Upcoming 27th PR Congress Puts Spotlight on Mental Health in the Workplace

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Makati, Philippines – Mental health is the third most common disability in the country, with about 6 million Filipinos living with depression and/or anxiety, according to WHO. Lack of data fails to present an accurate and complete picture of the status of mental health in the Philippines today, but previous studies by WHO, the Philippine Statistics Office and other bodies indicate mental health is a serious – and growing – concern.

The pandemic is further aggravating the anxiety of many Filipinos already worried about their livelihood and uncertain about the future

As the pandemic continues to unsettle the country, constricting the economy, causing deaths and job losses, disrupting education and work, and painting an even more uncertain future for Filipinos, the number of people with anxiety and other similar mental health concerns is estimated to have risen further. The National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) reported a marked increase in calls received during the pandemic than before, with the monthly average from March to May last year more than double the monthly average from May 2019 to February 2020 or before the pandemic. Calls received by the NCMH related to suicide likewise spiked.

The upcoming 27th National Public Relations Congress, an annual gathering of communication practitioners from across the different industries and sectors of society, will tackle this pressing matter this February 17 to 19. Mental health in the workplace, in particular, will be a hot topic scheduled for the third day, which will be dedicated to deep diving into narratives punctuating many of today’s business actions and discussions, especially on social media, such as the environment, equality, diversity and leadership.

Jane Fordham, a strategic people consultant with two decades of experience in agencies and the creative industries, will share her insights on how to ensure mental health in the workplace, noting how the PR industry is often perceived as very stressful. The discussion will try to look into ways of detecting mental health needs among office and work team members, how organizations and businesses can create an atmosphere of positivity and collaboration in the workplace, and what measures or programs should be in place to assist team members with mental health needs.

Themed Transcend, the 27th National PR Congress hopes to enjoin communication practitioners to work more closely together to contribute to addressing social issues and make a lasting impact on the nation in line with PRSP’s 2020 theme of PR for Good. The annual conference will likewise explore the outlook for the PR industry as it rebounds from the setbacks resulting from the pandemic and gears up for the challenges and opportunities in this new decade.

PRSP President Norman Agatep, APR, said: “As we revisit our business plans and strategies for this new year and decade, we must also look into how we can better work with the society to address concerns that impact not just businesses and the economy but the whole nation. That is part of our commitment as the industry storytellers.”

Ana Pista, PRSP vice president for external affairs and Congress chair, added: “As in previous congresses, we want this annual conference to be a platform for meaningful discussions and exploring solutions to our problems as an industry and nation. Mental health is a serious matter, one of many issues we need to prioritize, and we hope that through the Congress we can help start the discussion on how to ensure we have the right programs in place for our people.”

For more information about the 27th National Public Relations Congress, visit the event website or Facebook page or contact Lessa Azcarraga at lessa.azcarraga@ardent.com.ph.

Philippines named 2nd most ‘Instagrammable’ place in the world

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MANILA, Philippines —The Philippines was named the second most Instagrammable place in the world by world travel site Big 7 Travel. 

Hailed as the second most “Instagrammable”, very appealing to photographed and shared on the social media site Instagram—place in the world in 2021.

Home to incredible natural wonders like an underground river and tranquil rice terraces in addition to a vibrant culture and history spanning several millennia; and over 7,500 islands – the Philippines as a whole are extremely Instagrammable. From the bustling capital of Manila complete with colourful colonial streets to the absolute oasis of Boracay, the gram opportunities here are endless. 

Only Japan beat the Philippines from the top spot, but second place is still a huge honor considering we beat the likes of Paris, New York City, Cuba, London, and more.

In its list released Thursday, travel website Big 7 Travel said that the Philippines was “home to incredible natural wonders like an underground river and tranquil rice terraces in addition to a vibrant culture and history spanning several millennia.”

“From the bustling capital of Manila complete with colorful colonial streets to the absolute oasis of Boracay, the gram opportunities here are endless,” the website added. 

Topping the list of 50 places, was Tokyo, Japan. Included in the list was Paris, France which placed third; New York City, New York which got fourth place; and Istanbul, Turkey is top five.

Top 10 most Instagrammable places in the world: 

1. Tokyo, Japan
2. The Philippines
3. Paris, France
4. New York City, United States
5. Istanbul, Turkey
6. Dubai, UAE
7. Havana, Cuba
8. Sydney, Australia
9. London, England
10. Chicago, United States

The Department of Tourism (DOT), in a Facebook post, welcomed the travel website’s recognition of the Philippines.

“The Department of Tourism (DOT) celebrates the inclusion of the Philippines in the Most Instagrammable Places in the World list of the renowned travel website Big 7 Travel for the year 2021,” the DOT said.

Globe, ZSL Philippines partner on mangrove protection for climate resilient coastal communities

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Globe has sealed a five-year partnership with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) Philippines for the protection and rehabilitation of local mangrove forests which are being threatened by the conversion of vast areas into ponds for commercial fish and shrimp farming.

