Let’s Talk About Sex with Durex’ SEXducated

 

In the past few years, Filipinos have started opening up and talking about sex and how it is an important conversation to have in order to engage in safe, healthy, and satisfying sexual activities. But despite the inroads that have been made in normalizing conversations about sex, barriers remain when it comes to discussing Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) including the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) as the feelings of shame and stigma remain which prevent people from accessing information and resources that can help Filipinos develop safe sex habits.

The lack of access and conversation contributes to the continued rise in the number of people who test HIV-positive in the country. July 2021 data from the HIV/AIDS & ART Registry of the Philippines (HARP) showed that 1,045 Filipinos tested HIV-positive while 60 people died of AIDS-related complications. This means 33 people tested positive every day from January to July 2021.

 

HIV cases in the Philippines continue to rise especially for youths aged 15-24 years old

 

 

Faced with these numbers, Durex continues to strengthen its mission to promote safe sex with its new SEXducated video series available on the Durex Facebook and YouTube channel.

 

 

SEXducated with Durex

Targeted toward millennials and Gen Zs, singles, and stay-at-home couples, the SEXducated with Durex video series is a fun and creative treatment to lessons on practicing safe sex. The show gives light to HIV awareness and how to improve one’s overall sexual health.

 

“It’s part of our responsibility as a brand to empathize with our consumers’ needs and give them safe and practical solutions,” said Matt Davis, Reckitt Marketing Director. “Through SEXducated with Durex, we aim to provide a safe space and have a thoughtful discussion on topics that beg to be talked about.”

 

Singles and young people can learn from the boys of Boys Night Out (Sam YG, Slick Rick and TonyToni) and Elijah Canlas as the four debunk HIV myths with hard facts. They can also learn from Dr. Kilimanguru, as he addresses need-to-know information about HIV. While couples can find ways to rekindle their relationships as they explore the topic of seeking pleasure through intimate acts with Dr. Rica Cruz.

 

With Durex’s SEXducated series, Boys Night Out and Elijah Canlas debunk HIV myths and learn hard facts about safe sex

 

 

Dr. Kilimanguru or Winston Kilimanjaro Tiwaquen is a doctor who gained fame on TikTok for his medical advice videos known for being easy to understand and entertaining because of his use of hugot lines and jokes. Through his videos, delivered in colloquial Filipino, viewers learn about the simplest medical issues from the common cold to HIV, and even COVID-19. Meanwhile Dr. Rica Cruz is a sexologist and media personality whose expertise is on sexual pleasure and sexual behaviors. Dr. Rica believes that sexual ownership is sexier than sex.

 

  

Together Dr. Kilimanguru and Dr. Rica Cruz, viewers learn need-to-know facts about HIV and having sex safely, intimately, and pleasurably

 

 

Protection, Preparedness, and Education (PPE)

Enabling Filipinos to “Always Come Prepared,” Durex fulfills its role as a responsible brand through ongoing partnerships with various organizations. To date, Durex is distributing condoms to the beneficiaries of the Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM), San Lazaro Hospital - Nagasaki University Collaborative Research and Laboratory, Positive Action Foundation Philippines Incorporated (PAFPI), Pasig City Government, Sustained Health Initiatives of the Philippines (SHIP), The Red Whistle, and LoveYourself, Inc.

 

The need to connect is very human and so is the need for open conversation about something as natural as sex. And with the isolation possibly triggering more intense feelings, it’s important to protect oneself from risks that can be otherwise prevented.

 

With its SEXducated campaign, Durex encourages Filipinos to always come prepared and enjoy sex safely. Learn more about practicing safe sex with Durex via their Facebook page.

 

Durex Strengthens PPE Campaign to Help Address STI and HIV Incidence in the Philippines

With over a year in lockdown, we find ourselves still in the midst of the pandemic, cautious yet with a glint of optimism with COVID-19 vaccine roll-out. Raising awareness of safe sex and sexually-transmitted diseases has become more relevant as the Philippines currently records 29 cases per day as of January 2021 according to the Department of Health (DOH). The agency has tagged HIV as a continuing public threat, and has called for the continued cooperation and collaboration of all local communities, civil society organizations, key stakeholders, and the government in jointly addressing this pressing matter.

