Mr. Gay World Philippines (MGWP), will be hosting Cherry Poppin to Help Raise Funds for HIV Advocacy

LoveYourself Inc., in collaboration with Mr. Gay World Philippines (MGWP), will be hosting Cherry Poppin' - The 3rd Party on 25 February at the One Canvas Events Place in Makati City for the benefit of the organization's testing clinics and community centers.

Already on its third year, Cherry Poppin' is a fundraising activity indulging guests with man-date auctions, a fashion show of the creations of Don Cristobal and Jaggy Glarino to be styled by Syper Abel, and a rave party.

A donation of PhP300 grants an admission to the event inclusive of a free drink by just logging in at http://go.loveyourself.ph/cherrytickets.

MGWP 2016 2nd-runner-up Khalil Vera Cruz​

MGWP 2016 runner-up winners Khalil Vera Cruz and Bench Ortiz are set to grace the event with Vera Cruz participating as one of the auctionees party guests (donors) can bid on.

Vera Cruz says that more than scoring a date, he hopes that the guests would be able to understand the significance of the project, which is to help raise funds for the organization.

"I’m glad we have this kind of project where we can raise funds and be able to promote awareness about HIV and AIDS…I am always hopeful that someday HIV and AIDS will be a thing of the past," he said.

Willing to share his life experiences to the winning donor-bidder, Vera Cruz is known for his #AcceptanceWithoutAcceptions campaign, the slogan he carried when he competed for the MGWP 2016 title.

Thrusting for equal rights and protection of the LGBTI community, Vera Cruz noted “I am also advocating #AcceptanceWithoutAcceptions which means equality and respect deserved by all people across the gender and sexual spectrum."

Meanwhile, as one of the HIV prevention ambassadors of LoveYourself, Ortiz stresses how Cherry Poppin’ would really help promote the HIV awareness and prevention cause to key populations.

This 25-year-old fitness coach also uses his profession to push for his advocacies. "As a fitness trainer, I want to uplift the people living with HIV, by sharing knowledge on how to take better care of themselves about their health and well-being," he emphasized.

Vera Cruz and Ortiz are no strangers to volunteering for LoveYourself as they were once the face of the Incognito 2.0, a community-based HIV screening held last November in Malate, Manila.

​MGWP 2016 1st-runner-up Bench Ortiz

A Night Of Dates And Dancing

Besides Vera Cruz, party guests (donors) will also have the chance to win themselves dates with other auctionees comprising of celebrity chef Jeremy Favia and famous fashion photographer BJ Pascual, among others. Those with winning bids will go on an all-expenses-paid date with the auctionees and may enjoy sponsor packages from Victoria Court, Sip & Gogh (Kapitolyo), Regency Grand Suites and Tambayan Gastropub, Aramesh Spa and Wellness, Lemiel Cafe, The Menu Group (Splice Sobremesa, SASA and Sangkap), and Sparta Philippines.

Party gates will open at 8:00 p.m. featuring music from DJ Mike Lavet, and performances from character actor Prince Stefan, stage performer Venus of O-Bar and internet sensation Lady Gagita.

TestMNL Launch

Furthermore during Cherry Poppin', LoveYourself will also launch the TestMNL HIV awareness campaign, which is patterned after the TestBKK campaign in Bangkok, Thailand.

TestMNL is a campaign funded by the Elton John AIDS Foundation through the Asia Pacific Coalition on Male Sexual Health (APCOM), a regional organization that promotes HIV issues that affect the lives of men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender people, including rights, health and well-being.

TestMNL X Cherry Poppin' - The Third Party is also supported by Bliss, Vasst Exchange International Inc. (Stella Rosa), MAC Cosmetics, Art & Style Events Management and Production Design, Ground Zero, Jack Daniels and Nectar Philippines.

LoveYourself is a non-government organization providing free and confidential HIV testing, counselling, education, and recently treatment. It currently has two clinics: LoveYourself Anglo in Shaw near Starmall and LoveYourself Uni in Taft-Gil Puyat near the LRT station. These clinics are open on Wednesdays-Saturdays (12:00 nn-7:00 p.m.) and Sundays (9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.).

For more details on LoveYourself’s services, individuals may visit the group’s official website at www.loveyourself.ph or follow and like its social media channels: Facebook- @loveyourself.ph, Twitter- @loveyourselfph, and Instagram- @loveyourself.ph.