HIV surge in the Philippines amid poor sex education, policy gaps

As of March 2025, over 139,610 Filipinos are living with HIV, and the government estimates this number will rise to 252,000 by the end of 2025. - Photo: AFP

MANILA: Two red lines were all it took to confirm what 26-year-old Luke Galade (not his real name) had already prepared himself for.

There were no tears, no shock, just quiet acceptance for the freelance writer and former teacher when he tested positive for HIV in March 2024.