Babae Plus
Women in Action
PUBLISHED: SEPTEMBER 2009

The saddest thing: NOT that many know of Babae Plus.

And this, it can’t be said enough, is truly an unfortunate thing.

Established in August 2004, Babae Plus primarily aims to give voice to women living with HIV/AIDS – i.e. it “aims empower women living with HIV so they could, at the individual level and as a collective, address the emotional, economic and spiritual needs of women,” an online profiling on the group states.

This focus on women (Filipino women, in particular) is important because of the issues faced by women living with HIV, e.g. economic maginalization, stereotyping (women are still relegated to roles that are nurturing and clinical in nature, and the continuing violence against women.

After all, arguably largely due to the stereotyped role expected of women - particularly in such countries as the Philippines - women are often affected, if not necessarily infected, by HIV and/or AIDS, be it as caretakers, counselors, health professionals, et cetera.

Babae Plus’ efforts include conducting workshops on sex, gender and sexuality; stakeholders’ forum on the economic situation and needs of women living with HIV; and participation in advocacy activities, e.g. World AIDS Day and AIDS Candlelight Memorial.  With these efforts, Babae Plus hopes to “make the members better understand each other’s context and appreciation of their various realities (while leading to) more open and supportive relationship among its members.”

While the group is still small (arguably largely due to the fact that not that many know of its existence), with less than 30 members, Babae Plus continues to sustain the active participation and commitment of its members, even as it now sees the need to build the capacity of the members of Babae Plus.