Public urged to join AIDS Candlelight Memorial

By Leonard T. Pineda I

In commemoration of this year’s International AIDS Candlelight Memorial (IACM) on May 17, 2020, the Philippine Catholic HIV and AIDS Network (PhilCHAN)-Iloilo encouraged the public to light a candle with a red ribbon in the altars of their respective homes at 6 p.m. to show support to the HIV-AIDS awareness advocacy.

Sr. Mila Grace Silab, SPC, PhilCHAN-Iloilo chair and president of St. Paul University Iloilo, said that this initiative of encouraging everyone to light a candle is a means of still upholding their mission of raising awareness on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) amid the public health concern on the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

“On the occasion of the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial, we light the candles to remember and pray for the many lives lost to AIDS; we light the candle in memory of our friends, co-workers, brothers and sisters who have died due to AIDS; and we pray for their repose,” she said.

She said that this Candle Lighting Memorial is also an opportunity to honor those who have given their lives to helping people living with HIV and AIDS and continue to mobilize our communities in solidarity.

“When we light a candle, it is for a particular reason or purpose; lighting a candle represents bringing light to our wishes or desires and candles are lit for prayer intentions,” she said.

She said that candles may also be lit for loved ones who have died, to show gratitude, to affirm, and to bless.

“To ‘light a candle for someone’ indicates the person’s intention to say a prayer for another person, and that candle symbolizes that prayer,” she added.

The IACM, which is held annually every 3rd Sunday of May, aims to commemorate those who have died of HIV and AIDS by lighting a candle, sharing their stories and unfolding the quilt.

The theme for this year’s commemoration is “We Remember, We Take Action, We Live Beyond HIV”. (PIA)