Team Dugong Bughaw, Inc. is a nonprofit youth organization in Iloilo City that started as a university project advocating for HIV awareness among Filipino youth.

Team Dugong Bughaw started off as an entry to Ideas Positive Run 6 under the Unilab Foundation with five members who were then studying at the University of the Philippines Visayas: Alexis, Jasper, Anjelou, Geeza, and Abigail. The five-member team was composed of undergraduate students taking up Public Health, Biology, and Communication and Media Studies. The team’s diversity was due to the fact that the members were already well acquainted with each other as classmates taking secondary education at Iloilo National High School's Special Science Class. They have found a sense of service through their high school experiences. Amidst the weight of academic and extracurricular ventures, the five still pursued starting an advocacy project through Project High Five.

As the months progressed, additions to the team happened. Five became seven with Jenn and Julius, two more Public Health students. To reach more of Iloilo City, Team Dugong Bughaw gathered representatives from ten city colleges and universities that made up the first official core team of Project High Five. These students became the peer educators of their respective schools and also took on the role of liaison between Team Dugong Bughaw and their respective educational institutions.

Now on its seventh batch of peer educators, the organization is on its way to expanding its mission from HIV to adolescent health and extending its mission not only to students but all Filipino youth.

  • MISSION

    Team Dugong Bughaw works with young key populations to mainstream well-informed dialogues on sexual and reproductive health, human rights, and mental health.

  • VISION

    Team Dugong Bughaw envisions to become the leading youth organization in the Philippines working towards a stigma-free society that contributes to the global youth health response.

The organization’s core values can be summarized using the acronym RISE.

As the organization has always been geared towards a peer-to-peer approach in addressing youth and adolescent-related health concerns, being easy to understand and being approachable is an essential value in the organization in whatever project is being implemented. Being comprehensible while staying empathetic encapsulates the organization’s primary value of its peer-to-peer approach to raising awareness and delivering youth-related health services. 

WESTERN VISAYAS HAS BEEN ONE OF THE REGIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES WITH THE HIGHEST INCIDENCE OF HIV

In Western Visayas, the alarming spike in HIV cases among our adolescents and youth is both a revelation and a call for immediate action. Out of the 650 reported cases as of July 2023, a staggering 195 involve individuals aged 15 to 24, with a subset of six cases occurring among those ages 15 and below. 

Guimaras

<15 y.o. = 1
15 to 24 y.o. = 45 

Iloilo Province

<15 y.o. = 4
15 to 24 y.o. = 521 

Iloilo City

<15 y.o. = 3
15 to 24 y.o. = 409 

Aklan

<15 y.o. = 1
15 to 24 y.o. = 131

Capiz

<15 y.o. = 3
15 to 24 y.o. = 193 

Bacolod

<15 y.o. = 1
15 to 24 y.o. = 279 

Negros Occidental

<15 y.o. = 3
15 to 24 y.o. = 370 

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Group of young people eager to normalize conversations on "taboo" issues such as HIV, mental health, teenage pregnancy, and sexual reproductive health rights.

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Contact Info

  • 1st Street, D.B. Ledesma Street, Brgy. Our Lady of Lourdes, Jaro, Iloilo City
  • 0995 157 8022
  • hello@tdb.community

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Dr. Jasper Ruby Vijar

Pronouns:

He/Him

Position

Co-Founder /Programs Director

Jasper is one of the co-founders and programs director of Team Dugong Bughaw Inc. He is a licensed physician by profession and a registered medical laboratory scientist based in Iloilo City, Philippines. With a degree in Public Health from the University of the Philippines – Visayas, Jasper is very passionate in crafting multi-sectoral solutions to health issues among the communities he serves. To amplify his expertise in creating change among his peers, he finished a course on Power and Influence for Positive Impact as a scholar at Harvard Business School – Online. He was also awarded as one of the Ten Most Outstanding Medical Students of the Philippines with a distinction in the field of Social Responsibility.


Jasper has always believed in thinking globally and acting locally in pushing forward advocacies. He represented the country as one of the Ambassadors of Goodwill and Friendship in the 44th Ship for Southeast Asia and Japanese Youth Program and was a Google Student Ambassador for Southeast Asia and Pacific Region. He is also a member of World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers Community Iloilo Hub. Through his work in TDB, he is bound to realize his dream of creating healthier and safer spaces for Filipino youth.

Abigail Gonzales Amon

Pronouns:

She/Her

Position

Co-Founder / Communications & Operations Director

Abigail (she/her) has been in health advocacy since her undergraduate years, when she and her friends co-founded Team Dugong Bughaw, a youth initiative on HIV and adolescent health awareness in Iloilo, Philippines. She now works as its Director of Communications and Operations.


