Furthermore, I was deeply touched that despite the pandemic and difficulties that everyone has experienced during this COVID-19 captivity, the love for the surroundings, animals, and other people prevailed. I am also grateful for how my groupmates work hand in hand to make this project possible, as they put their heart into brainstorming to help these animals. With this project, I know that someday, more animal advocates will create new projects to help these animals be heard even more. 

Now that I am a graduating student, this project calls me to pursue my love for these animals. I always dreamed of feeding street dogs whenever I pass by. I imagined myself buying dog foods and giving them to dogs in the street that are lost, hungry, and without their family by their side. I can also follow other people's footsteps of finding dogs, cleaning them up, and placing them in animal shelters for other people to adopt them. Other than that, our partners for the fundraising might decide to be in partnership with the ARRF permanently. Nonetheless, whatever happens in the future, my group and I will always be proud of the work we have made for the future of these animals.

My realizations on the gravity of this advocacy were highlighted during the post-event, where I could read our participants' evaluation form. Even a Psychology major from Marikina sent me a private message thanking us for the helpful and empowering advocacy. The message consisted of five long paragraphs expressing her gratitude and enthusiasm to share her learnings with her organization-mates and schoolmates. Before the culminating event, several people from Facebook groups sent me private messages asking about the event. These experiences taught me how influential advocacies can be. It is a matter of doing it wholeheartedly and reaching out to the people. 

Personally, our advocacy is very close to my heart because of my past experiences. It is empowering to know that so many share similar experiences and choose to stand up and be brave. They decide to speak up. During the open forum, some participants expressed personal experiences and questions, which reminded me of the relevance and timeliness of being a safe space for women and children. It feels fulfilling to see both victim-survivors and general social media users participating and educating themselves regarding different aspects of online sexual harassment.

The entire experience of sharing our advocacy makes me feel that my efforts toward this advocacy should not stop the moment I complete this course. Instead, it is a lifelong commitment to be an approachable advocate that allows women and children to feel confident to open up and speak up for their rights. Lastly, it is an invitation to keep reaching out to people since sharing such crucial information allows more members of society to learn and, in return, teach others. Consequently, I hope for a community where online harassment – or harassment in any form – would no longer foster.

“Ah stress management napud.”

 “Kaboring ana oy.” 

“Kabalo naman mi ana, kapila nami kaattend ug ingon ana sauna.”

        When students would hear about “stress management seminar/webinar'', these comments would most probably be on top of almost every students’ mind. This has become a common and very familiar theme for students, but in our Ignatian Advocacy, we wanted to not just give students an already fixed manual that they can use to achieve effective stress management. We wanted our Ignatian Advocacy to be something that can be personal to them. 

Upon the start of our event, a part of me was worried whether the participants would really listen to the talk or will just attend for the sake of attendance but as I was observing the zoom room, the participants were very active to react as well as respond towards our speaker’s questions. Few of my friends were present that time and while the talk was still ongoing, some of them really messaged me privately saying that the topic really struck them. 

Even though I was one of the organizers, I also became a part of the target audience. I listened to Pia’s talk and also realized a lot of things. One that struck me was when she said these lines, “We said no to a lot of things because we were afraid of what we were gonna lose if we took the chance. And on the other hand, we said yes to a lot of things because we were afraid of what others were gonna think of us if we said no. We said yes, even if it means having a lot more to lose than to gain.” Most of the things that we miss in life are mostly caused by our fears. This made me realize that there is so much more in life if we only allow ourselves to engage and be more open to explore outside our comfort zone. 

By the end of our webinar, I feel proud and happy that we pulled it off. I believe we did not just give them a mere webinar experience but we were able to make them feel comfortable and relaxed. Our speaker, Pia, started her talk very nicely as she assured the participants that her talk can be considered as a conversation you can have with a dear friend. Making others feel that they can have a safe space through us is fulfilling. Thus, validated the purpose of our Ignatian Advocacy.

As a graduating student and as a future professional, this became an avenue for us to practice and apply what we have learned as a psych major. Our Ignatian Advocacy has allowed us to reach out to people, build connections, and in a way touch other people’s lives.

