Carlos Hilado Memorial State University (CHMSU) Binalbagan Campus, through its Office of the Guidance Services solidified its partnership with the Binalbagan Municipal Health Office and Psynergy Psychological Services in a ceremony and program launch held on October 20, 2026.
Titled “Breathe. Pause. Reflect. Connect.: A Student Mental Health Awareness Symposium and Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) Signing Ceremony,” the event held at the CHMSU Binalbagan Campus covered court formalized a partnership among the university and its stakeholders to strengthen mental health support for students.
Representing CHMSU were Binalbagan Campus Executive Director Joevelle Vergara, and guidance counselors Hazel Gay Lagrada and Dyan Gapulan of the Office of the Guidance Services (OGS)
CHMSU signed two MOAs, one with the Binalbagan MHO represented by Dr. Hazel Pagunsan, Municipal Health Officer, and Ana Lou A. Panganiban, founder and proprietor of Psynergy Psychological Services. The CHMSU representatives, partners, and all stakeholders capped the ceremony by signing the Wall of Commitment.
Through two separate but parallel memoranda of agreement, CHMSU Binalbagan Campus has partnered with the Binalbagan Municipal Health Office and Psynergy Psychological Services to build a referral network for students needing mental health support, with the university’s Office of the Guidance Services referring students to the MHO for psychiatric screening and medication and to Psynergy for psychological assessment and counseling, and receiving back those who need non-medical support.
The university eyes to replicate similar partnerships across all campuses to expand the university’s program in supporting the mental health of students, said OGS Director Juben Palermo.
The activity opened with remarks from Dean Purisima Romero of the College of Criminology, followed by a presentation of the rationale for the MOA signing by April Nabor, Center for Internationalization and External Relations coordinator for Binalbagan Campus.
The Student Mental Health Awareness Symposium followed, with five resource speakers each taking on a topic central to student well-being.
Shiela Mae Tinassan discussed understanding anxiety, and Sharie Mae Rendon spoke on understanding depression.
Jean Lapore then addressed suicidal ideation, while Almera Robles shared grounding techniques for finding calm in the present moment. Janice Bolanio closed the series with a talk on referral pathways, explaining how students can be connected to appropriate mental health support.
An open forum and question-and-answer session gave students the chance to raise questions directly with the speakers. OSAS Coordinator Anecito Olmedo delivered the closing remarks
