BCS holds Inside Out: Understanding Emotions in a Pandemic

Seven months into quarantine and we’ve yet to see changes in how the government is handling this pandemic. As a result, the economy is down, people are hungry, and a lot are sick---physically and mentally.

Recognizing the need to address mental health concerns intensified by the pandemic with added stress brought by the first month of the online semester, the UP Biochemistry Society hosted the mental health webinar titled, “Inside Out Understanding Emotions in a Pandemic” last October 10, 2020 from 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM via Zoom and Facebook Live.

The event was attended by over 150 participants from 43 different schools in the Philippines.

Said mental health webinar featured Dr. Gilda Gayle Gomez as the Keynote Speaker where she talked about mental health and how the pandemic intensifies the existing concerns. Inside Out also featured three topics namely “The Chemistry of Emotions” by Ms. Gaea Marelle Miranda, “The Validity of Emotions” by Ms. Meryel De Los Santos,” and “The Ways We Cope” by Ms. Veronica Dee.

Moreover, understanding that financial stress is one of the main distress experienced by Filipinos, the event had its raffle draw-donation drive where three lucky winners were given Gcash e-money and nine more winners were given vouchers from UP BCS’ beneficiary, Medyo Cute Stickers.

Overall, the event was able to raise PHP 1455 for Medyo Cute Stickers whose primary beneficiaries are the jeepney drivers financially affected by this pandemic.

For event co-head Gwen Hannah Ardiente, she said that it was her first time organizing an event as big as Inside Out. She further added that “It [the event] exceeded my expectations; it was truly heartwarming and fulfilling being able to spearhead the event.”

On the other hand, Gil Phillip Inocando, event co-head, said that “Spearheading the event was truly an amazing experience. I hope everyone who attended the webinar felt validated and empowered.”

The Inside Out Webinar Team is extremely grateful to all participants who attended the webinar via Zoom and via Facebook Live. Moreover, the team would like to extend its gratitude to the following organization partners who helped make the event successful: Association of Psychology Students of Ateneo, Philippine Association of Chemistry Students, Inc., Philippine Society of Youth Science Clubs, Inc., and UPM Peer Empowering Peers Society (Gold Partners); AIESEC UP Manila, ALAB CPH, Industrial Pharmacy Honor Society, One’s True Nature, UP Pharmaceutical Association Student Council, UP Vector, and UST Chemical Society (Silver Partners); Alliance of Public Health Athletes, CAMP Synergy, Development Studies Society, Pharmakon UP College of Pharmacy, Society of Occupational Therapy Majors, UP Manila USC-Health Committee, UP Medicine Student Council, and UP Society of Computer Scientists (Bronze Partners); and WhenInManila.com, the official media partner of Inside Out.

UP BCS’ initiatives for UP Manila’s Mental Health Month does not end with Inside Out. UP BCS, through its official newsletter, The Aurum, will also be hosting Kaþarsis: Breathe Through Artistic Expression which is an open submission event that hopes to give a platform for anyone who wishes to express their emotions through art.

Kaþarsis will be featuring submitted artworks on October 26-30, 2020 in the UP Biochemistry Society Facebook Page as well as the organization’s YouTube channel.