YAN YAN ARAÑA: TURNING A SCARE INTO A BLESSING
Victoria Health and Wellness Center’s Program Officer Yanyan Araña shares how she found the path to self-discovery and her advocacy.
In 2015, Yanyan found herself sitting in a health clinic waiting for her turn to be tested for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). It was only a few days after she knew that a friend turned out to be HIV reactive.
“At that time, wala akong kaalam-alam about HIV,” Yanyan confessed.
She thought they would turn out reactive, seeing as there are instances where they share drinking glasses with their friends when having their drinking sessions. She wasn’t sexually active either, but out of fear that she and her friends might also have the same diagnosis, they immediately searched for testing centers.
That is when she discovered Love Yourself Inc., a community-based organization providing health and empowerment services for the Youth and LGBT-MSM.
Yanyan Araña graduated from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines - College of Communication in 2013 with a degree in Broadcast Communication. She admits that even if she’s probably living the happiest days of her life at the moment, it hasn’t always been a walk in the park.
“I was quite rebellious in high school. I knew then that I wasn’t heterosexual. But I was confused with who I really am. Studying at Camp Gen. E. Aguinaldo National High School also made it harder.”
She started slowly transitioning during college without being fully aware of it by growing out her hair and becoming more feminine.
When asked to share what she learned throughout her journey, this is what she has to say:
“Laban lang. That’s my motto in life. There is really no choice but to fight. Despite the problems and the discrimination that you’re going to face, you have to be strong. No one’s going to lift yourself up but you. Always remember that there are people that are willing to help you and guide you along the
