Coming out 2: A thank you message

It’s amazing how people's lives changes when they find out that one of their friends or relative is living with HIV.

When I came out I’ve been receiving phone calls from friends and the love and support I receive from them is overwhelming.

I was chatting with a friend from Dubai, who’ve heard the news from a common close friend. In our chat conversation, he said:

"Kilala kita, one destination lang sayo ang buhay na ito and there are so many things that you have to experience, I don't know if by choice or destiny. You're one weird and brave soul."

For some strange reason, I felt complimented. He's physically far yet I feel the nearness of his presence.

I have outed my self to my family, several close friends and workmates.I received "positive" responses, each is unique in its own way. Every response helped me become a better person and I know that I have the same effect to these people's lives, one way or another.

Like most people living with HIV, I too have lots of concerns about how people will accept me for having this situation. But I eventually realized that those fears are keeping me from being the person I want to be, from being productive, from living a good and healthy life… from being happy and continue spreading love. Hence I decided to kick them all off and liberating myself by admitting to my self and to the everyone that this is what I have right now.

I don’t mind being HIV positive… I hope you feel the same way too.

To my family, to all my friends, to the people I hold dear in my heart and all those who's accepted me regardless of my situation… THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE LOVE AND SUPPORT.

To you who’s reading this blog… don’t wait until someone get’s diagnosed with HIV before you tell them you love them. Always make the people you care for know you love them.