To strengthen the stronghold of social and development research, Benguet State University through the Institute of Social Research and Development (ISRD) spearheaded the 1st Regional Conference on Gender, Health and Wellbeing on March 20-21, 2024.

“The intention of this conference is to gather researchers who specialize in these areas so that we can learn from each other’s studies and see what else can be done. We also want our studies to be useful in policy-making,” said ISRD Director Ann Heather B. Kiwang.

Similarly, the VP for Research and Extension Roscintio Ian C. Lumbres conveyed his delight and high hopes of creating further research, development, and extension activities for the communities through these kinds of activities. According to him, the end goal is always in the name of service.

With this, two keynote speakers in the persons of DOH-CAR Statistician Jhorgin F. Dongbo and PRO-Cordillera Chief Regional for Women and Children Protection Center (WCPC) PMAJ Marcy Grace U Marron discussed the latest data and updates on the relevant social issues faced by the region.

Presentations of the different research results by the student, faculty, and staff researchers then succeeded the keynote speakers. The research presenters came from the different colleges and universities of the region, specifically Apayao State College-Conner Campus, Benguet State University, Cordillera Career Development College, Ifugao State University, and the University of Baguio.

On the first day, five gender studies were presented with topics on internalized sexism among young adult Filipino women, lived experiences of mothers who experienced perinatal loss, Bontoc women’s struggles as part of the Bontoc Women’s Brigade, negative factors like stigma and discrimination present in the access to HIV/AIDS prevention services for GBT, and gender responsiveness and growth in the strawberry processing enterprise.

Research findings on health and wellbeing were also shared on the second day. These areas of study included mental health needs of employees, burnout, compassion fatigue and resilience among practicing nurses, and lived experiences of individuals from excessive alcohol consumption withdrawal.

Additionally, documented lived experiences of young people with major depressive disorder carers, challenges and coping mechanisms of patients diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, indigenous people’s perspective on COVID-19 vaccination, and study on Benguet’s spirituality, health and wellbeing were also discussed.

Opportunities for clarifications, questions, and further discussions were included in between presentation clusters for in-person and online participants to engage with the research presenters.

To close, ISRD Division chief for Indigenous Knowledge Systems Matyline A. Camfili-Talastas commended the organizers of the conference and challenged both participants and researchers saying, “this conference is another wake-up call seeking for everyone to do something about the different concerns that were mentioned in our two-day conference.”

“Hopefully, we were bothered and challenged at the same time to somewhat contribute to solving these relevant issues. Our advocacy remains the same which is to contribute to community development and of course, bring about changes for the better,” she added. //CANapiloy