The Library Foundation (TLF) began in 1989 as an informal group of
friends who organized fellowship activities for the regular patrons of
the Library Pub, a sing-along (karaoke) bar on Adriatico St. near
Remedios Circle in the tourist district of Malate in Manila.  In 
October 1990, this group of friends formed themselves into a socio-civic
organization.  In addition to its usual fellowship activities, TLF then
began to organize small-scale charitalbe outreach projects for Malate
streetchildren and victims of natural disasters.

In May 1991, TLF redirected its vision to work as an AIDS service
organization.  It became a duly registered non-governmental organization
(NGO).  Although at present, there are several Philippine NGOs working
on AIDS, only TLF has Filipino men who have sex with men (MSMs) as its
community base.  TLF's programs and activities arise from and directly
serve the concerns of Filipino gay and bisexual men, many of whom do not
identify as such.

The "Healthy Interaction and Values" (HIV) Workshops constitue TLF's
centerpiece project.  From October 1991 to July 1992, TLF has held ten
workshops.  About 250  men have participated in these workshops.   Through
December 1993, TLF plans to hold as many as 15 more workshops including
some in Baguio, Cebu, Davao and other cities in the Philippines.

In cooperation with Health Action Information Netwrok (HAIN), a health
resource NGO also doing AIDS work, TLF maintains a community drop-in
center at 956 Malvar corner Agoncillo, behind the Philippine Women's
University in Malate, Manila.  It is open to the public from Tuesday
to Saturday.  At the center, TLF holds continuing short HIV/AIDS
workships, individual face-to-face counselling, anonymous telephone
hotline counselling, and further activiteis such as plays, film showings,
discussion groups, and other gatherings.

TLF has conducted safer sex poster-making contests and regularly publishes
a small community newsletter.  It hopes to expand its information and media
efforts with more posters, brochures and comic books books about HIV/AIDS
and Filipino gay and bisexual men.

In the future, TLF plans to develop an even more comprehensive advocacy
role around issues of HIV/AIDS and the Filipino gay male.

For more information on TLF and its programs, write to

The Library Foundation
956 Malver Street
Malate, Manila
Philippines
Tel. No.: (632) 588974