Acclaimed international theater performer and recording artist, Hayden Tee is lending his talents to help raise funds for displaced workers of the performing arts community in the Philippines. He will be spotlighted in PalabasTayo’s “After Party” an online series featuring conversations with artists on Friday, 24 April 2020.

Tee was recently in the Philippines playing Ms. Trunchbull in the Manila run of Matilda the Musical tour. Sadly, due to the enhanced community quarantine, the show that was supposed to run until March 22 at The Theater at Solaire was canceled a week after it opened.

The touring cast members from the Royal Shakespeare Company had to fly back to their respective homes before the Manila lockdown took place. Tee had to fly to New York before flying back to his home in New Zealand, and like most people who traveled to COVID-19 affective areas, he had to do self-quarantine for several days.

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The Culture and Arts Managers of the Philippines, Incorporated (CAMP, Inc.) unites the arts and HIV advocacy for an “art for healing” exhibit on June 13, 2018 (4PM-11PM) at the Casa Real, Acacia Estates in Taguig City where 30 phenomenal artists and art patrons will donate about 50 artworks for auction.

CAMP, Inc. Executive Director Ian Felix Alquiros underscored, “We’ve seen in the previous years that arts have been pivotal in bridging people to take bold action, especially in turning the table of HIV epidemic in the country.” Latest data from the Department of Health showed that 871 individuals were diagnosed with HIV in February 2018 alone, bringing the total cases to 52, 280 since 1984.

According to Alquiros, “The launching of CAMP, Inc. excites the Filipino arts and HIV advocacy communities in the effort to formally merge culture and the HIV cause into a singular functioning organization to utilize the arts as a tool for personal and societal journey of healing.”

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Saw an old friend at an event recently and we briefly discussed this book, Always Forever. I have long wanted to buy it but have been putting it off until I have the time to sit down and read it. I did, however, read the preview at Amazon and already I felt like I was reliving the most private thoughts of the author.

With mostly friends and familiar people playing major characters in the story, I almost felt guilty, like I was peeking at someone’s diary. The book’s author, Ansh Das though is hardly a stranger. We started communicating through Facebook not long after the time when the story in the book started. As a fellow supporter of gay rights, Ad and I had discussed about writing for a website called globalgam.com then known as sfgam.com.

The book’s subject, Mikee, was a constant companion when I used to cover for the Mr Gay World competition here in the Philippines. Mikee died in 2011. He was only 24.

More than a personal tribute, this is a story about love and loss. It is a story about soulmates and a promise that is kept, Always Forever.