My work is grounded in the scientist-practitioner-advocate model (Mallinckrodt et al., 2014), which brings together rigorous scholarship, its application to real-world problems, and active engagement in advancing social equity. At the intersections of health, human rights, and data and technology, this approach guides how I connect research with public engagement and policy work.
Some of the development organisations I’ve worked include United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS),Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines, FHI360, The Asia Foundation, APCOM, Babaylanes, Inc., GALANG, Inc., Philippine Financial and Inter-industry Pride, Inc., and TLF Share, Inc.
University of the Philippines Rainbow Research Hub
I also led the development of, and currently serve as Project Leader of, the University of the Philippines Rainbow Research Hub, a collaboration among academic, professional, and advocacy organisations that seeks to strengthen LGBTQI scholarship and research in the Philippines. The Hub develops accessible open educational resources on LGBTQI research across disciplines to support students, educators, researchers, and advocates. We have also supported the organising of the Philippine Queer Studies Conferences.
Community Reports
Bilon, X. J., Clemente, J. A. R., Domingo, P. R. C. (2024). LBQT Well-being Index 3.0. GALANG, Inc.
Bilon, X. J., Senga, B. N. (2024). LGBTQ+ Workplace Inclusion Survey. Philippine Financial and Inter-industry Pride, Inc.
Bilon, X. J., Clemente, J. A. R., Bries, F. S. M., Magpayo, A. M. M. (2022). National baseline study on community-led monitoring for HIV in the Philippines. Babaylanes, Inc. & TLF SHARE, Inc.
Bilon, X. J., Bries, S. F. M., Ladaga, B. M. C., Glova, A. M. G., Aves, J. P. (2022). Regional HIV Spending Assessment for Metro Manila, Philippines (2018–2020). UNDP.
Bilon, X. J. (2020). Treatment and care for everyone: People living with HIV in the Philippines in the time of COVID-19. UNDP & UNAIDS. https://www.ph.undp.org/content/philippines/en/home/library/treatment-and-care-for-everyone–people-living-with-hiv-in-the-p.html
Bilon, X. J., & Presto, A. C. R. (2020). National Findings on Promoting Gender-Equal Leadership in the Workplace in the Philippines. UNDP.
Montevirgen, N. D. S., Navarro, M. N., Bilon, X. J., Libatique, R., Mayor, R., Norella, L., Leyva, K., Quintos, M., Marquez, S., Morin, J., Flores, S., & Umali, H. (2020). Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the National HIV Response: A rapid assessment. DOH-EB, DOH-DPCB, Save the Children, UNDP, UNAIDS, UNICEF, UNODC, & USAID.
Evangelista, J. A. G., Clemente, J. A. R., Bilon, X. J., & Presto, A. C. R. (2020). ‘The first word in HIV is human’: A multimethod data analysis of interactions with PLHIV Response Center of people seeking information about HIV. UNDP.
