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Mental Health Awareness Month 2023

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Mental Health Awareness Month 2023

 

October is Mental Health Awareness Month. People, including children, are adapting to the “now normal”, a transition from virtual learning to the return of face-to-face activities. It also serves as a reminder to check the well-being of each person, especially their mental health.

 

 

As part of their month-long celebration of Mental Health Month, the MMCL), through the collaboration of the Center for Guidance and Counseling (CGC) and the Center for Service- Learning and Community Engagement (CSCE), held its in-person Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) seminar on October 13, 2022, to its partner schools in Calauan, Laguna: Calauan Central Elementary School (CCES) and Makativille Elementary School (Makativille ES). The seminars were attended by more than 100 students from Grades 4, 5, and 6 of each school. Conducted by Ms. Joy P. Tarzona, MAEd, RGC, CGC Guidance Counselor, each seminar raised awareness on the core of mental health for young learners, build resiliency through self-awareness, boost well-being, understand emotions, and apply adaptive coping mechanisms to manage stressful situations effectively.

 

 

During the lecture, the students shared their thoughts about mental health and gave examples of situations that triggered their emotions or raised mental health issues, such as family problems or the feeling of anxiety. The students also took part in a series of relaxation activities and grounding exercises where they identified their surroundings using the body’s five senses.

Like adults, it was also important for children to learn about the importance of mental health. As the return to face-to-face classes went into full swing, the seminar hoped to help the students not to feel as anxious as the blended learning setup during the pandemic. The collaboration of CSCE and CGC on presenting MHPSS to partner schools showed that giving support to one’s well-being should always start young.

 

Mapúa MCL Joins Brigada Eskwela 2023

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Mapúa MCL Joins Brigada Eskwela 2023

 

Brigada Eskwela is an annual program of the Department of Education. In 2022, the theme was ‘Tugon sa Hamon ng Ligtas ra Balik-Aral’ and it highlighted the collective efforts from various partners of the schools at the local and national levels to address children’s learning gaps and create a safe learning environment for both the learners, teaching and nonteaching personnel, and the entire community for the achievement of quality basic education.

 

 

Specifically, the program boosts the schools’ maintenance and repair activities, which includes the provision of the immediate needs of both the schools and children. Brigada Eskwela 2022 focused on providing the students with health essentials due to the Covid 19 pandemic and addressing resource gaps for the reopening of face-to-face classes. The program also strengthened engagements with partners and stakeholders (i.e., private sector, academe, industries) that complement the efforts of the DepEd to ensure quality basic education. The MMCL has been regularly participating in the annual observance of Brigada Eskwela by providing all essential kinds of donations (i.e., alcohol, face masks, school supplies, and materials for renovation of the school building) to its partner schools from the Province of Laguna.

 

 

 

A Collaboration for Resilience: The Mapúa MCL and UP Resilience Institute (UPRI) Partnership

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A Collaboration for Resilience: The Mapúa MCL and UP Resilience Institute (UPRI) Partnership

 

 

The collaboration between Mapúa MCL and the University of the Philippines Resilience Institute (UPRI) will soon be finalized through a Memorandum of Understanding with both parties agreeing to be partners in promoting resilience through Research and Development (R&D), capacity building, sharing of useful resources and information, and other related activities.

Since last year, UPRI and Mapúa MCL have conducted relevant activities that support each other’s objectives and programs. UPRI participated in Mapúa MCL’s webinar last January 6, 2023 titled, “Climate Action and Disaster Resilience: An Academe-Enterprise Collaboration.” This activity of Mapúa MCL is part of the initiatives under the school’s SECRA program, which is a three-year project co-funded by the Erasmus+ of the European Union (EU). The Executive Director of UPRI, Dr. Alfredo Mahar Francisco Lagmay gave a talk on the initiatives of the Institute, particularly on the hazard monitoring activities of what used to be Project NOAH (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards), now UP Resilience Institute. He also discussed the current status, gaps, and the needs of the country related to hazard monitoring, disaster risks, calamity response, and other related issues. Lastly, Dr. Lagmay highlighted the importance of probabilistic models to the faculty and student participants.

The collaboration between Mapúa MCL and the University of the Philippines Resilience Institute (UPRI) will soon be finalized through a Memorandum of Understanding with both parties agreeing to be partners in promoting resilience through Research and Development (R&D), capacity building, sharing of useful resources and information, and other related activities.

Since last year, UPRI and Mapúa MCL have conducted relevant activities that support each other’s objectives and programs. UPRI participated in Mapúa MCL’s webinar last January 6, 2023 titled, “Climate Action and Disaster Resilience: An Academe-Enterprise Collaboration.” This activity of Mapúa MCL is part of the initiatives under the school’s SECRA program, which is a three-year project co-funded by the Erasmus+ of the European Union (EU). The Executive Director of UPRI, Dr. Alfredo Mahar Francisco Lagmay gave a talk on the initiatives of the Institute, particularly on the hazard monitoring activities of what used to be Project NOAH (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards), now UP Resilience Institute. He also discussed the current status, gaps, and the needs of the country related to hazard monitoring, disaster risks, calamity response, and other related issues. Lastly, Dr. Lagmay highlighted the importance of probabilistic models to the faculty and student participants.

