Live Well, Work Well: Essentials of a Healthy Lifestyle
Live Well, Work Well: Essentials of a Healthy Lifestyle
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Date: October 30, 2025 | 8AM-12NN
Venue: Virtual via Zoom
Author: Sofia Ysabelle C. Julia
Human Resource Development Office
Having a sound and healthy mind and body enables an individual to become active and productive. As government employees of UP Manila, achieving a healthy lifestyle also involves having the ability to manage workplace stress and demands. And as we age, being able to manage all of these things while trying to make the most out of it requires more than just knowing how to live life better
In support of the celebration of Mental Health Month, a virtual mental health training entitled “Live Well, Work Well: Essentials of a Healthy Lifestyle” was executed by the UP Manila Human Resource Development Office (HRDO) in partnership with the Institute of Health Policy and Development Studies of the National Institute of Health in UP Manila. Held on October 30, 2025 via Zoom, from 8 AM to 12 NN, this training aimed to empower UP Manila Employees from all employment categories in nurturing their knowledge on mental health, gaining practical tips to improve their ikigai, and building a healthier lifestyle for the long-term well being of their life with the help of the invited speakers for this training.
To start the training, a short and sweet opening message was delivered by Dr. Michael Antonio F. Mendoza, the HRDO Director. He reminded attendees of utilizing this opportunity to relax and immerse themselves in themselves so that they will learn how to mind their own mind while listening to the talks of the guest speakers, ultimately benefitting their well being.
The first part of the training, focusing on mental health & emotional wellbeing, was led by Dr. Anna Cristina A. Tuazon, professor and the Head of the Clinical Psychology Program of the Department of Psychology at the University of the Philippines Diliman. Her presentation and talk about mental health, specifying on mastering stress management and mental wellbeing in the workplace, emphasized taking the time to think whether one is actualizing their potential and abilities in order to build a sense of purpose in one’s community and fostering meaningful relationships. Through the entirety of her talk, she encouraged the attendees to freely chat their comments on how they feel about the session to make the training even more relevant for them. She also answered queries from the attendees on supporting friends, managing anxiety, and tips when communicating with their children after a long day of work.
Ikigai: A Reason for Being
“Ikigai: A Reason for Being” was the second session and was delivered by Dr. Hilton Y. Lam, Research Professor and the current Director of the Institute of Health Policy and Development Studies (IHPDS) at the National Institutes of Health of UP Manila. In this segment, he divulged the meaning of the Japanese word and concept Ikigai which means reason for being or living,. which can be learned and applied to everyone’s lives.
Dr. Lam highlights the ten things to remember in order to live a long and happy life while following Ikigai, and emphasizing that no one is born knowing their ikigai; therefore, one would have to live long enough to find out about it. He also entertained queries from the attendees on how to better apply the concept of ikigai within their lives, and he also shared recommendations of watching movies, specifically family genres, that showcase aspirations to help oneself find their own ikigai.
Fit for the Future: Empowering Workers for Healthy Aging
Lastly, the third session centering on empowering workers for healthy aging was imparted by Dr. Maria Stella T. Giron, faculty Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology of the College of Medicine and an affiliate faculty of the Section of Addiction Medicine of the Department of Psychiatry of the Philippine General Hospital. In her discussion, she stressed the notion that one’s future health is not built during one’s retirement period but now, during the present.
Like Dr. Giron stated, “right now lays the groundwork for your future health.” From having the right diet, getting enough exercise or physical activity, maintaining social connections, everything that one does today influences one’s long-term well being. Instead of just extending one’s life span, she reminded everyone to also extend their health span in order to age healthily in order to live better and not simply living longer.
Live Well, Work Well: Essentials of a Healthy Lifestyle
Live Well, Work Well: Essentials of a Healthy Lifestyle
Altogether, a total of 192 participants attended the healthy lifestyle training and hopefully, this training allowed UP Manila employees gained or enhanced their knowledge on recentering their life towards themselves, looking into and evaluating themselves, and making the necessary positive changes in order to build their life and work life better and worth living.
We, the Learning and Development Section of the UP Manila HRDO, strive to deliver training programs and caravans that are both conducive and beneficial to our fellow UP Manila constituents. Look out for more exciting updates on events that we’ve got for you here at our website!
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