The University of Baguio, participates in the 23rd Annual Convention of the School Counselors’ Circle of the Philippines through Director Leny Estacio, RGC and Ms. Karol Manalo. The two-day professional development event was held last January 20-21,2026 at Bayview Park Hotel Manila and was guided by the theme: “From Policy to Practice: School Counselors as Advocates for Students’ Mental Health, Holistic Development, and Future Readiness”. The event sought to strengthen the roles of school counselors, psychologists, and education leaders as frontliners in promoting students’ mental health, holistic development, and future readiness—advancing key global goals such as SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) and SDG 4 (Quality Education).
The first day highlights were key policies and professional perspectives, including the implementation of the Mental Health Law in basic education, career development for guidance counselors, future-oriented career guidance, and counseling strategies that promote a growth mindset among students. Building on these topics, the second day shifted toward practical application, featuring lecture-workshops on building comprehensive school mental health programs using the Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) framework and the effective use of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) data to inform evidence-based counseling interventions, concluding with shared institutional experiences and interactive discussions.
In the University of Baguio, the insights gained from the two-day professional development are to be translated into action by the Center for Counseling and Student Development (CCSD) office as they ensure that the school counseling practices are more responsive, inclusive, and sustainable. More so, the existing guidance services are to be placed under a care center, which will embed mental health promotion, career readiness, and socio-emotional development; supporting learner well-being and academic success from basic education to higher education. The name shift will be one of the minimum compliances to Republic Act 12080: “Basic Education Mental Health and Well-being Promotion Act.” This way, the policy is not only enacted, but meaningfully practiced