As part of its mission to protect Filipinos from the threats of sexually-transmitted diseases such as HIV and AIDS, Durex continues to promote the importance of using proper protection during sexual intercourse through education and awareness programs. Durex carries on with its own impactful initiatives under its Protection and Preparedness Education (PPE) campaign.

Remaining as steadfast and driven as ever this 2021—despite the lingering challenges—Durex pursues its advocacy of raising awareness on the importance of condom use as means to help stop the HIV epidemic and the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the country.

“During these times, we cannot afford to let our guard down,” says Matt Davis, Reckitt Philippines Marketing Director. “Just as COVID-19 remains to be of critical importance, so too are STIs and HIV. Durex will continue to do our share as a proactive private sector partner in building awareness and educating the public on the importance of protection.”

Thus, Durex will be continuing its donations to organizations including Love Yourself with which the brand has an ongoing full-year partnership, and the Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM), The Red Whistle, and the United Nation (UN) Women.

This Pride Month, Durex is one with the LGBTQ+ community in expressing and exploring their sex, sexuality, and gender identity with the ‘Wide open to love’ campaign. The campaign is aimed at empowering everyone to accept and celebrate their most authentic self, while recognizing that the continuing HIV epidemic will end by using protection so that people can truly express their most authentic self. Watch Durex’ Wide Open Pride Online campaign on their Facebook page.

Durex University Digi-Townhall: bringing the timely message of Protection and Preparedness Education Online

Continuing with its mission of informing the public, especially the youth, about HIV awareness during a pandemic, Durex recently resumed its University Townhalls, now dubbed University Digi-Townhall, as part of their ongoing Protection & Preparedness Education (PPE) Campaign. Shifting the event to an online platform, what used to be held annually in various college campuses is now done virtually, still with subject matter experts as key resource persons and the Boys Night Out crew—Slick Rick, TonyToni, and Sam YG—as hosts.

“By moving our townhalls online, we want to bring forth the strong message that Durex continues to reach out to the youth who are the most vulnerable,” says Durex Philippines. “It’s critical that we keep them informed of the dangers of contracting HIV, of the importance of using protection, especially during this COVID-19 pandemic.”

Given the present COVID-19 situation, the dangers of HIV have escaped public awareness, with many still unmindful of how HIV is equally deadly as Coronavirus. This view is further validated by data from the DOH-Epidemiology Bureau showing that from July to September 2020, there were 1,875 confirmed HIV-positive individuals reported to the HIV/AIDS & ART Registry of the Philippines (HARP). Of these, ninety-five percent or 1,783 of the reported cases are male and the median age is at 28 years old.

Thus, through the University Digi-Townhall, Durex aims to help reverse this trend by helping people—particularly singles and stay-at-home couples—be more prepared, protected and educated about HIV, highlighting the importance of safe and protected sex during these challenging times with the use of condoms.

For the first University Digi-Townhall, held in partnership with LoveYourself, Inc., National University Student Government, National University Student Affairs Office, and PUP College of Business Administration Student Council, infectious disease expert Dr. Edsel Salvana, Educator, Sex Therapist and Licensed Psychologist Dr. Rica Cruz RPsy, and Jabar Ysmael, a Person Living with HIV, were on hand to share with the close to 400 participants their valuable insights and advice.

In his talk, Dr. Salvana discussed the state of HIV/AIDS in the Philippines following the alarming UNAIDS annual report which states that the country still has one of the highest growing infection rates in the world. Dr. Cruz, furthermore, emphasized how proper awareness coupled with practicing safe sex can help curb the spread of HIV, contextualizing her presentation on safe sex in the time of pandemic. Meanwhile, Esmael drew from personal experience as he spoke on the challenges of dealing with HIV/AIDS in the Philippines, while underscoring the importance of getting yourself tested.

“In view of recent data, the urgent need for Filipinos to always stay prepared and protected against HIV/AIDS cannot be stressed enough,” says Dr. Salvana. “This has become ever more critical now in these times when health and wellness awareness is paramount.”

