Let’s talk about sex with Durex’ SEXducated

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In the past few years, Filipinos have started opening up and talking about sex and how it is an important conversation to have in order to engage in safe, healthy, and satisfying sexual activities. But despite the inroads that have been made in normalizing conversations about sex, barriers remain when it comes to discussing Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) including the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) as the feelings of shame and stigma remain which prevent people from accessing information and resources that can help Filipinos develop safe sex habits.

The lack of access and conversation contributes to the continued rise in the number of people who test HIV-positive in the country. July 2021 data from the HIV/AIDS & ART Registry of the Philippines (HARP) showed that 1,045 Filipinos tested HIV-positive while 60 people died of AIDS-related complications. This means 33 people tested positive every day from January to July 2021.

HIV cases in the Philippines continue to rise especially for youths aged 15-24 years old

Faced with these numbers, Durex continues to strengthen its mission to promote safe sex with its new SEXducated video series available on the Durex Facebook and YouTube channel.

SEXducated with Durex

Targeted toward millennials and Gen Zs, singles, and stay-at-home couples, the SEXducated with Durex video series is a fun and creative treatment to lessons on practicing safe sex. The show gives light to HIV awareness and how to improve one’s overall sexual health.

“It’s part of our responsibility as a brand to empathize with our consumers’ needs and give them safe and practical solutions,” said Matt Davis, Reckitt Marketing Director. “Through SEXducated with Durex, we aim to provide a safe space and have a thoughtful discussion on topics that beg to be talked about.”

Singles and young people can learn from the boys of Boys Night Out (Sam YG, Slick Rick and TonyToni) and Elijah Canlas as the four debunk HIV myths with hard facts. They can also learn from Dr. Kilimanguru, as he addresses need-to-know information about HIV. While couples can find ways to rekindle their relationships as they explore the topic of seeking pleasure through intimate acts with Dr. Rica Cruz.

With Durex’s SEXducated series, Boys Night Out and Elijah Canlas debunk HIV myths and learn hard facts about safe sex

Dr. Kilimanguru or Winston Kilimanjaro Tiwaquen is a doctor who gained fame on TikTok for his medical advice videos known for being easy to understand and entertaining because of his use of hugot lines and jokes. Through his videos, delivered in colloquial Filipino, viewers learn about the simplest medical issues from the common cold to HIV, and even COVID-19. Meanwhile Dr. Rica Cruz is a sexologist and media personality whose expertise is on sexual pleasure and sexual behaviors. Dr. Rica believes that sexual ownership is sexier than sex.

Together with Dr. Kilimanguru and Dr. Rica Cruz, viewers learn need-to-know facts about HIV and having sex safely, intimately, and pleasurably

Protection, Preparedness, and Education (PPE)

Enabling Filipinos to “Always Come Prepared,” Durex fulfills its role as a responsible brand through ongoing partnerships with various organizations. To date, Durex is distributing condoms to the beneficiaries of the Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM), San Lazaro Hospital - Nagasaki University Collaborative Research and Laboratory, Positive Action Foundation Philippines Incorporated (PAFPI), Pasig City Government, Sustained Health Initiatives of the Philippines (SHIP), The Red Whistle, and LoveYourself, Inc.

The need to connect is very human and so is the need for open conversation about something as natural as sex. And with the isolation possibly triggering more intense feelings, it’s important to protect oneself from risks that can be otherwise prevented.

With its SEXducated campaign, Durex encourages Filipinos to always come prepared and enjoy sex safely. Learn more about practicing safe sex with Durex via their Facebook page.

Durex strengthens PPE campaign to help address STI and HIV incidence in the Philippines

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With over a year in lockdown, we find ourselves still in the midst of the pandemic, cautious yet with a glint of optimism with the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out. Raising awareness of safe sex and sexually-transmitted diseases has become more relevant as the Philippines currently records 29 cases per day as of January 2021 according to the Department of Health (DOH). The agency has tagged HIV as a continuing public threat and has called for the continued cooperation and collaboration of all local communities, civil society organizations, key stakeholders, and the government in jointly addressing this pressing matter.

As part of its mission to protect Filipinos from the threats of sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV and AIDS, Durex continues to promote the importance of using proper protection during sexual intercourse through education and awareness programs. Durex carries on with its own impactful initiatives under its Protection and Preparedness Education (PPE) campaign.

Remaining as steadfast and driven as ever this 2021—despite the lingering challenges—Durex pursues its advocacy of raising awareness on the importance of condom use as means to help stop the HIV epidemic and the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the country.

“During these times, we cannot afford to let our guard down,” says Matt Davis, Reckitt Philippines Marketing Director. “Just as COVID-19 remains to be of critical importance, so too are STIs and HIV. Durex will continue to do our share as a proactive private sector partner in building awareness and educating the public on the importance of protection.”

Thus, Durex will be continuing its donations to organizations including Love Yourself with which the brand has an ongoing full-year partnership, and the Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM), The Red Whistle, and the United Nation (UN) Women.

This Pride Month, Durex is one with the LGBTQ+ community in expressing and exploring their sex, sexuality, and gender identity with the ‘Wide open to love’ campaign. The campaign is aimed at empowering everyone to accept and celebrate their most authentic self while recognizing that the continuing HIV epidemic will end by using protection so that people can truly express their most authentic self. Watch Durex’ Wide Open Pride Online campaign on their Facebook page.

Durex advances Protection and Preparedness Education Campaign by donating PPEs to HIV-advocate groups

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Durex, a brand that advocates HIV Awareness and health safety, donated Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to local HIV-advocate groups as part of their Protection and Preparedness Education Campaign, just in time for World AIDS Day.

A total of 1000 face masks, 1000 face shields, and 7000 boxes of Durex Condoms were each turned over to LoveYourself, The Red Whistle, and the PLHIV Response Center to help boost their efforts to combat HIV/AIDS amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and promote health safety.

The brand has been consistent in its efforts to spread HIV Awareness ever since the lockdown started here in the country. Launching the Protection and Preparedness Education campaign last September, Durex aims to further raise awareness on the importance of using PPEs like face masks and condoms to curb the COVID-19 pandemic and HIV epidemic in the country. They aim to remind Filipinos that alongside COVID-19, HIV is still a growing health crisis and that it deserves everyone’s utmost attention.

As of December 3, there have been 435,413 total reported cases of COVID-19 and around 81,000 total reported cases of HIV in the country.

The campaign seeks to educate Filipinos on health safety and the importance of practicing safe sex even during quarantine through a series of fun and informational videos with Boys Night Out and other personalities. 

These videos, which can be streamed via Durex’s Facebook and YouTube pages, tackle the best PPEs to use in the new normal and provide tips on how to stay safe and protected both up there and down there during this difficult time.