A university-wide Stress Management Workshop for the faculty and staff of Foundation University (FU), headed by Human Resource Director Shelly Palmore-Teves, was conducted last January 9 at the Sofia Soller Sinco Hall.

The speakers of the said workshop were Dr. Earl Jude Paul Cleope and Jaruvic Clavano Rafols.

Dr. Cleope is a History professor as well as the director of the Office for Instruction of Silliman University (SU).  He had a special training on Group Facilitation called Institutional Capability Enhancement Program conducted by the Evelio V. Javier Foundation in the University of the Philippines, Los Banos in 1998.

On the other hand, Rafols is the Head of the Guidance and Testing Division and at the same time the Guidance Counselor for the College of Education and College of Computer Studies, and a part-time professor of the Graduate School of SU.

According to Teves, it was the Guidance Office of the University that recommended the conduct of the said workshop.  Based on a survey facilitated by the Guidance Office, Stress Management for the faculty and staff was the top-ranking topic which needed to be addressed.

Dr. Lilian P. Sumagaysay, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and at the same time acting dean of the Office of Student Affairs, said that the workshop was very helpful and applicable in handling stress not only from work but as well as those which arise from other activities.

There were 142 participants who attended the event as part of the FU faculty and staff in-service training which lasted from 1pm to 6pm.  The activities during the workshop included the Knots of Life, the Stress Scale, the Circuit Board, proper stretching and breathing exercise, and the discussion on understanding stress in general as well as its common causes.  (Presy Mae Muana and Melfred Casquite)