HIV and Literature

By Noel de Leon

On June 3, the Philippine government declared a National Public Health Emergency following a staggering 500% surge in HIV cases. The Department of Health reported an average of 57 new HIV diagnoses per day between January and March of this year. This sharp increase marks the highest rate of infection in the Western Pacific Region. In Western Visayas, the province of Iloilo recorded the highest number of HIV cases, with 2,063 confirmed cases from 1986 to 2024. This accounts for 23% of the region’s total. Among these, 256 have resulted in death.

These alarming statistics compel us to reflect not only on public health systems but also on the role of cultural tools like literature, particularly queer literature, in confronting and reshaping public understanding of issues such as HIV and AIDS. While it is unreasonable to expect literature to resolve a systemic health crisis, it remains a powerful medium to amplify awareness, foster empathy, and initiate conversations that reach beyond the sterile confines of policy and clinical discourse.

As a literary scholar and educator, I have long accepted that literature alone cannot solve public health issues. To place such a burden on it would be unfair and unrealistic. Government accountability, legislative action, and effective health policies remain the most vital responses to crises such as HIV. Nevertheless, literature, especially queer literature, plays a crucial role in contextualizing these issues and in educating individuals, particularly the youth, on how to protect themselves and others from infection.

After all, how can a poem or short story possibly compete with the institutional power of government programs, funding, and legislation? Real and lasting change must come from our lawmakers and leaders. Without laws that protect vulnerable communities, such as the LGBTQIA+ community, it is difficult to envision a future free from discrimination, stigma, and preventable disease. Literature alone cannot dismantle structural inequality. However, it can humanize it. It can reach where policies often cannot.

This essay is not just a call to appreciate literature as a passive form of awareness-building. It is also a call to action: to integrate literary narratives into community outreach, especially in underserved and often neglected municipalities such as Pavia, Pototan, Janiuay, Sta. Barbara, Dumangas, Cabatuan, Barotac Nuevo, Miagao, and Lambunao. These areas, home to thousands of children and students, deserve access to culturally relevant and developmentally appropriate resources that demystify HIV and empower communities.

As an educator, I believe we can start by including key Filipino texts on HIV and AIDS in the classroom. These books can serve as gateways for students to learn about the disease in ways that are accessible, nuanced, and deeply human.

1. Si Duglahi, Isang Patak ng Dugo by Dr. Luis P. Gatmaitan

This Palanca award-winning children’s story introduces young readers to basic human physiology through the character of Duglahi, a curious drop of blood navigating the human body. Through engaging metaphors and accessible language, Dr. Gatmaitan makes complex medical concepts approachable for children. While not directly addressing HIV, the book lays important groundwork for understanding bodily systems and health, which is critical for introducing more complex health topics later on.

2. Orosa-Nakpil, Malate by Dr. Louie Mar A. Gangcuangco

First published in 2006, this novel is a seminal work in Filipino queer literature. It follows John David “Dave” de Jesus, a medical student at UP Manila, who discovers the vibrant yet vulnerable LGBTQ+ scene in Malate. The novel chronicles his relationships and awakening to the realities of HIV and AIDS in the community. Gangcuangco’s narrative dispels myths about HIV, promotes safe sex, and encourages regular testing. Written when the author was just 18, this book is both a literary achievement and a public health intervention.

3. Mga Batang Poz by Segundo D. Matias Jr.

This groundbreaking young adult novel, published in 2018, is the first of its kind in the Philippines to focus on young people living with HIV. It tells the story of four teenage boys—Luis, Enzo, Gab, and Chuchay—who meet through an online support group and share their experiences of diagnosis, stigma, and hope. The book challenges harmful stereotypes and fosters empathy, providing readers, especially Filipino youth, with a narrative of resilience in the face of social exclusion.

All three works serve distinct yet complementary purposes. They inform, they comfort, and they challenge. More importantly, they fill the representational gap left by mainstream discourse, which often neglects or misrepresents queer experiences and the realities of HIV in the Philippine context.

The journey of literature, especially queer literature, in tackling issues such as HIV is far from over. Yet I remain optimistic. Filipino writers continue to pave meaningful paths by addressing real issues through storytelling that resonates with diverse audiences. The next challenge, I believe, is for writers in the regions to create contextualized, culturally grounded stories in local languages that reflect the lives of queer individuals in their communities.

The fight against HIV is not just a medical or political issue. It is a cultural one. Literature, as a cultural force, has the capacity to challenge ignorance, reframe narratives, and ultimately, save lives.

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Noel Galon de Leon is a writer and educator at University of the Philippines Visayas, where he teaches in both the Division of Professional Education and U.P. High School in Iloilo. He serves as an Executive Council Member of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts-National Committee on Literary Arts.