Mental health discussed during December 10 Humanity class

December 14, 2023

Mental health discussed during December 10 Humanity class

The once-taboo topic has become relevant to people from all walks of life.

By Joy Rojas

Years ago, public discussions on mental health were non-existent, unthinkable even. Depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder were spoken about in secret, and anyone who gave even the slightest clue that they were seeing a professional for their mental health issues faced a heavy social stigma.

Now, the once-taboo topic is the subject of lively forums, including the last Humanity class of the year for Tzu Chi scholars. Held on December 10 at the Jing Si Auditorium of Buddhist Tzu Chi Campus, Sta. Mesa, Manila, the class was attended by 381 Tzu Chi scholars from elementary through college and 171 parents. Twenty-seven scholars from Pampanga and 31 students from Palo, Leyte, participated virtually in the livestreamed event, while 44 Bicol scholars and 29 Zamboanga scholars attended the mental health talks of their respective Humanity classes. As the class coincided with Tzu Chi’s quarterly Charity Day, 85 medical assistance beneficiaries and their 56 companions listened in and contributed to the discussion.

Despite the large audience of varying ages and backgrounds, everyone agreed on the importance of emotional well-being in handling life’s day-to-day challenges. More importantly, each one had a way of coping with stress. Those who didn’t learned a new technique from speaker Paolo Trinidad, the country’s first and only certified Laughter Yoga Professor.

In his talk, Paolo cited science-backed evidence to prove that laughter is indeed the best medicine. You don’t even have to find anything funny to laugh about—simply activating your facial muscles to smile and exclaiming “ha-ha-ha” are enough to trigger a laugh that can elevate the mood and boost the immune system.

“It’s really healing. There are so many journals that prove laughter has healed a lot during the pandemic, and prior to that, cases of cancer, mental disorders, and even patients recovering from trauma, stroke, and drug abuse,” he says. Law enforcers, seminarians, and first responders of the Marawi siege in 2017 have also benefited from his talks on laughter therapy.

For Paolo, laughter has helped him deal with his own mental health struggles. “I went into this because I’m still battling clinical depression. It’s really a work in progress,” he admits. “As I heal people, I realize that I am also working on myself.”

At 21, Mark Vincent Dayang once had the weight of the world on his shoulders. A BS Business Administration student from the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, he was thrust with responsibilities after the death of his father in 2017. Upon coming home from school, the eldest of three and a working student will spend hours handwashing the family’s laundry before focusing on his studies till midnight. By the time he was working on his thesis, years of bottled-up anger and sadness manifested physically through pain from his neck to his shoulder.

It didn’t help that he wasn’t the type to express himself. “I was so tired of my studies and family life, I thought of ending it all,” he says.

Through Tzu Chi volunteers’ encouragement, Mark opened up and spoke freely about what he was truly feeling. From listening to himself, he realized that he had much to live for. “I really want to help other people, and I want to show Tzu Chi what I achieve some day. I’m proud to be a Tzu Chi scholar and I want to inspire the youth,” he says.

Today, Mark has a better handle on things. He delegated some household chores to a younger sibling and mended relationships with friends who were affected by his dark mood. “It’s important to have open communication lines,” he says. “And to speak honestly while being sensitive to the feelings of others.”

As if surviving an abusive marriage then temporarily turning her son Christian over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development weren’t devastating enough, Cecil Memoria still had more to endure. In 2016 and after consults in seven different hospitals, she learned Christian had acute lymphoblastic leukemia, an aggressive type of cancer.

“I just collapsed. I didn’t know what to do,” says Cecil, who makes rags for a living.

Once over the initial shock, she used her son as motivation. With a doctor’s referral, she went to the Tzu Chi Foundation at midnight and slept outside the steps of its Agno office in Quezon City to make sure she was there when it opened. “I was just hoping for a guarantee letter,” says Cecil, who tolerated hunger pangs and rain. “I didn’t expect to be included in your Charity Day.”

