28/05/2026
π½ππππΏπππ πΌ ππππΎππΏπ ππΌπππ πΎππππππππ πͺ
Earlier this month, the Mission to Seafarers Philippines, in partnership with John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University (Arevalo), Inc., gathered volunteers and participants for a meaningful SafeTALK public offering at JBLFMU-A Hall in Iloilo on May 16, 2026.
SafeTALK is a 3 to 4-hour training that equips participants with practical skills to become su***de-alert helpersβempowering them to recognize signs of distress, engage in open conversations, and connect individuals at risk to appropriate support. The session was facilitated by Ven, FSN Program Coordinator, serving as the SafeTALK trainer assisted by his brother Phele, an ASIST trained MTS volunteer based in Iloilo.
The activity brought together participants from various sectors, including LGU Iloilo, JBLFMU (Molo and Arevalo campuses), TechVoc institutions, the IFI Diocese of Iloilo, RISE Clinic, as well as seafarers and their families. It created a meaningful and engaging space to learn about su***de alertness, intervention, and the importance of compassionate listening.
As part of the Mission to Seafarersβ commitment to mental health and wellbeing, the training provided essential tools to respond with empathy and confidenceβhelping build safer, more supportive, and life-affirming communities.
βItβs nice to have this course. We have many programs on mental health awareness, but what we lack is intervention and compassion. SafeTALK teaches us to listen, and we need more people who are willing to listen.β, one participant shared.
The event concluded successfully with 20 participants who actively engaged in and completed the training, each taking a step forward in becoming instruments of care and support for others.
Together, we continue to build a community rooted in compassion, awareness, and hopeβensuring that no one walks alone. π
