Yesterday, July 21, EVSU brought its mental health advocacy to the 21st Burgos Events Place, partnering with PhilHealth Regional Office VIII to lead a hybrid forum titled “Parenting in the Digital Age”.
The session drew around 40 PhilHealth employees from across the region, most of whom are parents searching for concrete ways to protect their children online. The urgency of the seminar was palpable, grounded in a sobering reality that hit the city just weeks prior.
During her keynote presentation, Department Head Ms. Arabelle B. Tenebro, RGC, directly referenced the recent San Jose National High School tragedy as a stark example of “The Digital Pull”. She explained that when teenagers feel isolated or misunderstood in real life, they often seek immediate emotional shelter in virtual spaces. This isolation leaves them highly vulnerable to extreme digital niches and online groomers.
“We have to shift from passive policing to active co-engagement,” Tenebro advised the attendees. She outlined the need for “Tech-Free Harbors,” suggesting practical boundaries like device-free dinner tables and overnight charging stations in common living areas to prevent unsupervised, late-night browsing. She also emphasized creating a “no-shame” safe space where children can report uncomfortable online encounters without the immediate fear of having their phones confiscated.
Following the lecture, EVSU faculty members and Master of Arts in Guidance and Counseling (MA-GC) interns facilitated small breakout groups. These sessions provided a strictly confidential, non-judgmental space for parents to share their honest fears and brainstorm realistic action steps for their homes.
The department’s authority on these issues is rooted in both strong academic foundations and frontline experience. EVSU notably offers the Bachelor’s in Human Services, a pioneering degree program that is the first of its kind in Eastern Visayas and one of the few offered in the entire Philippines.
This deep academic expertise translates directly into community action. Late last month, following the June 22 shooting incident at San Jose National High School, EVSU’s counseling department and MA-GC students joined a massive multi-agency response spearheaded by DepEd Tacloban. Working alongside groups like UP Tacloban, the Department of Health, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development at St. Roch and St. Joseph Parish Churches, EVSU responders provided immediate Psychological First Aid (PFA) to traumatized learners, teachers, and non-teaching personnel.
That frontline intervention earned the university recognition from DepEd Tacloban Schools Division Superintendent Sherlita A. Palma, who was actively leading the city’s psychosocial support and financial aid efforts for the grieving families. Cristy May Balais, one of the MA-GC PFA providers, captured the spirit of their deployment in a recent interview: “When we offer guidance, counseling, or psychological first aid, we aren’t just helping individuals. We are strengthening the fabric of our entire community. A little support goes a long way in turning darkness into light.”
Recognizing this ongoing dedication, PhilHealth concluded yesterday’s forum by awarding a Certificate of Appreciation to the EVSU Department of Counseling and Human Services for its vital contribution as a Resource Entity. Whether responding to a crisis on the ground or empowering parents to prevent the next one, EVSUnistas continue to prove that mental health advocacy is a community effort.
This article is aligned with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3: Good Health and Well-being; SDG 4: Quality Education; SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions; and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
via Kay Bathala Santos | UMDC
