“2ND MENTAL HEALTH FORUM IN SAN PEDRO”

On November 6, 2019, the SSG Officers and YES-O Officers of San Pedro Relocation Center
National High School were invited to attend the “2nd Mental Health Forum”. The event was held at
Pacita Astrodome,Pacita Complex, Pacita 1, San Pedro Laguna. The said event started from 10:00 AM-
5:00 PM which includes the poster making competition and the program in the afternoon.

One of the goals of this event is to discuss the importance of mental health wellbeing and
resilience, and what are the steps being done to develop and enhance the focus on preventing mental
health illness in our current society. They invited approximately 800 students, teachers and parents from
different private and public High Schools and Senior High Schools in the City of San Pedro, Laguna. They
are encouraging everyone to participate to spread and create awareness in our community.

In the said event our school sent two representatives to compete in the poster making contest.
The registration for this contest started from 9 -10 AM. After the registration, at exactly 10 AM the on
the spot poster making contest about mental health started. Along with the contest, the booths also
started opening.

Afterwards, the registration for the program started, from 11 AM- 1PM the participants are
continuously arriving. While the participants are waiting for the program to start, the Liceo De San Pedro
Wind Ensemble and Pacita National High School performed.

As the program starts, the CORO ECCLESIAE lead the doxology and the national anthem
conducted by Ms. Bendana. Then, the Dulaang Uyayi Theater Arta of Polytechnic University of the
Philippines gave an intermission number. After that a welcoming remarks was given by a representative
of the City Mayor office and also Dr. Jovito M. Barcenas gave an opening message.

An inspirational message was also given by the over-all organizer of this event, Hon. Bernadeth
Olivares. She sent her gratitude to all the participants and her co-organizers for being able to conduct
the 2nd Mental Health forum with plans of conducting this event every year.

As soon as Hon. Bernadeth Olivares finished her message the master of ceremony, Mr. Edward
Era started setting the mood and conducted an ice breaker for the participants. A minute later he
started introducing the first speaker.

The first speaker was Mr. John Wilfred T. Malabanan, Youth Mental
Health Region Head for CALABARZON. Mr. Malabanan is an avid Health Care
Advocate and has been working with the Youth For Mental Health
Coalition as a member of the Education and Research Committee
and as the Region Head for CALABARZON. He has given lectures on
Mental Health, Universal Health Care and Social Responsibility
among the youth to different universities and local government
units. And in this event he discussed what mental health is.

After the first speaker discussed the performing arts

club of Liceo De San Pedro performed a dance number.
Afterwards Mr. Era introduced the next speaker.
 Ms. Via Antonio-Ruiz, a Tv and film actress is the second speaker. She discussed about why
Mental Health matters and she helped the students understand it more. She also shared some of her
experiences about counseling youths that is suffering from mental illness.

The next speaker is Ms. Sheila Suntay, a Mental Health Advocate. She is the founder of YOLO,
she dedicated this organization for his son Renzo Suntay who suffered from depression and ended up
taking his own life. She shared about her difficulties in dealing with the death of her son. She also shared
that people who is suffering from depression is not easy to identify.

She said that there are some cases, like her son’s, that the people seem so positive and happy
even though they’re really suffering from mental illness. That is why she never thought that her son
would be able to commit suicide. Due to this event, she decided to become a mental health advocate
and form an organization that will help people suffering from depression and anxiety.

As soon as the last speaker finished her conference, Mr. Era the master of ceremony took over
the microphone and gave some comments about the discussion of Ms. Suntay. Latterly Mr. Era started
the open forum so that the students can share their thoughts about the topics that the speakers
discussed.

Afterwards, the announcement of winners and awarding of the winners for the poster making
started. The Sangguiniang Kabataan Federation President, Mr. Gius Earl Castasus announced the
winners. Fortunately, the two representatives from our school won the first and second place. Maxine
Vyjie Reyes from Grade 10 Philippines won 2 nd place while Paulyn Marinda won 1st place.

After the awarding Mr. Castasus leaved a closing remarks and a closing message from the
organizers of the 2nd Mental Health Forum In The City Of San Pedro, Hon. Bernadeth Olivares and Mr.
Edward Era.