Mindfulness for Health and Wellbeing
A Mindfulness-Based Program to Advance Compassion and its Related Virtues in Young Filipino Adults
FriendlyCare Foundation, Inc. and the Centre for Mindfulness Studies in partnership with the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD) and the Technological Institute of the Philippines (TIP) have launched a mindfulness-based intervention research project through the Templeton World Charity Foundation. Categorized as a character development project, the program focused on fostering “prosocial” qualities such as empathy, compassion, and altruism. The development of the program was spearheaded by CMS, with the mindfulness facilitators from FCFI as co-developers. Together, as one team, they collaborated on developing the curriculum.
Now called, Mindfulness for Health and Wellbeing (MHW) program, the program as it is currently being delivered, follows a 12-session structure, with 2 hours once a week delivery. It was inspired from Mindfulness-based Cognitive Behavior Training (MBCT) along with Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR), and Mindful Self Compassion (MSC). Practices were derived from these existing programs to create and tailor-fit a preventive program for college-age Filipinos. It mainly focuses on utilizing mindful activities and meditation in improving one’s mental health and well-being.
CHC Co-Creator Nex Agustin co-developed the program curriculum and has been facilitating the MHW classes for the past 5 years since its implementation. She has also been training professors from the UP-Diliman College of Human Kinetics (UP-CHK) in becoming facilitators of the course.
For more information: Templeton Mindfulness Research Project