5 Comment

1. 

   Cesni Tamayo

   3 years ago

   Congratulations Raquel and to the artists for coming up with this tool for wellbeing and for sharing this to others. I have enjoyed the playdates with the Diwa cards so far and for me it is relevant and life-giving. I am planning to use it in our company workshops. Now, I’d like to give my opinion about the value of this project. Of course people can make up their own minds about it. Being in the education sector for 15 years, encountering teachers, students and parents, knowing about their lives and also personally going through my own struggles especially this time of Pandemic, I believe many people benefit from options that allow them to be responsible for their own wellbeing. It is always a good thing for people to become empowered of their own lives and wellbeing. There are a hundred million Filipinos and the small fraction of it who are professional medical/psychological practitioners need every support that they can from other sectors. Wellbeing is not strictly a medical term. It is usually used alongside mental health (disclaimer: The proponent of this project did not use this term but I’m mentioning it in case anyone might be equating it with “wellbeing”) but it is a broader concept that can be used even by a regular person taking care of her/his state of being. This initiative is not claiming to be a clinical or medical solution. As stated in the FAQs of this project “This can supplement and compliment existing support that you have right now. If you feel that you might have clinical depression or other psychological problems, please make sure to also consult a doctor. There's no one solution to well-being and what's important is to be aware of our needs.” To quote the WHO, “Mental health promotion should be mainstreamed into governmental and nongovernmental policies and programmes. In addition to the health sector, it is essential to involve the education, labour, justice, transport, environment, housing, and welfare sectors.” I understand that there are policies detailing the DOs and DONTs in this matter, however experiencing the Malayang Diwa program what it is offering is nothing medical. It is more educational, creative and reflective in nature. If anything needs to be added in this pitch, it is Raquel’s background on Education, Program Development and Research, and Coaching. This would give possible backers additional perspective on the project. Lastly, I would like to go back again to my own experience with Malayang Diwa. I know Raquel and I know how much thought has been poured into this project, including all the input from her consultations with her mentors and professional circle. As I’ve said I attended a playdate/ workshop and met some of those who participated. For me, Malayang Diwa is a safe space and a labor of love by amazing individuals.

2. 

   Raquel Cabrieto

   3 years ago

   My sincere wish is for us to be able to co-create a society where opposing views are expressed in a safe space. I do not pretend that I am a certified psychologist or therapist, that is clear. But your response exactly captures the pain that I want to address - the lack of choice and ownership of an individual for his or her sense of well-being, because of how we’ve been made to believe that only a licensed professional can tell us we are okay or not. We’ve lost the capacity to be present with ourselves, to listen closely and see what works for us and how we can take care of ourselves and each other in a more sustainable way, not just depending on experts who themselves attest that they need support in supporting individuals at this time but also being mindful of how to take care of our well-being more consistently and holistically. Yours in peace, Raquel

3. 

   Raquel Cabrieto

   3 years ago

   Hi Dyoker Inocente. Thank you for raising your concerns. Rest assured that I am not taking it lightly. And that I have thought through this project as well, given my background and credentials which I acknowledge I was not able to explicitly share because I didn't want it to be about me. I apologize if my video caused any confusion but let it not derail us from the real purpose and goal of this project. Please note that in the FAQs I also clarified that what I offer is not a replacement for psychological support. I hope to respond to all your concerns privately in a constructive space. You may reach me via Facebook or Instagram for this. Again, Thank you for sharing your voice. Though honestly quite sharp, it’s allowed me to empathize better with people similar to you. That’s one of the things that this project draws strength from - engagement and participation. I hope to meet and have a chat with you when you are willing and ready.

4. 

   Tern Haven

   3 years ago

   Naguguluhan ako sa pitch na ito. Di tulad ng ibang rewards na may aktwal nang produkto na kailangan na lang ng capital para sa produksyon, eto wala talaga. Ang nakakaloka pa, ang “play date to explore card themes” ay nilalarawan sa FB bilang “chance to input on what to include in the art work!” So ang ideya para sa “rewards” na hinihingi sa atin na pondohan ay manggagaling pa pala sa iba?! Pambihira. Malala pa sa free rider sa groupwork. Sana po kahati sa bayad ang pagkukunan ng ideya pero walang nakatoka sa budget breakdown dito. 
At tulad ng nabanggit na, hindi naman talaga cards ang pinopondohan dito. Pati pa pala podcast gusto pondohan. Cards, nonregulated service in the form of self-conducted “wellbeing workshops,” podcast ng “poetry”… ano ba talaga ategurl? Mas mukhang “donation” pitch ata ito keysa “reward”? Marami madaling mabiktima ng “communal narcissist.”

5. 

   Dyoker Inocente

   3 years ago

   Public Advisory: This pitch is problematic. It may potentially be misleading Filipinos because it misrepresents both the project and the proponent. This a serious matter because services peddled as "wellbeing" may be damaging if not handled by competent providers with the proper training. Firstly, the pitch misleadingly advertises "wellbeing cards" for the backer, when the actual product sold is the proponents' conducting "wellbeing workshops for teachers." The proponent claims that backers who pledge PhP1,500 for the cards (a hefty tag considering the numerous beautiful decks that go as low as PhP300 that one can find elsewhere, such as Amazon) will not receive cards nor get their money back if the pitch unsuccessfully reaches the target goal. However, the actual pitch--proponent's fees for "wellbeing workshops for teachers"--will still receive funding. The cards are a mere smokescreen for what backers of the cards are genuinely funding. The project description describes the cards but barely mentions the actual product in detail, leaving it as a subsumed agenda. Secondly, the pitch is highly problematic because the proponent misrepresents herself. The Philippines may be lax on regulatory boards and regulatory mechanisms, but to take advantage of this is egregiously unethical. If artists are making the cards, are there similar partnerships with qualified organizations or individuals consigned to conduct the workshops? No, the uncredentialed proponent states she will conduct them herself despite being uncredentialed to offer "wellbeing workshops" because the project description discloses no such information. Anyone who has gone through a proper certification or professional registration process knows they are ethically bound to reveal their credentials, but here there are none. Whether therapists, coaches, educators, social workers, even body-based practitioners, people with the competence to conduct workshops on wellbeing have done the work. They've put in the hours and gone through a rigorous process of taking relevant courses, logging hours under the supervision of someone qualified, and even more hours of relevant work. If the proponent employs techniques for wellbeing in a personal capacity, the Dunning-Kruger effect to believe one can competently instruct others in their practice. Take, for instance, someone practicing yoga for decades. Experience is not equivalent to being competent to train people in practice. Yoga is a discipline that involves health repercussions if not taught by someone with the proper credentials. Good intentions do not equate to competence. Overconfidence, however, is forgivable, but monetizing incompetence is unconscionable. Professional registration processes such as licensing, obtaining proper certification exist primarily to PROTECT THE PUBLIC. Professionals are accountable to the people they serve. Anyone can contract laborers to have a house, but only a licensed contractor can liable if something goes wrong. Many Filipinos are unaware of this as we are a culture where quack doctors abound, and practices are unregulated because of an overburdened and ill-equipped government. Thus, it is incumbent on professionals to maintain the integrity of the work and give Filipinos the service they deserve. *** As of this writing, the contents of the pitch description have changed substantially, rendering its integrity even more questionable.