{"id":1781,"date":"2025-03-28T11:00:29","date_gmt":"2025-03-28T03:00:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pahinungod.upou.edu.ph\/?p=1781"},"modified":"2026-01-14T09:44:58","modified_gmt":"2026-01-14T01:44:58","slug":"ugnayan-ng-pahinungod-upou-celebrates-31st-anniversary-conducts-heart-of-volunteerism-webinar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pahinungod.upou.edu.ph\/?p=1781","title":{"rendered":"Ugnayan ng Pahinung\u00f3d UPOU celebrates 31st Anniversary, Conducts Heart of Volunteerism Webinar"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Ugnayan ng Pahinung\u00f3d University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) celebrated the 31st Founding Anniversary of the Ugnayan ng Pahinung\u00f3d through a webinar entitled <\/span>SRTS Episode 5: Heart of Volunteerism<\/span><\/i> last 21 February 2025 via Zoom. <\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>Heart of Volunteerism<\/span><\/i> webinar was the fifth episode of the Stress Reduction Technique Series (SRTS). SRTS is a continuing series of video demonstrations to relieve stress through various simple, fun, and artistic activities and provide relevant opportunities for social connection, friendship, and support among interested participants. It is one of the activities of the Kalinga at Yakap (KaYa) App, a web and mobile-based application offering free and accessible mental wellness resources managed by Ugnayan ng Pahinung\u00f3d UPOU. <\/span><\/p>\n

The fifth episode featured Ms. Genevieve S. Aguinaldo, one of the Pahinung\u00f3d UPOU volunteers, as its resource speaker. Ms. Aguinaldo discussed the different stressors that students, adults (30 years old and above), and senior citizens often experience. According to her, most people experience digital stress and long for a social connection which fortunately, volunteerism resolves and fulfills. Meanwhile, finding a new sense of purpose after retirement is a critical struggle among older adults. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Importante para sa akin na meron akong ganito, meron akong Pahinung\u00f3d . Alam ko na \u2018pag tumanda ako, hindi ko mapipigilan yung mga anak ko [na] mag-aasawa [at] magpapamilya.<\/span><\/i> But I have this, I can still find purpose. I can still do something for the community and for myself,\u201d Ms. Aguinaldo stated as she explained the distinct stressors among older adults. <\/span><\/p>\n

Older adults experience a loss of socioeconomic status, reduced social network, isolation, gradual decline in physical and mental capacity, and \u2018empty-ness\u2019 syndrome. Hence, volunteerism among their age group has been detrimental in providing them a new sense of purpose and routine that alleviates their stress. Finding a new sense of purpose and social connection has been the common motivation among student, adults, and older adult volunteers. <\/span><\/p>\n

Aside from the new sense of purpose, student volunteers find opportunities for self-development and \u2018road testing\u2019 potential contexts for future work in volunteering. Adults aged 30 years and above often find validation and catharsis instead in telling their stories about new activities and experiences as well as in developing new skills. However, for Ms. Aguinaldo, volunteering is personal as she thanked Pahinung\u00f3d for giving her a sense of direction during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Sabi nga nila kapag nagpa-Pahinung\u00f3d, nagbibigay ka<\/span><\/i>. But for me, I really consider it [that] Pahinung\u00f3d saved me.<\/span> Sobra yung lungkot [at] yung kaba, pero para sa akin, kaya ganito ako ka<\/span><\/i>-enthusiastic <\/span>sumali<\/span><\/i> [is because] at the time n<\/span>a sobra akong baba, ito yung meron ako, na meron akong hold sa mundo<\/span><\/i> because<\/span> meron akong Pahinung\u00f3d<\/span><\/i>,\u201d she expressed her appreciation for the organization. <\/span><\/p>\n

During the open forum, Ms. Aguinaldo expounded on the difference between online and face-to-face volunteering. \u201c<\/span>Parehas yung bigat, parehas yung saya, pero nag-iiba lang yung <\/span><\/i>mode,\u201d she explained. <\/span><\/p>\n

In attendance was Ms. Arlene Mendiola-Acol, one of the Gawad Pahinung\u00f3d awardees from Pahinung\u00f3d UPOU who also shared on the webinar chat her thoughts on the presented question. According to Ms. Mendiola-Acol, online volunteering provides visibility into the learner\u2019s progress and allows an expanded reach. Meanwhile, face-to-face volunteering offers a chance to see the real-time joy in the faces of the learners they interact with. <\/span><\/p>\n

Around 70 participants attended the webinar, including several Pahinung\u00f3d UPOU volunteers from different programs such as the Online Bridge Program, Online Mother\u2019s Class, and E-Guro. The recording of the Heart of Volunteerism will be publicly available on the KaYa website and application (https:\/\/kaya.upou.edu.ph\/).<\/span><\/p>\n

For questions and inquiries about the KaYa App and SRTS, you may contact Ugnayan ng Pahinung\u00f3d UPOU on Facebook or through their email <\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Written by Naomi Jean Unlayao<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>

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