What made this implementation remarkable was the efforts and sincerity we poured into this. With all the realizations mentioned above, I feel grateful for having the opportunity to raise awareness to the public with the help of this Ignatian Advocacy project. As a graduating student, I could say that my journey in Ateneo has become more meaningful because of this. I was somehow able to make an impact to the society where providing a safe space for the dogs has been heard by many.

As a Psychology student doing this advocacy, I am reminded of how listening and actually taking the initiative to help others play a key role in almost everything. Especially when it comes to issues like harassment, it is of utmost importance that one should have enough knowledge and understanding in approaching them. Even in addressing or referring to them, one should know how to be really careful with the words they use. I also just learned that “victim-survivors” is the proper way to address, so this is somehow the first thing to do. Furthermore, I feel like this Ignatian Advocacy could perhaps be an invitation for me to rethink my future plans regarding proceeding with a career in Psychology. Through this advocacy, I realized that there is still so much in society that needs help. I envision a better and safer future for the world, so being in a helping profession can be a great avenue for me to actualize such ideas.

Growing up, I was often told that my words had power. I grew up confident with my writing, I was so keen to express myself through words, and I was often appreciated for such talent. But I was never one to speak in front of people, I grew up fully aware of the fact that writers are sometimes dull conversationalists, and so I was never comfortable with having to deliver speeches.

But I guess the road we painted for ourselves to follow is never really the road that we necessarily have to take. Because in this Ignatian Advocacy, I did not only write what I wanted people to know, but I also delivered the speech myself. Despite being so used to working behind the scenes, this event took me to a greater room with uncharted responsibilities that I had to figure out along the way. The smooth and efficient implementation of this Ignatian Advocacy opened a new door for me, a door filled with Passion and Wisdom alike.

Helping others seemed like the easiest thing for me to do. Despite not having the guarantee of receiving anything in return, I was always so eager and passionate to help others in all the possible means that I could only ever provide. So I guess what struck me the most in this Ignatian Advocacy is that it did not only open new doors for me but also allowed me to reach a higher potential -  to realize that I still had other ways of reaching out to people offering a helping hand.

With proper training or with consistent exposure, I genuinely do feel like this is something that I could continue doing. The methods for healing that I have stored in my mind need not only be shared inside the bounds of the room for therapy that I planned to build in the near future, I now know that I could reach out to more people, to speak of the things that I am most passionate about and ignite passion in their hearts as well.

So I guess as a graduating student and a future professional, this experience tells me that there are no boundaries when it comes to developing specific potentials for helping people, I am now more eager to explore more, to say yes to more opportunities, and to see what the world outside the academic setting has in store for me.

the pandemic illuminates the reality that this has long been a social issue. However, it was given less attention here in the Philippines, where there is no mental health framework that guides stakeholders on what shall be done and where we are headed. There is a shortage of evidence-based information that pushes individuals to consume readily available information without examining if the sources are credible or not, leading to reinforcement of stereotypes and misassumptions on mental health-related issues. Leaving the youth in an arena of challenges that further put their mental health at stake. This is what the Mental Health Mission aimed to address by raising social awareness campaigns in

mental health literacy.

           I am fully aware that individuals, especially our age, have a limited

understanding of the entirety of mental health. When one talks about mental

health, it is common to hear stories from the first-person point of view. In the

implementation phase, what caught my attention were the few audience present

where in fact, we have a positive number of engagements in social media.

Although the actual number present was few, this made me realize that maybe,

just maybe, these were the ones called by God at that moment to be with us.

Their presence, experience, and encounter with us may inspire more youth to

engage in social awareness campaigns and take them to social media. What

struck me most in the implementation phase was the few people who attended

our webinar, most of whom were strangers. This has caught my attention as

there were undeniably few willing to spend their time and exhaust their efforts to

educate themselves and inspire their fellow youth.

           As a future mental health professional/provider, I am excited about what awaits me working with the youth in the future. As I feel that our age gap might

be that close. However, thinking about the things and areas that need work-ups

to improve the mental health response of the country makes me hopeful that I

can be part of that progress in my ways to give back to the community, especially

to the youth. It invites me to practice kindness even in the most challenging

situations. It invites me to take a step back into the realities that continuously

unfold and enter into a serious dialogue between me and the external world out

there to embody empathy as a future mental health professional.