As preparations are underway for the next leg of their University Digi-Townhall, Durex continues to remind everyone that no one is invulnerable to catching HIV and that we must always come prepared.

5 Things to Remember as We Begin Again

As we welcome the new year—2021, it might do well for us to look back, to take stock of the positive lessons that we can extract from what was an unprecedented year. For sure, numerous take-aways can be gained as we move forward and anticipate a more “mobile” next normal—especially since vaccine trials by leading pharmaceutical companies have been yielding encouraging results.

With that, here are 5 lessons we should remember as we begin again:

Always wash your hands

Perhaps the most frequent reminder worth noting is how the power of proper handwashing has been in full display. It has been proven effective in killing 99.9% of germs and should always be considered a first line of defense against sicknesses and diseases.

Do not take sicknesses lightly

The previous year that was also demonstrated how a virus can easily and quickly transmit from one person to another. With this, one should learn to treat regular coughs, colds, and flu like a very harmful and contagious virus. That means that even if the pandemic eventually ends, it would be wise to isolate one’s self when they feel flu-like symptoms or anything of the sort.

Take care of yourself

But more than the physical and physiological, we also learned to focus on ourselves and safeguard our mental health, a practice which we should continue doing even as we start physically interacting with others—carefully—and as we slowly get back into our fast-paced lives.

Cherish each moment

At some point during the lockdown, there must have been a point where we all realized that we had taken some activities, events, and physical hangouts for granted. So, in heading out again with care, cherish and make the most out of every outdoor moment and create memories that can last lifetimes.

Always be prepared

But in our excitement to resume our normal lifestyle, hang out, and even hook up, it’s important to remember that health safety should always be a priority for us to continue to enjoy the best things life can offer, for a long time.

So always be prepared and bring quality PPEs like alcohol, hand sanitizers, wipes, and even condoms—such as Durex—especially for those who have been craving for intimacy.

To learn more about the best PPEs to use in the next normal and how to stay safe and protected both up there and down there, Durex has launched a series of insightful videos with Boys Night Out which you can catch on Facebook and YouTube.

Top HIV Advocates Call on Filipinos to Prioritize Health Safety in Next Normal

During last month’s World AIDS day, some of the country’s most known personalities came together to support the Protection and Preparedness Education (PPE) campaign of Durex, which is anchored on the Always Come Prepared message. Stressing the point that, “no one is invulnerable to catching HIV so always being prepared in encounters is a must,” the campaign is the brand’s way of advocating for HIV awareness and health safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Through Durex’s World AIDS Day Campaign, which encourages everyone to join in on the fight against HIV/AIDS, celebrities and HIV advocates including TonyToni, Slick Rick, Sam YG, Ian Pangilinan, Paolo Pangilinan, Elijah Canlas, Kokoy De Santos, Macoy Dubs, Marc Teng, Freak & Jerck, Rica Cruz, Jabar Esmael, MA Buendia, and others all shared social media posts that showed them donning Durex statement face masks that carry such catchy but timely messages such as ‘Safety is Sexy,’ ‘Don’t Blow It,’ ‘Suit Up Before Hook Up’, ‘Always Come Prepared’ and more!

“Even in the face of the pandemic, the brand strongly believes that continuing to raise awareness on HIV should not stop. This is why we launched the Protection and Preparedness Education (PPE) campaign,” says Durex Philippines. “We’re extremely pleased that a number of celebrities and influencers have all agreed to take part in this endeavor, which includes our fun but sensible Mask Initiative, by helping spread the word through their respective social media accounts.”

To help boost their efforts to combat HIV/AIDS amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and promote health safety, Durex also recently donated personal protective equipment (PPEs)—a total of 1000 face masks, 1000 face shields, and 7000 boxes of Durex Condoms each—to local HIV-advocate groups LoveYourself, The Red Whistle, and the PLHIV Response Center.

Durex advances Protection and Preparedness Education Campaign by donating PPEs to HIV-advocate groups

Durex, a brand that advocates HIV Awareness and health safety, donated Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to local HIV-advocate groups as part of their Protection and Preparedness Education Campaign, just in time for World AIDS Day.

