BingoPlus Foundation, Arena Plus join Pride celebration

In solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community this Pride Month, BingoPlus Foundation—the social development arm of digital entertainment company Digiplus Interactive—has partnered with Love Yourself PH—a volunteer-run organization that provides free HIV and STI testing, counselling, treatment, and support—to further raise awareness about HIV and empower more people to check their health status.

BingoPlus Foundation donated P500,000 to Love Yourself PH, aiming to increase the availability of HIV self-testing kits nationwideand boost the HIV test rate in the country. According to the Department of Health (DOH), current test rate is lower than itstarget, which is only at 40 percent. 

“At least 50 new HIV cases are reported every day in the Philippines. This is alarming, and we hope that through these HIV self-test kits, our partner, Love Yourself PH can encourage more people to check their status, and consequently overcome the hesitancy and other barriers to HIV testing,” said Andy Tsui, Digiplus President and Bingoplus Foundation Chairman.

The Foundation handed over the check to Love Yourself PH at the first-ever RUNRIO Pride Run 2024 which was held last June 22 at the SM by the BAY in Pasay City. During the event, advocacy partner BingoPlus Foundation mounted an interactive installation to inspire “rainbow” runners to spread the love and get checked to mitigate the spread of HIV – regardless of age or gender.

Co-presented by Arena Plus— the 24/7 sports betting app and one of the flagship brands of DigiPlus—the RUNRIO Pride Run 2024 was organized to promote a healthy and active lifestyle and create a safe space where every queer person can freely express themselves without hesitation.

5,000 runners, mainly composed of members of the LGBTQIA+ community and their allies, participated in the running event, which featured three race distances, 3k, 5k, and 10, catering to runners of all levels.

“We are truly honored to co-present the RUNRIO Pride Run 2024and be part of the vibrant and fun-filled celebration of Pride month,” said Tsui. “But beyond the colorful rainbow décors, we also understand that Pride is a movement, and we rally behind the community in their pursuit of equality and acceptance. By working together to promote inclusion and self-care, we can better multiply both the fun and the good.”

BingoPlus Foundation conducts flu vaccination, supports Palarong Pambarangay in Rizal

In the Philippines, rainy season is flu season. As PAGASA (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration) officially declared the start of the wet season in the country, the Department of Health (DOH), on the other hand, is monitoring cases of influenza-like illnesses, as it may increase during this period.

In response to this health challenge, BingoPlus Foundation, the social development arm of DigiPlus Interactive Corporation (DigiPlus)—one of the fastest-growing digital entertainment companies in the country—recently held its Barangay Bigayanmedical mission program in Rizal Province. 

The Foundation rolled out free flu vaccination to 550 residentsacross Barangay Sta. Cruz in Antipolo City, aiming to save more lives, since flu vaccines can help protect against serious outcomes, such as hospitalization and death, especially among the immunocompromised. Flu, also known as influenza, is a contagious illness caused by influenza viruses. The DOH recommends an anti-flu shot yearly.

“We are conducting vaccination programs in different parts of the country to not only augment DOH’s efforts to mitigate the spread of diseases but to also provide communities with better quality of life. This is us helping multiply the fun in communities by providing Filipinos with healthier days ahead,” said Andy Tsui, DigiplusPresident and Bingoplus Foundation Chairman.

To further support the health and wellness of residents in Rizal, ArenaPlus, DigiPlus’s 24/7 sports betting app, supported the SK Sta. Cruz Palarong Pambarangay in the same barangay, witnessing the opening of its basketball liga. These efforts aligned with one ofthe Foundation’s advocacy pillars, Bingo sa Kalusugan, providing accessible healthcare and sports programs to communities.