 

 

To further reinforce the foundations of the partnership, Mapúa MCL Team composed of its administrators visited the UPRI Institute on June 1, 2023. The visiting MMCL Team is Days after the webinar, an online exploratory meeting between Mapúa MCL and UPRI was conducted with administrators and officers of both institutions as participants. During the meeting, Dr. Lagmay discussed potential projects that Mapúa MCL can start. He also discussed the Citizen Science initiative which Mapúa MCL can utilize as a model. Citizen Science is the collection and analysis of data coming from participating members of the general public who serve as collaborators contributing data to scientists and researchers.

composed of Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Engr. Anthony Hilmer S. Medrano, Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) Engr. Maribel G. Songsong, Assistant Vice President for External Relations and Global Linkages Prof. James Ronald O. Mesina, Director for Research Dr. Hermie V. Articona, MITL Dean Engr. Jesunino R. Aquino, CCIS Dean Khristian G. Kikuchi, and Office for Strategic Partnerships and Global Engagement (OSPGE) Director Ms. Pearl Stephanie Ulep. They were given a tour of the facilities of UPRI and was oriented on the activities of the institute.

 

 

The most recent activity between the two institutions was the visit of SECRA international participants to the UP Resilience Institute last November 17, 2023. Facilitated by the SECRA Philippine Team composed of Mapúa MCL, Ateneo de Manila University, and Philippine Normal University, SECRA participants from UK, Estonia, Sweden, Sri Lanaka, and Thailand visited the UPRI. They were oriented on the work of the institute during the visit. Also, they were able to witness a demonstration on how hazards are monitored by the institute. Lastly, they were given opportunities to see actual published reports given to LGUs who ask UPRI’s assistance in mapping out risks in their area.

Both Mapúa MCL and the UP Resilience Institute are looking forward to having a Memorandum of Understanding to make the partnership official. Under the MOU, they are hoping to conduct more productive activities, research projects, and other capacity building activities that would benefit not only the members of the two institutions, but the whole nation as well.

 

Mapúa MCL’s Project Lawa Team visits the LSPU NICER’s Tadlac Lake Project

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Mapúa MCL’s Project Lawa Team visits the LSPU NICER’s Tadlac Lake Project

 

The Mapúa MCL’s Project Lawa Team headed by Prof. Jonalyn G. Ebron visited the Tadlac Lake Water Quality Monitoring Project under the Niche Centers in the Region for Research and Development or also called as the ‘NICER’ Program of Laguna State Polytechnic University (LSPU) in their Los Baños Campus. NICER is one of the programs of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). NICER provides grants to equip HEIs to produce quality research projects and technology that will promote the development of their region.

 

 

 

Prof. Ebron, together with the Research Director, Dr. Hermie V. Articona, and student researcher, Michael James F. Gnilo visited LSPU’s Los Baños campus to know more about the Tadlac Lake Project. The objective of the meeting is for Mapúa MCL’s team to understand the implementation and nature of the Tadlac Lake project and to gather inputs that would help define the scope and features of Prof. Ebron’s project. Project Lawa is developing research undertaking from Mapúa MCL’s College of Computer and Information Science (CCIS). The goal of this project is to create an efficient AI-based water quality monitoring system, which employs computational modeling and integrated mapping to help protect the lakes in the CALABARZON Region. The meeting between Mapúa MCL and LSPU’s NICER Team was suggested by the local DOST Region 4A office to encourage researchers with the same objectives to explore possible collaboration and technology integration thereby enhancing the implementation of their respective projects.

 

 

 

The LSPU’s NICER Team headed by Prof. Jonardo R. Asor, together with project staffs, Gene Marck Catedrilla and Jefferson L. Lerios, research assistant Glend Ferrer, and their consultant Director Christian Paul de la Cruz, currently manages the water quality monitoring project in Tadlac, which will end December this year. Though the project is about to end, Prof. Asor hopes to continue the research so their team can conduct more useful activities that would help protect Tadlac and other lakes within the region.

 

 

 

Overall, the meeting was fruitful for both institutions. LSPU’s Los Baños Campus Director, Engr. Manuel Luis R. Alvarez and the Mapúa MCL Team have identified areas for collaboration that both schools may explore in the future, specifically on enhancing Engineering programs and conducting joint research projects.

Mapúa MCL presents Research Initiatives on Resilience at SECRA Meeting

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Mapúa MCL presents Research Initiatives on Resilience at SECRA Meeting

 

 

Mapúa MCL presents two research initiatives on resilience during the Strengthening University-Enterprise Collaboration for Resilient Communities in Asia (SECRA) Meeting held from October 8 to 14, 2023 at Mid Sweden University, in the city of Östersund, Sweden. SECRA is a three-year project co-funded by the Erasmus+ Program of the European Union (EU). It aims to promote the development of resilient communities in Asia by creating innovative and productive collaborative projects between academic institutions and their industry partners within the context of disaster risk reduction and risk management.