A total of 1000 face masks, 1000 face shields, and 7000 boxes of Durex Condoms were each turned over to LoveYourself, The Red Whistle, and the PLHIV Response Center to help boost their efforts to combat HIV/AIDS amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and promote health safety.

The brand has been consistent in its efforts to spread HIV Awareness ever since the lockdown started here in the country. Launching the Protection and Preparedness Education campaign last September, Durex aims to further raise awareness on the importance of using PPEs like face masks and condoms to curb the COVID-19 pandemic and HIV epidemic in the country. They aim to remind Filipinos that alongside COVID-19, HIV is still a growing health crisis and that it deserves everyone’s utmost attention.

As of December 3, there have been 435,413 total reported cases of COVID-19 and around 81,000 total reported cases of HIV in the country.

The campaign seeks to educate Filipinos on health safety and the importance of practicing safe sex even during quarantine through a series of fun and informational videos with Boys Night Out and other personalities. These videos, which can be streamed via Durex’s Facebook and YouTube pages, tackle the best PPEs to use in the new normal and provide tips on how to stay safe and protected both up there and down there during this difficult time.

Durex to Launch an All-New Campaign Focused on HIV Protection & Preparedness Education (PPE)

In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the issue of HIV and the dangers it brings, seems to have taken a backseat amidst everything that the whole world is experiencing right now. Yet, what people don’t seem to realize is that HIV is equally threatening as COVID-19. In the same way that we are told to wear masks and face shields, being properly educated, prepared, and protected against HIV is likewise critical in today’s times.

With this in mind, Durex launches its latest digital campaign dubbed as “Protection & Preparedness Education” or PPE in short. This timely initiative aims to heighten HIV awareness, stressing the constant relevance of safe sex and “Always Coming Prepared”—and that we must never let our guards down. Whether for singles or stay-at-home couples, using protection—which can provide necessary safeguards without limiting pleasure—is crucial, as health and wellness concerns continue to take front and center, during the ongoing pandemic.

Towards this end, Durex has lined-up a series of online events, headlined by the crew of Boys Night Out (BNO)—TonyToni, Slick Rick, and Sam YG—the campaign’s main ambassadors.

“With all that is happening during these trying times, we must not lose sight of the fact that HIV remains to be a serious concern, one that is as life-threatening as COVID-19,” says Durex Philippines. “The Always Come Prepared campaign of Durex therefore continues, made just as relevant and timely—in keeping with the situation by going online. We will keep on with our goal of educating the public about HIV Prevention, and that being prepared is always a must.”

Among the exciting and relevant activities to watch out for include an online staging of the University Townhall series featuring speakers from the medical field, psychology, HIV, and LGBTQIA+ awareness and advocacy; the launch of HIV Awareness E-Learning Videos that’s well suited for the shift towards online learning; and Vlog collabs with influencers and celebrities focused on fun, health and wellness activities.

Stay tuned for more details by subscribing to Durex Philippines’ YouTube Channel.

As HIV Cases Among Filipino Males Rise, Durex calls for Continued Awareness and Support to the LGBTQIA+ Community

With the ongoing pandemic, the COVID-19 virus has been on everybody’s mind, causing tremendous anxiety and fear in everyone. While undeniably COVID-19 has resulted in a health crisis of unparalleled proportions, the issue of HIV in the Philippines alongside that of LGBTQIA+ community concerns still remains a critical one, more so in view of the latest data from the Department of Health (DOH) and Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS).

Statistics from the DOH show that the average number of people newly diagnosed with HIV on a daily basis is at 35. Furthermore, the number of HIV cases among sexually active males has been considerable, with January to December 2019 figures pegged at 7,743 male to male transmissions.

Additional data shows that from January 1984 to December 2019, sexual contact among men who have sex with men (MSM) is at 85% or 59,906, and was the predominant mode of transmission. This is followed by male-female sex at 11% or 7,476, and sharing of infected needles at 3% or 2,166. More than half of men who have sex with men at 52% or 31,377 were 25-34 years old at the time of testing, and 31% or 18,555 were 15-24 years old.

These figures resulted in the DOH Central Office National AIDS and STI (sexually transmitted infection) Prevention and Control Program to sound the alarm over how more young Filipino men are being infected by HIV.

