14/09/2025
๐๐๐๐ง๐จ๐ฅ๐ | โ๐๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต๐ข๐ญ ๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ญ๐ต๐ฉ ๐๐ข๐ต๐ต๐ฆ๐ณ๐ด, ๐๐ท๐ฆ๐ฏ ๐๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ฏ ๐๐ตโ๐ด ๐๐ฏ๐ท๐ช๐ด๐ช๐ฃ๐ญ๐ฆ,โ ๐๐จ. ๐๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ก ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ ๐พ๐ง๐ช๐ฏ, ๐๐๐, ๐๐ผ๐พ
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โOn September 12, 2025, future educators from Cebu Eastern College, Inc. (CEC) gathered at โthe Upper Gymnasium for CTE Kamustahan: A Mental Health Break for Future Educators, an โevent designed to provide an open space for sharing, reflection, and wellness. The program โaimed to foster openness among students, encourage conversations about their well-being, andโremind them that mental health is just as important as academic success.
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โOne of the highlights of the event was the dialogue session with Ms. Liezel De La Cruz, PRM, MAC. Through her talk, she shed light on the realities of mental health and the often-unnoticed โburdens people silently carry.
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โIn her words, โSometimes people may look perfectly fine, but deep inside theyโre struggling. Many wear masks, and before you know it, someone who seemed okay yesterday may have already given up,โ she said. With this reminder, Ms. De La Cruz emphasized the need not only to care for oneโs own well-being but also to extend compassion and sensitivity toward others.
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โAdditionally, Ms. De La Cruz continued by discussing the stigma associated with mental health.
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โShe clarified, "A lot of us are reluctant to talk about our issues because we wonder if we're โexaggerating. Am I merely trying to get attention? Ms. De La Cruz made a point, encapsulating โthe unsaid concerns that many people harbor in silence.
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โ"However, having knowledge or
โawareness about mental health can also be a double-edged sword," she continued weightily.
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โAlthough it may seem reasonable, she reminded the audience of the hidden risks of โmisdiagnosing, overanalyzing, and dismissing issues that require genuine attention. It is true โthat people frequently comment, [Young people] today are too sensitive. "
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โThat's why it is important to treat mental health just as seriously as physical health,โ she stressed. โWhen someone says they are not okay, respect that. [Ultimately,] the most important thing is to respect another personโs mental health.โ
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โAs her words lingered in the gymnasium, the atmosphere softened. It was no longer just a โprogram, but a moment of connectionโone where stories, struggles, and unspoken truths found โroom to breathe. The CTE Kamustahan was not about lectures alone; it was about reminding โfuture educators that behind every smile may be a story, and behind every strong front, a heart โin need of care.
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โIn the quiet that followed, the message was clear: to respect oneโs own well-being, to honor the โunseen battles of others, and to embrace the truth that mental health is not a weakness, but a
โshared human journey. And perhaps, in that safe space, the seeds of a more compassionate โgeneration of educators were planted.
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โCorrespondent: Yana Aricia - Probationary
โCreative Designer: Angelyka Braรฑanola