Christian’s cancer treatments were not without their challenges. “He would hit his head on a wall because he didn’t want to live anymore,” says his mother. “He would say, ‘Lord, why me?’ and cry.”

Cecil cried too, but never in front of her son. Instead, she stayed strong for him and pushed him to be strong too. “I wanted to see him eat and play. I didn’t see him as sick. I saw him as normal and I wanted him to believe he was normal and could do everyday things.”

Still, even the toughest mothers have their limits too, and in Christian’s lowest points, Cecil was ready to give him up. “Lord, my son is Yours, if that’s what You want,” she recites, holding back her tears. “If he’s not for me, I’ll accept it wholeheartedly. But please, don’t make him suffer before You take him because that I cannot accept.”

The answer to her prayer would come soon enough. In December 2023 and after only five of 14 chemotherapy cycles, doctors pronounced Christian cancer-free.

“Be strong” is Cecil’s advice to stressed mothers looking after their sick kids. “While they’re still with you, show your kids you love them and care for them. Don’t give up or show them you’re sad because they depend on you for strength.”

“If you have faith in God, you can conquer anything,” she adds. “With every move you make, leave everything to Him.”

Tzu Chi Scholars and medical assistance beneficiaries gather at the Jing Si Auditorium on December 10 to listen to a Humanity class lecture on mental health. 【Photo by Marella Saldonido】

Tzu Chi Charity Department registered social worker Jerom Bacarra (left) and Tzu Chi Youth Arabella Chong host the Humanity class on mental health. 【Photo by Marella Saldonido】

In Master’s Talk, volunteers screen “The Wisdom of an Elderly Volunteer.” 【Photo by Marella Saldonido】

Thanks to Tzu Chi volunteers’ help, Mark Vincent Dayang has a better handle on the challenges he faces at home and at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, where he is nearly done with his degree in BS Business Administration. “It’s important to have open communication lines,” he says. “And to speak honestly while being sensitive to the feelings of others.” 【Photo by Marella Saldonido】

Paolo Trinidad, the country’s first and only Certified Laughter Yoga Professor, talked about the healing nature of laugher and gave audiences exercises to try. 【Photo by Marella Saldonido】

Diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 2016, Christian Memoria (left) has his mother Cecil (right) to thank for moving heaven and earth to find the resources for his treatment. Her effort and sacrifices paid off: In December 2023, doctors pronounced Tzu Chi medical assistance beneficiary Christian cancer-free, after only five of 14 chemotherapy cycles. 【Photo by Marella Saldonido】

Mental health speaker Paolo Trinidad demonstrates how smiling and saying “ha-ha-ha” trigger a positive response in our body. 【Photo by Marella Saldonido】

Audiences gamely try out the exercises taught to them by speaker Paolo Trinidad. 【Photo by Marella Saldonido】

Mental health guest speaker Paolo Trinidad (left) receives tokens of appreciation from Tzu Chi Educational Committee Head Rosa So. 【Photo by Marella Saldonido】

In Bicol, Tzu Chi scholars listen to Tzu Chi International Medical Association (TIMA) volunteer Dr. Geoffrey Lopecillo give a talk on mental health.

In Zamboanga, mental health guest speaker Jeina Lynne I. Nambli, RPM - SHS Guidance Counselor (right) receives a certificate of appreciation after her talk.

Cecil Memoria (right) accepts a certificate declaring her son Christian a Cancer Survivor. With his treatments over, Cecil has decided to end Tzu Chi’s medical assistance for her son “so that others may receive help for their conditions,” she says. 【Photo by Marella Saldonido】

Tzu Chi medical assistance beneficiary Lilibeth dela Cruz recounts how Tzu Chi helped fund her brother’s treatment for necrotizing fasciitis or flesh-eating bacteria. Lilibeth, a stage 2a cancer survivor, also received a 3-month supply of oral chemotherapy medications from Tzu Chi.【Photo by Marella Saldonido】