Dr. Hermie V. Articona, the Director for Research of Mapúa MCL, presented a developing research project and a published paper of faculty members, both reflecting the research thrust of the institution which is anchored primarily on sustainability and technology development. These research initiatives are aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), SDG 11 and 17. SDG 11 is anchored on making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. On the other hand, SDG 17 is focused on promoting global partnerships for sustainable development – which is the main objective of the SECRA program.

 

 

The first research project presented is entitled, “PROJECT LAWA: Design and Implementation of Computational Modeling and Integrated Mapping for Water Quality Monitoring.” The lead for this project is Prof. Jonalyn G. Ebron from the College of Computer and Information Science. While the second presented work is a published paper in the business category entitled, “Impact of Entrepreneurial Characteristics on the Business Resiliency of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises in the Philippines.” The faculty author of this published paper is Prof. Donn Enrique L. Moreno from the E.T. Yuchengco College of Business.

These research initiatives reflect the two pathways that Mapúa MCL can pursue to help build resilient communities. The first pathway centers on the development of technology that can help us understand and manage environmental hazards, that are useful during disasters, and that can aid the needs of the community post-disaster events. The second pathway is anchored on building resilient Micro, small and medium entreprises (MSMEs), which can help sustain the economy especially during the aftermath of devastating disasters. Maintaining sources of income is crucial in rebuilding communities during the post disaster recovery period. Mapúa MCL’s Project Lawa falls on the first category, while the study on resilient MSMEs falls under the second category.

 

 

Project Lawa aims to create an efficient AI-based water quality monitoring system, which employs computational modeling and integrated mapping to help protect the lakes in the CALABARZON Region. An efficient and accurate system that would regularly monitor the general health of the lakes in the region is crucial in building sustainable and resilient communities. The Project Lawa Team hopes to raise awareness and concern on the issues surrounding water quality, and solicit action by bringing together local communities, agencies, Local Government Units (LGU), Non-Government Organizations (NGO), and other stakeholders near the target lake where the technology will be deployed.

From another standpoint, the author of the published paper on MSMEs, Prof. Moreno, sees business resilience as equally vital as building strong infrastructures and communities that can withstand disasters. Understanding the entrepreneurial characteristics and their contribution to the development of a resilient entrepreneurial mindset is integral in shaping the behavior of local businessmen. Specifically, creating a mindset that can survive and consistently endure yearly episodes of calamities in the Philippines such as typhoons, flooding, and other usual geographically related disasters affecting MSMEs.

Overall, the successful week-long SECRA Sweden Meeting became a venue for fruitful academic and research discussions giving partner institutions from Thailand, Sri Lanka, UK, Estonia, Philippines, and Sweden the opportunity to discuss important environmental, social, academic, and governance issues. The participants from the 13 partner academic institutions discussed the main targets of their work packages that include policy review plans, future research projects on resilience, and collaborative strategies that would help achieve the common endeavor, which is to build a stronger and more resilient Asian communities.

Mapúa MCL B.S. Psychology students spearhead activities for Mental Health Month 2023

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Mapúa MCL B.S. Psychology students spearhead activities for Mental Health Month 2023

 

Mapúa Malayan Colleges Laguna (Mapúa MCL’s) B.S. Psychology students and Ugnayan ng Malayang Sikolohiya (UgMaSiko) members spearheaded a series of Mental Health Activities last October 2023 in line with the celebration of Mental Health Month such as Psych Fair and Mandala Art Exhibit. These activities aimed to promote mental health awareness and to provide mental health support to the people staying at Bahay ni Maria and Marilac Hills-National Training School for Girls.

The Psych Fair, held on October 4, 2023, at the ETY Lobby, featured booths from various organizations that provide mental health awareness. Mapúa MCL students were able to learn about different mental health conditions, learn how to access mental health resources, and participate in activities that promoted mental well-being.

In collaboration with Mapúa MCL’s Center for Service and Community Engagement (CSCE), UgMaSiko also conducted an outreach program where Psychology students shared their musical talent at the Psych Fair to gather donations for Bahay ni Maria, home for the aged.

 

 

The Mandala Art Exhibit, held from October 15 to November 13, 2023 at the ETY Lobby, featured mandalas created by PSY111 students. The exhibit promoted the use of art to cope with stress and promote mental well-being.

 

On October 25, 2023, PSY113 students engaged with the community at Marilac Hills-National Training School for Girls. They conducted an outreach program at the center that provides residential care and rehabilitation to minor girls who are survivors of sexual abuse, human trafficking, and children in conflict with the law. The program entitled ‘Si Maganda ay Malakas din’ involved a series of workshops and activities that focused on mental health awareness, stress management, and self-care.

The activities were well-received by the residents of the school and provided the students with an opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills in a real-world setting.

 

 

These Mental Health Activities provided the Mapúa MCL B.S. Psychology students with the opportunity to learn about mental health, apply their knowledge, and make a difference in the lives of others.