Meanwhile, data from the 2019 Global AIDS Report shows that the population size estimate of men who have sex with men stands at 830,000, with an HIV prevalence of 5%, HIV testing and status awareness at 28.4%, and condom use at 40.1%. In the same study, the population size estimate of transgenders stands at 190,000, HIV testing and status awareness at 36.3%, and condom use at 40.6.%.

“The lockdown imposed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic has brought many challenges and difficulties to a lot of people, where people living with HIV (PLHIV) have not been spared,” says Dr. Louie Ocampo, Country Director of UNAIDS Philippines. “Early on, for example, accessing life-saving antiretroviral therapy and prevention services including condoms became difficult. It’s imperative therefore that all stakeholders’ work together to ensure uninterrupted access to HIV services is provided and that we remain relentless in our drive to curb a possible second wave of the HIV epidemic in the country.”

Truly no one is invincible to catching HIV, and now more than ever, the use of protection and the importance of always being prepared in encounters cannot be stressed enough. This bares even more relevant with the recently concluded virtual celebration of Pride Month – with the call of the LGBTQIA+ community, one of the most vulnerable sectors of HIV, for inclusivity and acceptance – and the active participation of Durex.

Through its No One Way Love All Ways Campaign, which emphasizes that there’s really no one way to own your sexuality, Durex continues the fight to curb the spread of HIV in the Philippines, even in this season of COVID-19.

Beyond the No One Way Love All Ways Campaign, Durex has a host of other worthwhile initiatives in partnership with various stakeholders. Included here is the brand's donation of condoms to the Taguig City Health Office last April, which were then distributed to health centers as well as being made available for the city’s telemedicine program. Durex is also donating P20K worth of products to LoveYourself for their National HIV Prevention Month activities this August.

Without question, hand in hand with the present fight against COVID-19, so must the fight for the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community and people living with HIV continue. So, too, is the need to arrest the alarming rise in HIV cases in the country.

Durex calls for Inclusivity and Acceptance

During the recently held Pride Month, Durex proudly joined the LGBTQIA+ community in their shout for inclusivity and acceptance. Continuing its mission to protect every Filipino from the threats of sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV and AIDS, Durex underscores the importance of using protection during sexual intercourse. To achieve this, they aim to make condoms accessible to Filipinos’ education and awareness initiatives such as school tours and social media and influencer campaigns. This has become ever more relevant as the Philippines has become the country with the fastest growing HIV cases, with 35 cases reported per day in 2019 according to the DOH.

Towards this end, Durex strengthens its support to the LGBTQIA+ community, which has seen a high infection rate year on year. And for the month of June, Durex took Pride by sharing love and care for all and by removing dated notions and outmoded definitions of LGBTQIA+ sex, to show there’s really no one way to own your sexuality.

Simply put, Durex aims to show people that they should never feel confined and intimidated by how others define gay and lesbian sex, and that their ways are also truly valid. Each one of us should be aware of our own rights as individuals and must have love and respect for one another’s choice.

Hence, the brand came out with the timely campaign message ‘No One Way, Love All Ways’, which was the rallying cry during the recently concluded Durex Online Pride Party hosted by Becky Nights. This fun and exciting party featured several games and activities, including interviews with special guests TonyToni, Slick Rick, and Sam YG of Boys Night Out, Gameboys’ Elijah Canlas, Miss International Queen 2012 Kevin Balot, LGBTQIA+ Advocate Justin Contemprato, and Content Creator Jake Perez. Viewers of the Online Pride Party were also treated to special performances by celebrity impersonators Brigiding, Popstar Bench, and Precious Paula Nicole.

“One of the best ways to show our support to the LGBTQIA+ community is to make each and every one of them feel that they are loved and accepted”, Durex Philippines said in a statement recently. “It is equally important that their feelings are valued and embraced, and that we don’t dictate to them how they should think and feel.”

With the ‘No One Way, Love All Ways’ message, Durex also sets out to enjoin everyone to continue the fight of the LGBTQIA+ community long after Pride Month – in solidarity and in togetherness. Because as prejudice, preconceptions, and HIV cases continue to rise, the march must simply continue on!