Ex-call center agent with HIV shares story
MANILA, Philippines - "Joseph Ryan," a former call center agent who contracted the human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV), asked the public not to judge his previous profession.
He made the statement as a recent study showed how more gay and bisexual workers in the country are getting with HIV due to unprotected sex.
Joseph Ryan has yet to reveal his true identity to the public. In a 2-minute video clip showed by the Association of Call Center and BPO Agents of the Philippines (ACCAP) to ABS-CBN News, he wore a white mask and covered his head and body with a black cloth.
"Ang pakiusap ko lamang po ay huwag ninyo kaming husgahan sa pagiging call center agent (All I ask of you is not to condemn us just because we're call center agents)," the 20-year-old said in the video.
In the video, Joseph Ryan shared how he used to be "young and careless." A call center agent for 2 years in Ortigas, he said he had multiple sex partners and got HIV from a casual sexual encounter with a nurse he met at a street party.
"The reason why I contracted HIV was because I did not practice safe sex. I apologize to my family, friends, patawarin ninyo po ako (please forgive me)," Joseph Ryan lamented.
"Please be protected, please practice safe sex," he added.
'Voice' of call center agents?
ACCAP, an organization working with party-list group Aksyon Magsasaka Partido Tinig ng Masa (AKMA-PTM), aims to address the needs of call center agents in the Philippines.
Kevin Carreon, ACCAP spokesperson and a former call center agent, said Joseph Ryan sent him an email asking for emotional and financial support as he continues to undergo treatment. To this end, the group has put up a hotline (546-0691) for call center agents with HIV.
Here, call center agents with HIV can ask for assistance on where to get medical treatment, among others.
According to ACCAP, most call center agents tend to party excessively given their very late shifts, making them highly prone to diseases such as HIV. The group stressed, however, that other jobs pose the same threat as well. Report from Nina Corpuz, ABS-CBN News
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malalandi kasi sila
Tama lang yan para sa kanila. Mahilig makipag one night stand at group sex. Malalandi at makakati kasi. Napag-aral na at lahat-lahat, bobo pa rin. Wala ba silang sexual educ. sa college at high school? Bakit kailangan magkaroon pa ng boses sa Congress ang mga yan? Ang pagkakaroon ng HIV/AIDS na nakuha sa pakikipagtalik ay personal na kakulangan ng taong nasangkot. Pabaya siya. Hindi dapat kaawaan o bigyan ng symphaty ang mga taong yan dahil sila naman ang may kasalanan, yung dapat bigyan ng awa ay yung nagkaroon ng HIV/AIDS dahil ginamitan ng injection mula sa isang maysakit na pasyente o ipananganak na may HIV/AIDS, pero yang mga call center agents and other young proffesional, bagay lang sa kanila yan kasi makakati at malalandi sila. Mga Bobo!
Huwag daw sila husgahan, TANGA ba siya? Bago sana siya nagpakasasa sa pakikipagsex eh di sana nag-isip-isip siya.
May paadvise advise pa siyang nalalaman, hindi safe sex ang solusyon. Renounce from doing sex with multiple partner,moral lift,and deep spiritual-roots ang dapat.
ok lang yan..
ok lang yan napala mo mahilig ka kasi at gusto mo kasi maka-isa sa babae at ganoon din sa babae sa sobrang liberated ayan mikrobyo ang nakuha ninyo na unti-unti magpapahirap sa inyo. Di bale kumpisalan naman kayo ni Fr. Cruz sa inyong mga kasalanan kasi ayaw niya kayo gagamit ng condoms. Mga kabataan nga naman sinisira ninyo ang imahe ni Jose Rizal na ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan. Sabagay hindi ko kayo masisisi sa hilatsa ng ating umiiral na sistema politika ang pasimuno ng kabastusan ay yun pa mismong mga Politiko na nag papakita ng hindi magandang asal.
call center agents and HIV
People don't judge and don't be ignorant!! This desease is not only for these call agents or gays, bisexuals but anybody can get it. Who knows your son or your brother or sister has this disease because of their poor judgement!!! or maybe got it from blood products being given to them or any source. The Philippine government has the responsibilty to educate the people about HIV/AIDS or AWARENESS on this disease. This is not because of immorality, stupid!!!!
This piece of news is just
This piece of news is just being used by a Party List organization mentioned in the article in order to get maximum exposure. It is so obvious!
the job is a HIV-AIDS magnet
call center jobs attract some people who are likely to practice unsafe, unprotected sex. some people as in homosexual and bisexual men and others who have the propensity for seeking casual sex or engage in sex with multiple partners. the proportion of these types of people relative to the whole company workforce in a call center, i hazard to guess, may be higher in the call center industry than in other workforce sectors. kumpara sa ibang mga opisina, mas maraming tao sa call centers na hindi naga-practice ng safe sex o may risky sexual behavior.
HIV in call centers
It is an issue that should be addressed now. most call center agents are young and from the provinces. they are prone to sexual harassment and seduction for money, preference in hiring and even sexual favors. since most of them are young they are also prone to being bullied into. other major issues are sick leaves; i work in call center account where in even if you are sick the supervisors will still oblige you to come to work. sick leaves is a right of an employee. vacation leaves; denied leaves; overtime and force early login (wherein and agents is asked to login an hour or earlier to take in calls but are never compensated for time logged in the system. Issues of lunch in exchange for deferring lunch brakes; these are all under the discretion of power playing supervisors and operations managers. Politics is very rampant. nepotism and favors towards friends and family are very noticeable. HIV is here in call centers, along with the reality of suicides, drunk rapes, drugs, victim of holdups and other dangers that are open to call center agents. honestly unions should be encouraged in call centers to protect their rights; our rights may they be male female or of the 3rd gender.
what a paradox
i find it odd, he ask the public not to be judgemental but then again he has HIV the time he was a call center agent?
Safe Sex is not the answer.
The root cause of the problem is immorality. No to pre-marital sex. No to extra-marital sex.
The reason why HIV is commonly contracted is because of immorality. It is not because of being young and careless. It is because of being immoral.
Kawawa tuloy yung mga nadadamay. Lalo na ang mga HIV babies at mga nasalinan ng dugo na may HIV.