Policy Contributions
Philippine Health Insurance Corporation Circular No. 2026-0004: Expansion of Maternity Care Benefits for Non-Hospital and Outpatient Facilities
Quezon City Ordinance No. SP-3126, S-2021: An Ordinance Providing for the Quezon City Comprehensive STI, HIV, and AIDS Prevention and Control Program and Appropriating Funds Therefor; Otherwise Known as the Comprehensive Quezon City STI, HIV, and AIDS Prevention and Control Ordinance of 2021
Philippine Health Insurance Corporation Advisory No. 2020 – 026: Access to Anti-Retroviral Drugs and Other Services during the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ)
Republic Act 11166: An Act Strengthening the Philippine Comprehensive Policy on Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) Prevention, Treatment, Care, and Support, and Reconstituting the Philippine National AIDS Council (PNAC); Otherwise Known as the Philippine HIV and AIDS Policy Act
House Bill 5687: An Act Prohibiting Discrimination on the basis of Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity (SOGI) and Providing Penalties Therefor; Otherwise Known as the SOGIE Equality Bill
Senate Bill 935: An Act Prohibiting Discrimination on the basis of Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity (SOGI) and Providing Penalties Therefor; Otherwise Known as the Anti-Discrimination Bill
Vigan City Ordinance No. 36, Series 2014: An Ordinance Prohibiting Racial, Ethnic, Gender Identity, Sexual Orientation, and Religious Discrimination in the City of Vigan; Otherwise Known as The Anti-Discrimination Ordinance of Vigan
Quezon City Ordinance SP 2357, S-2014: An Ordinance Providing for a Comprehensive Anti- Discrimination Policy on the Basis of Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE); Otherwise Known as The Quezon City Gender Fair City Ordinance
Candon City Ordinance No. 662-14: An Ordinance Prohibiting Racial, Ethnic, Gender Identity, Sexual Orientation, and Religious Discrimination in the City of Candon, Province of Ilocos Sur; Otherwise Known as The Anti-Discrimination Ordinance of Candon City
News and Media Coverage
L’Officiel Philippines (feature article). (2026, June 25). https://www.lofficielph.com/culture/pride-philippines-lgbtq-rights
Rolling Stone Philippines (feature article). (2025, June 17). https://rollingstonephilippines.com/state-of-affairs/right-to-care-anti-discrimination-sogie
DYHB RMN Bacolod (news article). (2025, April 14).
ABS-CBN (news article). (2025, April 12). https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/4/12/study-lgbtqi-filipinos-twice-more-likely-to-be-underemployed-1722
BusinessWorld (news article). (2024, April 30). https://www.bworldonline.com/the-nation/2024/04/30/592068/most-phl-firms-lgbtq-inclusive
Supreme Court of the Philippines (press release). (2023, September 4). https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/chief-justice-gesmundo-legal-research-must-contribute-to-the-administration-of-justice
Outrage Magazine (news article). (2023, August 31). https://outragemag.com/research-hub-focusing-on-lgbtqia-scholarship-opens-at-university-of-the-philippines-diliman
Philippine Star (news article). (2023, August 10). https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/08/10/2287642/lgbtq-research-hub-aims-counter-gender-based-discrimination-through-scholarship
University of the Philippines (press release). (2023, August 9). https://up.edu.ph/lgbtqi-research-resource-center-up-in-up
Philippine Collegian (feature article). (2021, June 27). https://phkule.org/article/220/pride-and-prejudice
Adobo Magazine (feature article). (2018, May 30). https://www.adobomagazine.com/the-magazine/the-gay-agenda-how-inclusivity-is-practiced-in-schools
Vice (feature article). (2017, March 9). https://www.vice.com/en/article/mg4bxp/young-filipinos-discuss-their-fears-amid-the-countrys-hiv-epidemic
Essays and Literary Works
De La Paz, M., Bilon, X. J., Fontamillas, D., & Mendoza, K. (2026, August 17). The family planning gap behind falling fertility. BusinessWorld. https://bworldonline.com/opinion/2026/08/17/770432/the-family-planning-gap-behind-falling-fertility/
Bilon, X. J. (2020, March 6). In solidarity with our queer sisters. Rappler. https://www.rappler.com/voices/ispeak/opinion-in-solidarity-with-our-queer-sisters
Bilon, X. J., & De Leon, C. (2018, June 25). With no national law, can we rely on local ordinances to protect LGBTQs against discrimination?. CNN Philippines. https://cnnphilippines.com/life/culture/2018/06/25/antidiscrimination-bill-lgbtq.html; https://web.archive.org/web/20240131091558/https://cnnphilippines.com/life/culture/2018/06/25/antidiscrimination-bill-lgbtq.html
Bilon, X. J. (2018, March 13). The flamboyant ‘bessy’. The Philippine Star & The Freeman. https://www.philstar.com/other-sections/campus/2018/03/13/1796090/flamboyant-bessy