Disease Prevention

Rotaract Upskill by PD Director Arvin Reyes Rotaract Club of Manila

Last October 30, the Rotaract Club of Manila held its first-ever UpSkill workshop via Zoom. UpSkill is a bimonthly series of workshops geared towards imparting participants with practical skills that they can try out on their own immediately. The current lineup of topics for UpSkill ranges from entrepreneurship to investing. For the October workshop, the topic was all about creating and/or expanding one’s e-commerce business, specifically by utilizing the Shopee platform. The workshop was conducted by Mr. Christian “Lee” Contreras, acquisition manager from Shopee Philippines, Inc. Mr. Contreras demonstrated the different features of the Shopee platform, from creation of accounts to using Shopee analytics tool, as well as provided pointers and insights on how to improve and expand one’s e-commerce presence online. He also discussed about preferred seller and the Shopee incubation program to the thirty (30) participants that were present during the event. With the mission of empowering people with actionable knowledge, UpSkill by Rotaract Club of Manila is open to everyone and is currently free of charge. For more details on upcoming UpSkill workshops and information on how to participate, you may contact Arvin Christopher Reyes, current Professional Service Director of the Rotaract Club of Manila.

RAC PUP’s TP and VP emcee PUP-wide Suicide Awareness Webinar by President Kyle Cedric Hezeta

Rotaract Club of Polytechnic University of the Philippines

The COVID-19 pandemic did damage not only to the way we live, but it has also taken a toll on our mental health. This proves true as the National Center for Mental Health reports a major spike on calls from Filipinos suffering from mental health issues.

To contribute to information dissemination and awareness on the issue, the PUP Office of Psychological Services, in partnership with the PUP Office of Student Services launched its Mental Health Week celebration featuring a series of webinars shedding light on specific mental health issues during this pandemic. Transformational President Kyle Cedric Hezeta and Vice President Kristine Kyla Sabate were masters of ceremonies on the third part of the series, which focused on suicide prevention and awareness last Wednesday, October 28, 2020.

With 1,000 live viewers and a total of 8,600 viewers as of writing, the webinar was attended by faculty members, employees, and students across the PUP System. Dr. Rodrigo V. Lopiga, CCOP, RPsy from the Office of Student Services, the webinar’s guest speaker, emphasized on the signs that we should look for in a suicidal person, as well as the ways to help them when needed. The speaker also introduced breathing exercises effective in reducing anxiety and thoughts of committing suicide.

“It is okay to not be okay in a not okay situation,” Dr. Lopiga said, emphasizing on the importance of feeling what we feel, and not be afraid to seek help from friends, family, and mental health professionals. VP Kyla summed up her takeaway with a quote from the Netflix series “It’s Okay to Not Be Okay”. VP Kyla quotes, “You shouldn’t be embarrassed about being sad. ”

During time when everyone is adjusting to the new normal, we should be taking the higher ground by being kind and more understanding to everyone around us. By saying a simple “kumusta,” you may be saving someone’s life. If anything, a friend, or a family member can come handy now that we are at a brink of breaking down because of what is happening. Call a friend, seek help when needed, and spread love – we as a community will get through this together.