The Rising HIV Cases in the Philippines: What’s the Real Score?, with Mark de Castro & Rod Olete of Sustained Health Initiatives of the Philippines (SHIP)

In early 2025, media headlines reported a “youth epidemic” as HIV cases in the Philippines surged, averaging 57 new cases a day. Some coverage blamed dating apps, young people, and queer communities, stoking public fear. But is this the full story?In this episode of The Queer Pridecast, we go beyond the numbers to unpack what’s really happening with two experts on the frontlines of HIV prevention.We explore how expanded testing is behind the surge, how media framing can fuel stigma, and what structural and community-level responses are underway to build a more humane, person-centered HIV system in the Philippines.TIMESTAMPS02:10 – Mark & Rod on stigma in media reporting08:39 – Are people more complacent about HIV? 12:30 – Community HIV testing16:08 – Rod on #telePrEPph and rural PrEP access24:00 – Consent laws, policy bottlenecks, and social work28:10 – Final thoughts: reframing HIV with compassionAbout the Guests:Mark Angelo C. De Castro is a Filipino development worker with experience in HIV program implementation, community-based service delivery, and organizational capacity building. He is currently completing his Master of Arts in Development Studies at Batangas State University–The National Engineering University, while serving as Strategy Manager at Sustained Health Initiatives of the Philippines at SHIP.Mark has led and supported multi-level initiatives focused on differentiated service delivery (DSD), key population outreach, and community-led HIV interventions. In his role, he provides technical oversight on strategy, monitoring and evaluation, training coordination, and stakeholder engagement—ensuring programs are responsive to community needs and grounded in real-time data. His work bridges implementation realities with systems thinking, particularly in partnership with local government units, health facilities, and community-based organizations.Rod Olete, MSc, RN, is a Filipino public health practitioner, registered nurse, and implementation researcher specializing in HIV prevention, behavioral science, and person-centered care. He is currently pursuing his PhD in Public Health at National Cheng Kung University in Taiwan and works as a Technical Writer for Grants and Research at SHIP.Rod leads several national and regional projects advancing equitable and person-centered HIV services. He is the Principal Researcher of #telePrEPph, a nationwide program expanding access to PrEP for Filipino LGBTQ+ communities through differentiated service delivery. He also leads PsySE-HCPN, a pilot program that strengthens the capacity of HIV care providers and builds intersectoral networks to deliver integrated psychosocial and socioeconomic (PsySE) support for people living with HIV.Discover moreSHIP: Sustained Health Initiatives of the Philippines https://www.ship.ph#telePrEPph Program Info & Booking https://linktr.ee/sailteleprepFind HIV Testing Centers in the Philippines https://www.theredwhistle.com/hivtesting