City Government of Vigan Launch the Vigan City’s HIV-AIDS Screening Facility

As a testament of strong and steadfast commitment of the City Government of Vigan towards HIV-AIDS free and Gender Friendly City, City Mayor Juan Carlo Medina together with Vice Mayor Lourdes Baquiran, SPM Janina Medina-Fariñas, SPM Joy Benette Orio, SPM Third Ranches, PPSK Vice President Mary Ann Ataup and City Health Officer II Loida Ranches official turned over the Maris Café:HIV-AIDS Screening Facility of the City to the Maris Ti Ayat Inc. headed by its acting President Jay Leonard Roldan and Adviser Edred Piamonte last December 1, 2021.

The Blessing of the Café was initiated by Msgr. Gary Formoso and witnessed by the Maris Presidents from the various Barangays of the city.

Afterwards, is the first ever Maris Pammadayaw 2021 which aims to recognize the outstanding contributions of thd LGBTQIA+ Bigueños to their field of professions.

This year’s awardees were Ms. Cipriano “Susan” Cabarloc as one of the oldest living LGBTQIA+ individual in Vigan and posthumous awards were given to the late Maris Ti Ayat Inc. Founder Ms. Swill Ann Baniaga and the late President of the Vigan City Gaybels Ms. Alfonso “Soti” Farpali.

This year’s awardees were Ms. Cipriano “Susan” Cabarloc as one of the oldest living LGBTQIA+ individual in Vigan and posthumous awards were given to the late Maris Ti Ayat Inc. Founder Ms. Swill Ann Baniaga and the late President of the Vigan City Gaybels Ms. Alfonso “Soti” Farpali.

“On behalf of the Maris Ti Ayat Inc.we would like to express our deepest gratitude to the City Government of Vigan through Mayor Juan Carlo Medina for their endless support and trust to our organization. This Maris Café will serve as the City’s continuous livelihood assistance to the LGBTQIA+ Community of Vigan. The proceeds of this cafe will be the Organization’s fund for the benefit of its members and the Bigueños as a whole. “

Maris Ti Ayat Inc. Acting President Roldan said.

Last November 15-17, 2021, the City Government of Vigan through the City Health Office and the Provincial Health Unit conducted free seminar-training on SOGIE 101, HIV-AIDS Awareness and Community Based Screening Motivators at Vigan Conservation Complex to the Maris Ti Ayat Inc. members.

The trained CBSM will serves as volunteers of the city in conducting HIV-AIDS Screening in their respective barangays.

Meanwhile, the trainees and graduates of the Vigan Skills Training Institute through its Bread and Pastry Production Training Programme were free to showcase their products at the cafe.