Abigail graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Communication and Media Studies from the University of the Philippines and recently graduated with a Master’s degree in Civil Society Leadership in Asia at Ajou University, South Korea through the KOICA scholarship program. There she published her thesis on the sustainability of youth-led civil society organizations working on HIV. Abigail worked for regional youth networks for gender-diverse communities in Asia-Pacific and has been involved in public health networks in the Philippines as part of the Communications and Strategic Department of Positive Youth Development Network and as Director of Communications & Partnerships of Dungán Western Visayas circa 2019.


In April 2024, she was selected as one of 35 ASEAN leaders for the YSEALI Health Seminar on The Future of Mental Health in Southeast Asia: From Individuals to Organizations in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam.


Abigail finds meaningful work in creating youth-friendly programs and digital content for development in HIV, public health, and gender.

Jan Enoch Belandres

Pronouns:

He/Him

Position

Administrative Manager

Jan Enoch Belandres

Pronouns:

He/Him

Position

Finance Manager

Kent A. Ganadillo is a dedicated professional and advocate with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, major in Marketing, from the University of the Philippines Visayas, where he graduated in 2019. His TDB journey career began as a Gen 4 IGP committee volunteer, where his commitment and expertise have been pivotal. Since 2023, Kent has served as the Finance Manager of TDB, playing a crucial role in managing the organization’s financial strategies and operations.


Kent is also a passionate advocate for HIV and AIDS awareness and adolescent reproductive health (ARH). He uses his personal experiences to drive meaningful conversations and promote education on these critical issues. His work continues to inspire and effect positive change in both his professional role and advocacy efforts.

Therese Josephine Sartorio

Pronouns:

She/Her

Position

Human Resources Manager

Aside from being the current HR manager of TDB, Tret is also initiating organizational practices on wellness and fitness. Back in 2017, she was the head of Peer Educators committee, then she was elected to be the first fully functional Project Manager of TDB.



Andy Martin Evidente

Pronouns:

He/Him

Position

Training & Implementation Manager

As the manager of Training & Implementations, Andy spearheads the training sessions, speaking engagements and volunteer management. In his spare time, Andy manages a travel and tours business, does ministry work, spends time building relationships over coffee, and loves to travel.

Rynevel Labiano

Pronouns:

She/Her

Position

Partnerships Manager

Kingsley John de los Santos

Pronouns:

He/Him

Position

Research & Development Manager

Christian Jose Simpao

Pronouns:

He/Him

Position

Marketing Manager

Christian Jose “Tian” Simpao is the Marketing Manager at Team Dugong Bughaw. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts (Community Development) degree from the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) in 2017, graduating cum laude. During the academic year 2016-2017, he served as the Division of Social Sciences Governor of the UPV CAS. As a dedicated member of Team Dugong Bughaw, Tian was heavily involved in implementing the Community-Led Monitoring System (CLMS) in two pilot HIV facilities in Iloilo City.


A Generation 5 member who joined TDB at the height of the coronavirus pandemic, Tian recognizes that social media is a powerful tool in advocacy work. He has served as one of TDB’s social media managers since 2021.

Raymart Eufracio

Pronouns:

He/Him

Position

Monitoring & Evaluation Officer

Raymart is a professional in the field of development communication, holding a degree from West Visayas State University. As a Philippine delegate in the JENESYS Japan-ASEAN History of Development Cooperation Batch 46 in Tokyo, Japan, he gained international experience and insights into regional development. He has presented proposals on mental health in Davao City, and research in Marawi City and Batangas City, showcasing his commitment to addressing key societal issues.

Currently, he works as the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer for Team Dugong Bughaw in Project AKKAP (Alagaan ang Kalusugan ng Kabataang Pilipino) and Project ABOT KAMAY. These initiatives focus on improving the health and well-being of Filipino youth, especially in Western Visayas. He is also the Community Mobilizing Officer of Yuhum Community Center, which helps drive grassroots engagement and health advocacy, working closely with communities to foster positive behavioral change, particularly on issues related to HIV and AIDS.

In addition to his full-time responsibilities, Raymart freelances as a host and coach for public speaking and performing arts competitions, mentoring young talents in declamation, oration, and extemporaneous speaking. He is also involved in research and academic writing, while volunteering as a radio disc jockey when time permits. In his personal time, he enjoys walking, cooking, and watching documentaries.

Elieden Marie Terania

Pronouns:

She/Her

Position

Area Manager

Elieden Marie Terania holds a degree in Foreign Service from the University of San Agustin. She served as an area manager for Project AKKAP (Alagaan ang Kalusugan ng Kabataang Pilipino), which aims to improve the health of Filipino children within the young key population in Iloilo. She is also the area manager for TDB’s newest initiative, Project Abot-Kamay, focusing on HIV awareness and mental health support. Additionally, Elieden is a proud Gen 7 volunteer of Team Dugong Bughaw. Her passion for working with the youth drives her commitment to making a lasting, positive impact in their communities.

Haru

Pronouns:

He/Him

Position

PR Manager

Woof!