As a publicity and communications member, I was amazed by the amount of people who showed interest in our project. This just goes to show that establishing a strengthened community support for Women and Children is more than possible for there are many people who share the same goal as us. 

Moreover, I feel honored and fulfilled to be part of this Ignatian Advocacy. This invitation made me realize my worth, strength, and passion as a woman. I also felt the importance of children as a vulnerable population. After the implementation, I gained knowledge and more willingness to serve the community and fight against the injustices that make these people suffer more. 

As a graduating student and a future professional, this experience allowed me to always do things with a purpose and to become intentional in trying to fulfill that purpose. Nothing feels greater than being able to see the product of your hardwork especially if it uplifts people and guarantees a more beautiful world for them.

Moreover, on the day of conducting the webinar, I was relieved when people were joining us virtually. I was grateful at the same time since our group was able to accomplish our goal to educate and sincerely inform the people on the importance of mental health awareness. 

The Ignatian Advocacy Webinar helped me try things that I’m not interested in. I was able to hold and train myself to appear calm and composed. Such as managing agitation and nervousness, and when I speak out of my thoughts, I assure myself that there is nothing to fear from bloopers or mistakes. I also remember what Pia says during the start of the event to think of the session, not as a webinar but a conversation with a dear friend. As a host, then I tried to do the same. I imagined the audience as my closest friends that would allow me to speak confidently without the slightest fear. After the event, I gave myself a pat on the back for a job well done, it may not have been that perfect, but still, it was a good one.

After all, organizing an event is not just a part of a graduation requirement, it’s more about leaving a long-lasting heartwarming impression on the participants. A well-organized event should have unique goals to come up with a specific mission; to what cause are we promoting the event? and expectations the guest will have for the event? After conducting the webinar, this became a training ground to build connection and engagement as a future professional, such as connecting with our prospective clients, audience, or members on a personal level. Aside from that, this would also help solidify someone’s interest in our group or company that we will be working with soon. Of course, that would somehow establish and open opportunities for collaboration and partnership not just for personal gain but for a good cause. 

What I’ve learned and felt after conducting this advocacy is that there are some things that are beyond our control and being obsessed about it won’t make it better. Sometimes, being honest to yourself and telling the people around you about a messy situation will help. I am the type of person who worries too much and tends to obsess over uncontrollable things. Our not-so-perfect advocacy helped me realize that the outcome does not matter if you put your best into it.

Looking into the future, what makes this advocacy relevant is each one’s attitude in accommodating to every participant by educating them with mental health tips while leaving behind a remarkable achievement from our SIP subject. Through this, I can see myself using my acquired skills from this subject.

The implementation of advocacy was more meaningful for me as it brought me closer to my purpose. We weren't sure what we should be doing at first, but an idea for a stress management workshop was floated. Prior to the deployment, I honestly thought that stress management courses would be a common event for us. However, along the process, I did realize that this sort of webinar will never be common. It is current and relevant for people of all ages because stress is an inevitable, and unavoidable reality of life. It isn't always a bad thing if we teach people how to deal with it. In the days prior to the event, I was preoccupied with the notion of whether or not it would go well, if I could handle the event as a host, or if I would be too draggy or informal. At that time, I was plagued with a slew of concerns. But since I'm absolutely certain that this is only the beginning of how I'm going to unveil my purpose, I was able to regain my confidence.

What has become increasingly clear to me through my own challenging experiences and this webinar is that mental health and stress issues are both a cause, and a consequence, of health. One of the striving conversations that our speaker pointed out is that it is highly important to know the extent of your capabilities, and to know what you really deserve, you need to align your expectations with the context you are in. The webinar has become personal for me. As one of those individuals who wants to strive to be on top, I often exhaust myself. I often compromise my physical health. I needed this webinar to call out my perfectionist behavior andI realized that I really need to work on myself first before extending my purpose. Fill up my empty cup before pouring it out to others.

I think that the key to my future action is to shift my purpose to more conversations like this webinar so that, together, as a society, we can increase the demand for mental health and well-being. Why? because mental health and well-being are assets. They can help us achieve safer and more inclusive communities, more productive and healthier populations, thriving families, and happy and fulfilled citizens who all have something to contribute.

