VINCE GOLANGCO

Internet marketing consultant/creative director, www.wheninmanila.com

Having lived in the US for most of his life, Vince was certainly exposed to and knowledgeable about messages on HIV/AIDS prevention. "But I did not know anyone who living with HIV or AIDS."

That changed in 2006 when a friend suddenly confided that he had just been diagnosed as HIV-positive."I was really caught off-guard because there was nothing to indicate that my friend was even sick."

Despite the knowledge that he had on HIV/AIDS, Vince realized that there was one thing that he did not know: "What do you say when someone you care about tells you they're HIV-positive?" Golangco admits he just listened. "It seemed to me that he really needed someone to talk to."

When asked if he was afraid that his being in the photo shoot would create doubts about his sexual orientation, he answered, "No. If people see my picture here and judge then may be they should re-educate themselves on HIV/AIDS, too. It can affect anyone. And I'd like to think I'm doing this for my friend. We still talk and keep in touch, though not as much since I moved to the Philippines. Doing this will show him that he has my support even from here."