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Manila Bulletin devider Lifestyle devider People and Events devider Love Gala 2025 champions youth leadership, mental health, and the fight against HIV

Love Gala 2025 champions youth leadership, mental health, and the fight against HIV

Published Nov 25, 2025 01:53 pm
For years, LoveYourself PH has been on a mission to bring sexual health services and education closer to Filipinos. Every year, it toasts its milestones and the stories of people whose work creates ripples of change within and beyond its community at its annual gathering, the Love Gala. In 2025, the gala became even grander with its broader goal of inclusivity and its transition into a grant-giving platform.
Pia Wurtzbach Jauncey and Dr. Ronivin Pagtakhan
Pia Wurtzbach Jauncey and Dr. Ronivin Pagtakhan
On Nov. 8, 2025, at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club Pavilion in Mandaluyong City, advocates, artists, key opinion leaders, policymakers, and changemakers came together to celebrate Love Gala 2025. With the theme “Unmasking Truths, Empowering Futures,” the gala expanded its efforts to support youth groups and grassroots initiatives nationwide.
As a premier World AIDS Day event in the country, Love Gala is a night of recognition and a movement for empowerment. A highlight of the evening was the awarding of its 2025 Ripple Awards honorees. This year’s recipients included: Dr. Natasha Mae Benitez and the Mother Candide Center–St. Paul’s Hospital Iloilo, Inc. (Ripple of Excellence for HIV); Yanyan Araña and the Philippine Financial and Inter-Industry Pride (Ripple of Inclusivity for Gender Diversity); Maria Nessie Sobina Yu and Youth for Reproductive Health Awareness – Misamis Oriental (Ripple of Inspiration for Youth Empowerment); and Myke Celis, M.A., PCC, and the University of the Philippines Diliman Mental Health and Psychosocial Network (Ripple of Resilience for Mental Health).
Chloe Anjeleigh San Jose and Carlos Yulo
Chloe Anjeleigh San Jose and Carlos Yulo
Pia with Hayden Kho and Dr. Vicky Belo
Pia with Hayden Kho and Dr. Vicky Belo
Morissette Amon
Morissette Amon
Richard Juan, Ina Arabia-Garcia, Nikki Huang, Michelle Dee, and Chie Filomeno
Richard Juan, Ina Arabia-Garcia, Nikki Huang, Michelle Dee, and Chie Filomeno
Darren Espanto
Darren Espanto
Viñas DeLuxe, Precious Paula Nicole, and Brigiding
Viñas DeLuxe, Precious Paula Nicole, and Brigiding
The gala also launched the Spark Grant recipients, an initiative designed to fund youth-led and community-based projects across the country. For its first edition, the grant was awarded to Eskwela Para sa Agta by Lester John Dela Cruz (Luzon); Project SIGRAB: Empowering Out-of-School Youth through Education and Entrepreneurship by Jan Michael Alayon (Visayas); SEAGuardians: Siargao’s Turtles Awareness by Lady Carmel Litang (Mindanao); and the Mental Health Learning and Guidance Toolkit by Noel Gabriel Alaurin (NCR).
Lester John Dela Cruz, Lady Carmel Litang, Pia, Ronivin, Noel Gabriel Alaurin, Jan Michael Alayon, and Calvin June Sintoy
Lester John Dela Cruz, Lady Carmel Litang, Pia, Ronivin, Noel Gabriel Alaurin, Jan Michael Alayon, and Calvin June Sintoy
“‘Love Gala 2025: Unmasking Truths, Empowering Futures’ reminded me that behind every mask is a story of courage and authenticity—people who continue to love fearlessly, even when it isn’t easy,” said Dr. Ronivin (Vinn) Pagtakhan, executive director of LoveYourself PH. “Together, we’ll keep unmasking truths and empowering futures—one spark, one story, one act of love at a time.”

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