Back then we really had no idea what we could do for our Ignatian Advocacy. However, we as a group, meticulously brainstormed ideas and found a common ground that stands with what we want to teach and give forth to those who are in need. Thus, the “Would It Work For Me” webinar was born out of our collective ideals.  

I was assigned to the Communications Committee, where we had to look for possible participants to join our webinar. Fortunately, we were able to gather a lot of potential delegates. The main theme that our Ignatian Advocacy centers on is the curation of a personal stress management. As students who are taking up Psychology, stress is a construct that is not unique to us. We have gathered literature that deals with effective stress management, and yet we have come to a realization that what triggers stress is relative from one to another. From this realization, stress management techniques, albeit evidence-based, are relative from one person to another.

Our target population were undergraduate students. The reasoning behind this was the notion of how online classes have given a rise to stress levels to this specific population. Ranging from internal stressors such as ruminating thoughts to external stressors such as noise within the household.

The event day came and we were all nervous. All our efforts had been put to the maximum level to ensure the success of the webinar. Fortunately, the entire duration of it was smooth-sailing and we were all glad to hear the insights and questions raised by our participants towards the speaker. 

This experience, the Ignatian Advocacy, opened another door for me to be immersed in. As a graduating and soon-to-be-professional, I am eternally grateful for the opportunity for us to help others through the application of what we have learned.

This dream has been achieved virtually because of our advocacy. Although the event could have been better in a face-to-face set up, it was still a successful and impactful one. The notable thing that caught my attention during the implementation phase has to be the number of participants and their level of engagement. The reason is the unfortunate event that our webinar is scheduled simultaneously among different webinars and because of our topic; stress management. This topic has been very clichéd and, most of the time, misused by people. However, the number of people who have shown interest in the webinar indicates that there is still something to unravel and understand profoundly.

Stress can be very complex, but it is a wear and tear of life. Thus, being able to help people address this phenomenon using stress coping styles and techniques is very fulfilling and has remained in my heart and mind now. It was as if we were called to do this—to respond using our means—for the common good. I feel very overwhelmed because I can say that I was a part of advocacy with Ignatian values embedded into it. Thus, it is comparable to the Adduvocacy we had during my senior high school years in Ateneo because we are limited to creating one-minute videos; instead, we have honest feedback and conversations from our participants.

With that being said, as a graduating student and a future professional, I am very hopeful and confident to leave the academe. I will be bringing in the idea that I can impact others—that I can work in groups, and most significantly, I can do things for the greater glory of God. 

The week before the webinar was the item that struck me the most during the implementation.  We did not expect the events that had happened during the implementation week.  We undervalued the relevance and importance of our effort, assuming that it would only reach only a small amount of participants and engagement in our social media accounts. That day, I realized how essential our advocacy was, which is why so many people wanted to be a part of it and the personal messages we’ve received on our page after the event. Aside from that, I was struck by how many participants contributed their personal experiences in the evaluation form. Many students experienced harassment as a result of their studies. This reaffirmed the importance of our advocacy.

Moreover, there were conflicting feelings during the week-long implementation period. First and foremost, I am overwhelmed because many people expressed their gratitude for being included in the webinar. It makes me happy to know that our initiative helped so many people. Moreover, the amount of participants who openly shared their experiences really made me think about the weight and true value of our advocacy. As initially said, there were participants who spoke about their own personal experiences. When we invited them to leave a message to the organizers on the assessment form, some of them revealed their stories. I felt terrible for them because they had to go through so much. Finally, I'm concerned because I know that our advocacy work must not end here.

As a future mental health practitioner and a graduating Psychology student involved in this advocacy, I am reminded of how important it is to listen and take action to aid people in practically any situation. It is crucial, especially when dealing with issues such as harassment, to have sufficient knowledge and understanding before confronting them. Even while addressing or referring to them, one should exercise extreme caution when using language. Therefore, I believe that this Ignatian Advocacy may be an invitation for me to reconsider my aspirations to pursue a career in psychology in the future. In this, I should use my future vocation to share my knowledge and care for people who are in need. To put it another way, this advocacy is a taste of what I'll have to do in the future.