In photo: Mayor Magalong is joined by Riyan Portuguez, more popularly known online as Your Millennial Psychologist; and Christine Gina Camsol, Philippine Mental Health Association Benguet Chapter Executive Manager during the live Q&A. 

Baguio City holds another run of PLDT and Smart’s Better Today Conversations on Mental Health Awareness, focusing on mental strength and resilience. With over 8,900 views online and over 300 on-ground participants, Baguio City Mayor Benjie Magalong led the conversations series’ line-up of speakers.

For Mayor Magalong, it is important to choose leaders who will prioritize the needs and well-being of their constituents. He also shared relevant issues in the Philippine context with the hopes of raising awareness and encouraging people to always keep an open mind. “It is important that we remember and realize where we are at this stage in our lives and what else we need to do in order to make progressive changes,” he said.

Baguio City Mayor Benjie Magalong leads the line-up of speakers during the conversations series on mental health awareness. 

Mayor Magalong was joined by Captain Ronaldo San Juan Enrile, Philippine Transmarine Carriers, Inc. Senior Executive Director for Government Affairs in Maritime and Sectoral Representation; Riyan Portuguez, more popularly known online as Your Millennial Psychologist; Dr. Michele S. Alignay, a family psychologist and motivational speaker; and Christine Gina Camsol, Philippine Mental Health Association Benguet Chapter Executive Manager.

“PLDT and Smart’s Better Today Conversations in Baguio, which focuses on mental fortitude and resilience, is one of the companies’ key efforts in ensuring that we equip LGUs with different opportunities to sustain its constituents such as mental health awareness. It is through these community engagements that we are strategically providing sustainable, customer-centric and hyper-collaborative initiatives in the areas where we conduct our business,” said Jose Lukban Rosete, Smart Assistant Vice President and Head for Government Relations.

For their part, mental health professionals Portuguez, Alignay, and Camsol shared the empowering message of finding strength in seeking help, being present in the moment, and recognizing that it is okay to not be okay – as long as one “does not get stuck in being not okay”. 

Catch the replay of the Better Today Conversations series on Mental Health Awareness with Baguio City via the official Facebook page of the Public Information Office – City of Baguio: https://bit.ly/3IVPrZf

Better Today is a key part of PLDT and Smart’s continuing commitment to help the Philippines contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG), particularly UNSDG #3 that stands for good health and well-being, and UNSDG #16 that stands against abuse, violence, and exploitation of children.