Written by Shena Lea Ariola and Kyra Kelly
The University of Baguio was represented at the GINHAWA Student Well-Being Summit 2026 by Ms. Shena Lea G. Ariola of the Center for Counseling and Student Development (CCSD), together with Ms. Kyra M. Kelly and Mr. Royce Vincent V. Alangsab, President and Vice President of the Supreme Student Council (SSC). Held last June 3–4, 2026, at Twin Lakes Hotel, Laurel, Batangas, the summit was attended by 312 participants composed of guidance practitioners, student affairs and services personnel, Office of Student Affairs (OSA) representatives, educators, and student leaders from various higher education institutions across the Philippines. Organized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) in partnership with the UNILAB Foundation and the vision for a “Healthy Philippines” by the Department of Health (DOH), the summit aimed to advance student well-being by promoting wellness, leadership, resilience, and purpose-driven engagement among students and student affairs practitioners while fostering collaboration in developing supportive and inclusive learning environments within higher education institutions.
Aligned with SDG 17 (Partnerships for Goals), the summit provided participants with valuable opportunities to engage in plenary sessions, workshops, and collaborative discussions focusing on student mental health, leadership development, well-being promotion, inclusivity, and student engagement. UB’s representatives were able to engage and perform exceptionally in problem-solving and pitching during the interactive workshops, wherein they developed action plans and advocacies for implementation in participating Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) while benchmarking with other university student leaders and staff.
The heart of the summit continues to push SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), encouraging university offices and student leaders to use the insights gained from the summit to further enhance and expand peer support mechanisms to promote greater accessibility, student engagement, and responsiveness to the evolving needs of learners. While the University of Baguio has already established student support and wellness programs such as the Peer Facilitators, further strengthening its initiatives can complement existing counseling and student development services. As the university pursues holistic well-being, it continues to foster a culture of connectedness, empathy, inclusivity, and mutual assistance among students.
In response to the insights obtained, various initiatives may be spearheaded by the Center for Counseling and Student Development (CCSD) in collaboration with the Supreme Student Council (SSC), as a framework to be included in university-wide events and initiatives for Mental Health Awareness. These activities will provide students with mental health campaigns, podcast series, platforms to advocate for safe spaces within the campus.
