span></span>There’s no need to fear HIV.</div><p>This is the central message of Pakak Studios and Lahat ng Bata’s “Ang Pagyakap sa Linya,” which highlights stories of individuals who are at a greater risk of complications from the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) because of social stigma.</p><p>It follows community-based screening (CBS) motivator Marvs (André Miguel) who meets up with potentially his last client JL (Jack Denzel), who met with him discreetly for fear of his partner Rome (Kcedrick Balagat) knowing he took an HIV test.</p><p>The project is a two-year-old concept by producer Rain Russel, which he pitched to director and co-producer Dominic Rivera.</p><p>At first, Rivera asked Russell what message he wants to get across in the film, which was initially called “Hindi Mabubura ang Linya.” It was simple — encourage people to get tested for HIV — but Rivera found the title going against the goal.</p><p>After developing the concept, he told Russell to trust him to change it to the current one.</p><p>“Kasi ‘yun ‘yung gusto kong iparamdam pagkatapos ng pelikula: isang yakap,” he told an intimate audience at a private screening in Cubao on Sunday, Nov. 23.</p><p>(That’s what I want the audience to feel at the end of the film: an embrace.)</p><p>The producer-director also shared how it is a story that resonates with him who grew up believing the Christian view that preventing HIV meant not to be queer.</p><p>It is also the same for Russell, who told ABS-CBN News that weaving from his experience as a real-life CBS motivator, or someone who volunteers in communities to promote testing and treatment for HIV and sexual health, was both a blessing and a challenge.</p><p>“Mahirap, kasi you have to go through the stories again. Ang daming emotions, at doon din humuhugot ‘yung materyal. At madali siya dahil grounded ka. Mas humanistic, mas people-centric. Tao muna bago ka nagkaroon ng kuwento,” he explained.</p><p>(It was difficult because I had to go through the stories again. There were a lot of emotions, and that contributed to the story. At the same time it was easy because the narrative held ground. It was more humanistic and people-centric, a reminder that you are first human before you created the story.)</p><p>He explained that JL’s story in the film is not that far-fetched, as there are volunteers who go to unconventional places to do HIV tests, such as parking lots and fast food restaurants.</p><p>He recalled how he once met with a client (the person availing the HIV test) along the Manila Bay boardwalk, for fear of being seen by people who knew him in Ermita.</p><p>“Kayang mag-testing kahit maliit na espasyo, kahit saan basta komportable ka at nag-agree din ‘yung kliyente.”</p><p>(You can get tested even in the smallest of spaces, anywhere you’re comfortable and amenable with the client.)</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1764142055283529674075_122130221150908693_5749762883340350979_n.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="The stars of &#x27;Ang Pagyakap sa Linya.&#x27; Ang Pagyakap sa Linya/Facebook"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The stars of &#x27;Ang Pagyakap sa Linya.&#x27; <em>Ang Pagyakap sa Linya/Facebook</em></span></span></span></div><p>Russell also saw how villainized HIV was, especially when the Department of Health warned earlier this year about declaring the disease a national public health emergency.</p><p>“Siya ay tao na mayroong HIV. Hindi ‘yung tao equals HIV,” he explained. “Dapat naka-anchor siya sa humanistic na approach.”</p><p>(He is a person living with HIV. His whole existence does not equate to HIV. It has to be anchored in a humanistic approach.)</p><p>It was also through Russell’s network with non-profits that he was able to give the cast a more realistic approach to their characters.</p><p>Miguel shares how big of a help Russell is in portraying a volunteer CBS motivator and the struggles and drives that come with it.</p><p>“Naka-enrich siya sa akin hindi lang as Marvs kundi as a person, kasi basically kung paano ka magiging screening motivator, parang nagiging tao na bukas para sa kapwa tao rin,” he shared.</p><p>(Playing Marvs enriched me not just in the film but as a person, because being a screening motivator is similar to being a person ready to listen to others.)</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1764142161722580265592_17862233706516458_3523269634237679888_n.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="A scene from &#x27;Ang Pagyakap sa Linya.&#x27; Ang Pagyakap sa Linya/Facebook"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">A scene from &#x27;Ang Pagyakap sa Linya.&#x27; <em>Ang Pagyakap sa Linya/Facebook</em></span></span></span></div><p>When it came to preparing for JL, Denzel narrated how it was easy to put himself in the shoes of the person living with HIV (PLHIV) that he sat down with, as someone who also regularly gets tested for the disease.</p><p>“Napag-usapan din naming nina Rain at ni Dom na very important kung ano man ang maging resulta niya, hindi dapat natatapos doon ‘yung buhay niya,” Denzel noted.</p><p>(Rain, Dom and I agreed that it was very important to show that whatever the result of the test was, it wasn’t the end for JL.)</p><p>Among the screening audience were doctors who were also HIV advocates, who lauded how the film masterfully depicted its characters — the fearful, hesitant client and the struggling, conflicted CBS motivator. They noted how these kinds of stories should be showcased for the general public to help reduce the stigma not only against the disease, but also of queer people.</p><p>For now, Rivera said they would prefer more intimate, private screenings over submitting the film to festivals. They also want to organize screenings at the grassroots levels, such as in barangays and schools.</p><div><br/></div><div><em>Those interested in screening the film may get in touch with the film’s creators on Facebook (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/project.yakap5">https://www.facebook.com/project.yakap5</a>), Instagram (<a href="http://instagram.com/project.yakap">@project.yakap</a>) or e-mail project.yakap5@gmail.com.</em></div><div><em> </em></div><div><em>For individuals who wish to get tested or treated for HIV and AIDS, you may reach out to the following non-profit organizations:</em></div><div><em>HASH (HIV and AIDS Support House, Inc.) on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HASHPilipinas">Facebook</a>.</em></div><div><em>LoveYourself Inc. on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/loveyourself.ph">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/loveyourself.ph">Instagram</a>.</em></div>

<p>“Ang Pagyakap sa Linya” tells audiences that a big part of curbing the spread of the HIV is by embracing the realities of it, specifically in erasing the line that discriminates against people seeking help and information about the virus.</p>

“Ang Pagyakap sa Linya” tells audiences that a big part of curbing the spread of the HIV is by embracing the realities of it, specifically in erasing the line that discriminates against people seeking help and information about the virus.