Jose Andrelin S. dela Cruz, MAN, RN, LPT, CHRA (he/him)

Clinic Hub Manager, My Hub Cares Fairview

Secretary, Philippine Society of SRH Nurses Inc.

Years as an ANAC member: 9

What does National Gay Men's HIV/AIDS Awareness Day mean to you personally and professionally?

National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is meaningful to me both personally and professionally because it reminds me that behind every statistic is a person deserving dignity, respect, accessible, equitable and compassionate care. My journey—from reproductive health and policy advocacy during the peak of Reproductive Health (RH) Bill discussions in 2011, to playing a key role in establishing the organization of sexual and reproductive health nurses after the RH Law, and through my work with Likhaan Center for Women’s Health and My Hub Cares —has reinforced my commitment to HIV prevention, care, education, research, and advocacy. Furthermore, it fuels my ambition and aspiration to develop HIV nursing specialization in the Philippines, mentor future nurses, and ensure that people can access HIV and sexual health services without stigma or judgment.

Why is National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day still critically important today?

National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day remains critically important because we have already made advances in HIV prevention and treatment; however, the stigma, misconceptions, and inequities experienced by gay men and other communities affected by HIV are still evident and not eliminated.

In the Philippines, my experience as a nurse working primarily in the field of sexual and reproductive health has taught me that HIV cannot be addressed solely as a clinical condition – it intersects with sexuality, human rights, mental health, socioeconomic factors, policy advocacy, and people's ability to access healthcare without fear of judgment.

My perspective began taking shape in 2011, at the peak of discussions of the RH Bill in the Philippines. My work during this time showed me how misinformation and stigma can influence both individual health decisions and national policy. Following the passage of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012, I became part of pioneering efforts to organize sexual and reproductive health nurses in the country, contributing to the foundation of the Philippine Society of Sexual and Reproductive Health Nurses Inc. (PSORHN).

My practice and HIV-related exposure with Likhaan Center for Women’s Health Inc. and My Hub Cares have further reinforced the interconnectedness of sexual health, reproductive health, and HIV, and the importance of community-based, rights-oriented, client-centered, and nonjudgmental care.

What misconceptions about HIV among gay men would you most like to challenge?

One misconception I particularly want to challenge is that HIV reflects a person's morality, sexual orientation, or worth. HIV is a health condition, not a moral judgment. 

Today, the availability of PrEP, PEP, effective antiretroviral therapy, and the evidence behind U=U gives us powerful tools to prevent HIV transmission and improve the lives of people living with HIV; however, scientific progress must be accompanied by social progress. Health professionals and community partners must work together to ensure that these advances, along with comprehensive HIV prevention, testing, counseling, treatment, and continuity of care, are accessible, inclusive, and free from stigma and discrimination. Equally important, communities must be meaningfully engaged as partners in designing, implementing, and evaluating services—not merely regarded as recipients of care. By combining scientific advances with community leadership, respectful care, and social inclusion, we can build an HIV response that is both effective and equitable.

For me, this observance reminds us that progress should not only be measured by what medicine can do, but also by whether people—particularly those who have historically experienced stigma and exclusion—can benefit from these advances without fear and with dignity. Scientific progress means little if people remain afraid or unable to access it.

How does representation in HIV care and advocacy affect health outcomes for gay men and the broader LGBTQ+ community?

Representation is essential in HIV care because people are more likely to trust and engage with health systems when their experiences and voices are genuinely respected. For gay men and the broader LGBTQ+ community, representation should go beyond visibility in health campaigns. Communities must have meaningful roles in designing services, developing policies, conducting research, educating healthcare professionals, and evaluating programs intended to serve them.

My previous work has taught me that community participation strengthens healthcare. This understanding fostered pioneering work in establishing PSORHN and proved the importance of having both community and professional voices represented in health policy and practice. Despite this progress, inequalities are still evident; we have HIV services available, but availability doesn’t automatically mean accessibility. Stigma, discrimination, socioeconomic circumstances, geographic barriers, limited health literacy, concerns about confidentiality, and previous negative experiences with healthcare providers can prevent people from accessing prevention, testing, treatment, and continuing care. These barriers can become even more significant when these people experience multiple and overlapping forms of social disadvantage. 

What role does trust play in addressing health disparities, and how can it be strengthened?

People need to trust their healthcare provider before they can share sensitive issues. I have learned that trust is built through confidentiality, consistency, cultural humility, inclusive communication, professional competence, and genuine respect, therefore, healthcare professionals must create safe spaces where they can freely discuss their sexual health, sexuality and HIV without fear of criticism, embarrassment, discrimination and judgment. Through ANAC these principles strengthen my professional practice by connecting with an international professional community committed to evidence-based, equitable, person-centered HIV nursing.

Eventually, representation creates visibility, but meaningful participation creates change. When communities are heard and involved, and healthcare providers earn their trust, we move beyond simply making HIV services available toward making them genuinely accessible, acceptable, equitable, and responsive to the people who need them.

What is one action individuals or organizations can take to support HIV awareness beyond this observance?

One action I would encourage individuals and organizations to take is to normalize accurate, evidence-based, and stigma-free conversations about HIV part of everyday life, rather than doing during commemorative events. This should be continued throughout the year in healthcare facilities, schools, universities, workplaces, professional organizations, families, and communities.

Being a member of ANAC exposes me to a bigger picture, a global perspective and a professional community demonstrating what HIV nursing can contribute to the health system and communities. This will lead to one of my aspirations to contribute to the development of HIV Nursing in the Philippines as an area of specialization and advanced nursing practice. 

Seeing a nursing and other allied health students’ choose HIV prevention, stigma, knowledge, care and community experience as a research topic approaches me as a reviewer or validator of HIV-related researches – for me this is a light of hope – these future generations will continue the work on HIV. 

Awareness should lead to understanding, understanding to action, research to evidence, and evidence to better practice and policy. HIV advocacy belongs not only to healthcare professionals, but to everyone committed to dignity, equity, and human rights.

What moment in your career reaffirmed your commitment to HIV work?

My commitment to HIV work developed through a continuum rather than a single moment. I learned that nursing could extend beyond clinical care into advocacy, education, policy, research, and community engagement. Helping pioneer the organization of sexual and reproductive health nurses further strengthened my belief in developing specialized nursing competencies.

How do you practice hope and resilience in this field?

Joining ANAC expanded that journey by connecting my Philippine experience with the global HIV nursing community and strengthening my aspiration to help advance HIV nursing specialization in the country. That’s how I practice resilience: by continuing to serve, learn, teach, mentor, and advocate.