07/02/2026
๐๐๐-๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ง๐ญ๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ข๐๐ข๐ฉ๐๐ญ๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐จ๐๐ง๐ ๐ ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง |
From January 30 to February 3, 2025, the officers, adviser, volunteers, and mental health professionals of the Psychological Association of the Philippines-Western Mindanao Chapter (PAP-WESMIN) actively participated in the Zamboanga City One Medical Mission. This humanitarian initiative was spearheaded by Metro Stonerich Corporation in collaboration with the City Government of Zamboanga, alongside local universities, private companies, non-government organizations, and other partner agencies. The mission aimed to provide free and accessible healthcare services to vulnerable and underserved populations in the community.
In line with its commitment to advancing community mental health, PAP-WESMIN responded by ensuring access to essential mental health services, including counseling and psychotherapy, psychosocial processing, and evidence-based interventions addressing the mental health concerns of both referred and walk-in beneficiaries. In addition to mental health services, various medical services were also offered during the mission, such as laboratory services, internal medicine consultations, reproductive health services, physical therapy, pharmaceutical assistance, and the likes. These services were delivered by a multidisciplinary team composed of doctors, nurses, medical technologists, medical staff, and volunteers.
The mental health component of the mission was led by a multidisciplinary team of professionals and advocates. Psychiatric services and pharmacological interventions were provided by Dr. Roy Raroque, a psychiatrist and medical practitioner based in the United States, and Dr. Kriska Caye Solares-Mohammad, Resident Psychiatrist from the Western Mindanao Command. Meanwhile, the non-pharmacological assessment and treatment planning were conducted by the chapter adviser and Psychologist, Dr. Lolina N. Bajin. Guidance counselors, trained psychometricians, and volunteers facilitated psychosocial processing under the direct supervision of the psychiatrist and psychologist.
Present during the mission were PAP-WESMIN officers Mr. Juniebe L. Manganohoy (President), Ms. Maricris Tan (Treasurer), and Mr. Angelo M. Solo (Secretary). They were joined by volunteer mental health advocates Ms. Pia Ericka Arquiza and Ms. Jeina Lynne Nambli (Guidance Counselors), as well as volunteers Ms. Fatima Aisha Sanchez, Ms. Angela Villegas, Ms. Princess Perez, Mr. Joemar Raye Ramos, and Ms. Mariah Samantha Paz Bedua (Psychometricians), who worked collaboratively to augment the delivery of mental health services.
A total of fifty-nine (59) referred and walk-in clients were assessed and provided with appropriate interventions throughout the five-day mission. Daily post-conference discussions with the experts enabled the team to reflect on the cases handled and identify strategies to further enhance the quality and effectiveness of mental health service delivery.
This collective effort underscores the shared commitment of PAP-WESMIN officers, adviser, and volunteers to promoting responsive, ethical, and community-oriented mental health programs in Western Mindanao and beyond (Words by Angelo Solo)
