The unexpected, in times of comfort and peace our expectations are narrowed by the possibility of tragedy and calamity. But in the wake of unpleasant experiences, we learn to endure and to create things from what we can as best as we can. From October 10 to November 6, 2025, the Guidance Services and Wellness Center (GSWC) celebrated World Mental Health Awareness Month with the title “Banaag: A Spark of Hope Amidst Adversity” keeping in line the prepared activities with the theme of this year’s World Mental Health Awareness month “Access to Services: Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies”.
The celebration began with Light Up Blue activity, where students were invited to freely express themselves by painting on a community mural displayed in the GSWC hallway as well as freely take green ribbons to pin on their clothes, both have been long-standing practices observed all around the world as a simple act of showing support for mental health and spreading awareness on it. The activity gained strong participation, resulting in three fully painted canvases that highlighted the value of creative outlets and community support.
From October 10–17, GSWC also launched “Scan and Stroll,” a campus-wide QR scavenger hunt conducted in collaboration with various university offices. Participants solved puzzles at different stations across the main campus. Samuel Sagandoy from CITCS successfully completed all stations and received UC merchandise as a token.
The month-long celebration concluded on November 6 with the seminar “The Resilient Generation: Navigating Mental Health in a World of Crisis.” Led by guest speaker Ms. Leny O. Esatacio, the session focused on building resilience and adapting to times of crisis. The event drew 185 participants from various colleges, emphasizing that strengthening mental health requires collective effort and personal reflection.
In the end we continue to face an ever-changing world with enduring challenges for us to face but hopefully this month may serve as a reminder that resilience is not merely a skill but a lifelong journey—one strengthened through awareness, community, and a willingness to grow through every challenge