Mangrove planting in the Philippines. Photo from www.zsl.org

ZSL Philippines is one of the primary organizations focused on mangrove rehabilitation through abandoned fishpond reversion, green-gray technology intervention, and close collaboration with People’s Organizations (POs). It was instrumental in the establishment of The Katunggan It Ibajay Ecopark in Aklan and another eco-park in Pedada, Iloilo which now serves as ecological tourist spots of Panay island. With an established eco-tourism, proceeds of both eco-parks go to the respective POs for their continuous operation, maintenance, and improvement.

As a long-time advocate of environmental protection and climate change prevention, Globe now focuses on mangrove conservation to step up its carbon sequestration efforts. This is aligned with its commitment to reduce its carbon footprint by actively supporting the Race To Zero global campaign spearheaded by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and COP26 Presidency and backed by the GSMA, the global mobile industry body, to lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to net-zero no later than 2050.

“For several years now, we have been actively protecting, restoring, and sustainably managing our forests to stop land degradation and biodiversity loss and to combat the effects of global warming. We are further stepping up our efforts to lessen the impact of our operations on the environment as we put into action our commitment to reduce our carbon footprint,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe Chief Sustainability Officer and Senior Vice President for Corporate Communications.

In line with this, Globe decided to partner with ZSL Philippines which has proven expertise in mangrove ecosystems, to help with the conservation efforts starting with Iloilo which is considered as one of the top areas for mangrove rehabilitation programs due to its vulnerability to typhoons. The province also has a number of abandoned fishponds which make it suitable for rehabilitation efforts.

Leganes Integrated Katunggan Ecopark, Leganes, Iloilo. Drone photo by Jason Aguilar,
MBFTC Batch 11

With the addition of ZSL in its list of partners, Globe will be able to further strengthen its reforestation efforts which started with the Cordillera mountain ranges and Arakan Valley and later on moved to Bukidnon and Zambales. The partnership with ZSL will bring Globe’s total forest supported areas to 161 hectares.

“ZSL Philippines welcomes the partnership with Globe Telecom as it provides the opportunity to promote the importance of sustainable mangrove rehabilitation and conservation through the participation of communities, government, business sector, and Globe’s subscribers. The application of ZSL-developed science-based protocols as guidance, the establishment of a long-term carbon off-set mechanism to measure, and the use of existing technology to develop and/or enhance the capacity of coastal resource managers are among the important features of Globe Telecom and ZSL Philippines partnership for conservation and sustainability,” said Godof Villapando, Jr., Country Director of ZSL Philippines.

Mangroves are tropical trees found in coastal saline or brackish water. They are needed for climate stabilization since they can capture and store up to five times more carbon from the atmosphere than terrestrial forests. They also play a vital role in coastal protection, especially during a storm surge. With mangrove forests in place, the damage brought about by strong wind and waves becomes less destructive compared to a coastline with limited vegetation.

Likewise, mangroves are a source of valuable plant and animal products used as food, traditional herbal medicine and other wood and forest products. They also serve as nesting grounds for hundreds of bird species, and are home to a wide variety of reptiles, amphibians, mammals, and aquatic animals.

However, ZSL Philippines stated that since 1980, an estimated 20 to 35% of global mangroves have been lost, with current losses at around 1% per year as a result of human impact and natural disturbances.

As a purpose-driven company, Globe remains committed to the 10 UN Global Compact principles and contributes to 10 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals such as UN SDG No. 13 which underscores the importance of climate action to save lives and livelihoods to address climate emergencies, and UN SDG No. 15 which promotes the protection, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems. Globe joins over 9,600 companies demonstrating a commitment to environmental transparency by disclosing through CDP, a global non-profit organization that runs the world’s leading environmental disclosure platform.

To know more about Globe’s sustainability initiatives, visit https://www.globe.com.ph/about-us/sustainability.html

Mikey Bustos on navigating the challenges of being an online celebrity

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“I don’t think anyone is prepared for the life that comes with going viral in the internet.” 

It’s been 14 years since Mikey Bustos first posted a video on YouTube. It was a video of him performing as a front act for a Pussycat Dolls concert in Manila. And while initially renowned for his career as a singer and performer, it was really the relatable content he has been masterfully crafting and posting online that has captured the hearts and laughs of many. 

“It’s been such a learning curve,” said Mikey about his career, despite years of creating countless viral videos such as “Adobo” - a parody of the song Let It Go from Frozen - and “Balikbayan Box” - a parody of the Miley Cyrus Hit “Wrecking Ball”. “You just have to navigate through,” he added. 

While having to constantly think of new ideas is already a challenge in itself, having an audience that can directly interact with you via a comments section is another. “Having to deal with bashers is something you never get used to,” he remarked. 

