Recognizing the importance of keeping the well-being of its key partners in the implementation of Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) and Tulong-Dunong Program – Tertiary Education Subsidy (TDP-TES), the Commission on Higher Education Regional Office 2 (CHED RO2), through its Unified Student Financial Assistance for Tertiary Education Unit (UniFAST Unit), conducted a Professional Development Seminar for TES and TDP-TES Focal Persons titled “Thriving in Balance: Enhancing Work-Life Harmony and Stress Coping Mechanisms” on August 9, 2023, at the CHED RO2 Auditorium.

Atty. Marco Cicero F. Domingo, CHED RO2 OIC-Director IV, welcomed the participants and emphasized that it is vital to give due importance to mental health in these times. “We hope that this seminar inspires you to explore and reach new heights for the professional development that we all aspire for, and remind you that boundless possibilities and potential lies within all of us”, Atty. Domingo said.

Being an expert in the field of psychology and guidance counselling, the invited resource speaker, Dr. Jennifer Ocampo-Serrano, immersed the participants on topics that revolved around understanding oneself, stress and its effects, strategies in coping-up with stress, importance of mental health, sources of stressors in the workplace, and ways to empower oneself to thrive in balance and effectively manage work-life harmony.

“If we want to maintain a mentally healthy personality, we should engage ourselves in positive mindset, know how to achieve our goals, develop strong personal and social bonds, and protect ourselves by doing some self-care and self-love”, Dr. Serrano conveyed.

During the one-day activity, the participants shared their experiences and assimilated lessons that they may use in avoiding imbalances while traversing the roads of professional and social life.