POPCORN TIME LIVE BLOG RECAP: In commemoration of World AIDS Day, the December 3 Episode of Maalaala Mo Kaya has chosen to tell the moving story of Gabby and Rina who choose to love and raise a family amidst being found positive for HIV. Their telling story is portrayed by Xian Lim and Coleen Garcia. The all-star cast also includes Assunta de Rossi, Carlos Agassi, Carla Humphries, Tess Antonio, Sophia Reola, and Ashley Sarmiento.
WATCH: The Official Teaser of MMK ‘SurvHIVors’ via verified YouTube Channel of ABS-CBN Entertainment
READ | LOOK: 5 Things To Know About Xian Lim
Coleen Garcia is Rina, An OFW Who Got HIV Abroad
Rina’s story is a painful one. Her mother (Assunta de Rossi) used to work at bars to put food on the table for Rina and the family. Some would call her mom a “hostess,” and her mom wouldn’t mind it because to her it was what makes them survive. Rina, however, despised her mother’s decision. She vowed to never end up being like her mom and promised herself that she would finish school and become a doctor. Sadly, her life took a different turn barely making it through high school. Because of this, she worked as an overseas worker at a very young age. In her first job, she got pregnant in a relationship she had with a married man. Because of the difficulty in finding a job, she decided to still work abroad. This time, she made her way to Dubai.
As Rina bid her daughter farewell, her mother tries to convince her to stay. Such scenario is common to the Philippines and common to many Filipino families. Rina leaves her child to her mother while she works abroad as a nanny to an Arab family in Dubai. It is in Dubai that her life was shattered.
While taking care of the child of the family she was working for, she was raped by his boss, the child’s father, while his wife was away at a funeral. This did not only happen once. She was threatened by her boss, telling her that he would kill her if she tells anyone. This went on until she couldn’t take it anymore. She then finds the strength to tell wife of her boss of the abuse. The wife gets really angry at her husband and deeply apologizes to Rina for what had happened. She helped Rina to go back to the Philippines.
While at home, Rina’s mom takes care of her and regrets not being able to prevent Rina from leaving. Rina says that it was her decision to leave and she did it for the future of their family. She told her mom that she was already is processing her papers for Malaysia. However, her application gets rejected due to a concern with her blood tests.
She finds out that she tested positive for HIV. Although the doctor mentioned that there are antiretrovirals that slow down the growth of the infection and live a seemingly normal life, Rina is devastated. She is forced to accept the fact that she would need to take care of herself and boost her immune system so her condition does not lead to AIDS.
Rina is left angry at herself and at life itself. It is at this time that she meets she meets people from PAFPI (Positive Action Foundation Philippines Incorporated). Little by little, she learns to accept her situation and even began volunteering at the facility to help others like her.
Coleen Garcia and Xian Lim’s Characters Meet at PAFPI
After a number of group therapy sessions, Rina was finally able to tell her family about her condition. She realized that she should not look down upon the love of her family by not telling them the truth. When Rina’s mom found out that Rina has HIV, she decided to actively help, going as far as attending PAFPI seminars to know how to take care of her daughter. Things actually started getting better.
Rina became an active member of PAFPI and assisted other HIV patients. This was when she met Gabby. Their first encounter was not a good one, to say the least. Rina witnessed Gabby lose his wife to AIDS. This was Gabby’s second wife. Somehow, the incident made Rina wonder why he would still pursue love even if he knows that loss is always at the end. As they both grew in their friendship, she came to learn that their condition has taught Gabby that life is short and because of this, he treasures life more.
Gabby and Rina Pursue Marriage and Family Amidst Harsh Realities
Faced with the reality of their situation, Rina and Gabby choose to pursue their relationship. Even if they faced criticisms from their families and from Gabby’s former in-laws. They chose to get married within that year. The couple chose to strive and try to live a normal life as husband and wife with their child Ariane.
Ariane would be teased by her schoolmates for having AIDS herself but Rina has always been there to comfort her. Gabby has also been a good father to her, the best he can. As they went on in their life as a family, Gabby and Rina decide to have a baby. The risk they took really turned out to be a miracle.
Gabby and Rina’s daughter, Abbie, was born without HIV and until today the family continues to live a happy life. This is Gabby’s 26th year in living life as someone with HIV. For Rina, this year is her 16th.
HIV in the Philippines is an Epidemic among Youth
In an article by the Philippine Star, HIV is now considered a “youth epidemic” according to the National Youth Commission (NYC). This is because of the rise in number of young Pinoys testing positive for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Percival Cendana, the NYC Commissioner, stated that out of the 29 Filipinos who incur the infection each day in the Philippines, more than half are 15-24 years old. The Department of Health projects that 55,000 of Filipinos will get infected with HIV this year based on the diagnosed cases reported to DOH and its trend in the country.
Although the number of HIV cases in the Philippines is prevalently low, UNICEF has reported that the country is included in the list of seven countries where the number of new HIV cases has increased by 25 percent from 2001 to 2009. The report further stresses that prevention for key populations should begin in adolescence because the infections now occur among younger people ages 20 to 29.
More about Maalaala Mo Kaya:
Maalaala Mo Kaya Nov. 26 Episode,’Rehas’: Andrea Brillantes Stands Against A Family Of Criminals
Maalaala Mo Kaya Oct. 15 Episode, Picture: Albie Casino is Erica in OFW Transgender’s Greatest Love
Maalaala Mo Kaya, Oct. 1 Episode Review: JC Devera is ‘Golden Boy’ of Psoriasis Philippines
Featured Photo source: Official Website of Maalaala Mo Kaya (screenshot)
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