Other challenges Mikey mentioned that he has encountered in his career was having to fight through insecurities, second-guessing himself, and managing his schedule. 

There was even a time when Mikey was juggling multiple YouTube channels all while traveling, performing, and managing his ant business. And while it was a challenge for him to do all these simultaneously, all these “trades” brought about plenty of opportunities. 

With these opportunities, however, come crucial choices he needed to make. 

On taking risks 

“For me, to be successful, you need to take calculated risks,” said Bustos who mentioned that one of the biggest risks he made in his life was moving to the Philippines from Canada. 

But this was just one among many risks Mikey had to take in order for his career to flourish further. 

“Signing contracts, teaming up with brands, expanding a team, collaborating with other content creators—these are all risks and choices you have to calculate and think about. You can’t just throw all your chips in and wish for the best” he stressed. 

On the art of de-stressing 

With all these decisions and challenges, not to mention having to sustain his career and business, there is no doubt that stress and risk of burnout frequent Mikey’s life. 

To combat these, he turns to exercise and meditation. 

To combat the stress and risk of burnout that comes with his successful career, Mikey makes sure to incorporate exercise and meditation to his daily routine. 

“I always try to incorporate exercise into my routine. I go to the gym a few times a week, and now I’ve taken a love for running—making sure I go 10km every day. In terms of mentally staying in shape, I do a lot of meditation and prayer.” 

To lessen the risk of burnout, Mikey also makes sure to explore his hobbies, which is sometimes a blurred line for him as his work involves making the most of his interests and sharing it online. He solves this dilemma by exploring his hobbies without feeling the need to bring a camera with him. 

On the importance of trust 

Another way Mikey reduces the stress brought about by his career and ventures is working with people that he trusts, which for him, is crucial to success. 

In the time of the pandemic, Mikey also shared that bringing “trusty” items with him wherever he goes is key to having an extra “peace of mind”. 

In the time of the pandemic, Mikey always makes sure to bring “trusty” items like face masks, face shields and Diatabs wherever he goes to help ensure “peace of mind”. 

“Lately, I always bring all sorts of protective gear—masks, alcohol, face shields, and the like. I also make sure to bring a lipbalm because ‘you never know when you’ll be on camera,’” he remarked. 

Besides exercise and meditation, Mikey also explores other hobbies such as reading to help keep his creative mind in top shape.

“I also make sure that I bring Diatabs with me wherever I go, especially when I’m running. It helps because I’ve been having ‘banyo-phobia’—When I’m far from the house and I really have to go, it’s hard for me to go use the public toilet because of the fear of acquiring the coronavirus. That’s why it’s always good to have Diatabs around,” he shared. 

Diatabs is a product of Unilab, a trusted anti-diarrheal brand in the country, that can easily take care of your upset stomach and give you the peace of mind you need when it comes to bowel trouble. It is available in leading drugstores and pharmacies nationwide. To learn more, visit https://www.unilab.com.ph/products/diatabs

5 things to remember as we begin again

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As we welcome the new year—2021, it might do well for us to look back, to take stock of the positive lessons that we can extract from what was an unprecedented year. For sure, numerous take-aways can be gained as we move forward and anticipate a more “mobile” next normal—especially since vaccine trials by leading pharmaceutical companies have been yielding encouraging results.

With that, here are 5 lessons we should remember as we begin again:

Always wash your hands

Perhaps the most frequent reminder worth noting is how the power of proper handwashing has been in full display. It has been proven effective in killing 99.9% of germs and should always be considered a first line of defense against sicknesses and diseases.

Do not take sicknesses lightly 

The previous year that was also demonstrated how a virus can easily and quickly transmit from one person to another. With this, one should learn to treat regular coughs, colds, and flu like a very harmful and contagious virus. That means that even if the pandemic eventually ends, it would be wise to isolate one’s self when they feel flu-like symptoms or anything of the sort.

 

Take care of yourself

But more than the physical and physiological, we also learned to focus on ourselves and safeguard our mental health, a practice which we should continue doing even as we start physically interacting with others—carefully—and as we slowly get back into our fast-paced lives.

 

Cherish each moment

At some point during the lockdown, there must have been a point where we all realized that we had taken some activities, events, and physical hangouts for granted. So, in heading out again with care, cherish and make the most out of every outdoor moment and create memories that can last lifetimes.

Always be prepared

But in our excitement to resume our normal lifestyle, hang out, and even hook up, it’s important to remember that health safety should always be a priority for us to continue to enjoy the best things life can offer, for a long time.

So always be prepared and bring quality PPEs like alcohol, hand sanitizers, wipes, and even condoms—such as Durex—especially for those who have been craving for intimacy.

To learn more about the best PPEs to use in the next normal and how to stay safe and protected both up there and down there, Durex has launched a series of insightful videos with Boys Night Out which you can catch on Facebook and YouTube.