PH Embassy in Yangon Conducts Online Mental Wellness Workshop 

Webinar participants pose with instructor Ms. Eileen Tupaz for a photo opportunity on Zoom. (Yangon PE photo)

YANGON 03 September 2020 – The Philippine Embassy in Yangon organized an online mental wellness workshop entitled, “Finding Calm in the Face of Challenging Circumstances” via Zoom platform for the Filipino men and women living and working in Myanmar, as part of its Gender and Development (GAD) Activities for the year, on 29 August 2020.

In his opening remarks, Philippine Ambassador to Myanmar Eduardo E. Kapunan, Jr. talked about the webinar’s importance, which focused on mental wellness, especially given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, maintaining health was repeatedly emphasized. However, keeping healthy means not only physical health but mental health as well. The Ambassador also stated how the Embassy recognizes that women are becoming overburdened and overwhelmed with the multiple tasks and responsibilities assigned to them by both family and work, especially because of everyone having to work from home. He reiterated the importance for women to rest and manage their stress to benefit themselves and those around them. 

Ms. Eileen Tupaz, the workshop facilitator, held an opening meditation and talked about the relevance of “centering and grounding, body and breath.” She explained the different causes of stress and the response of our bodies to stressful situations. She also defined and described mindfulness and imparted quick strategies for emergency situations. Ms. Tupaz is the co-founder and co-director of White Space Mind and Body Wellness Studio, a yoga and meditation teacher trainer, and a retreat facilitator. 

The webinar also had a simultaneous live audience in Mandalay where the Embassy conducted a Consular Mission. A total of six Filipino teachers–three men and three women–from Mandalay participated in the webinar, while the rest of the participants participated online from Yangon, bringing the total number of FIlipino participants in the webinar to 19. END

For more information, visit https://www.yangonpe.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinMyanmar.