Project PagpaLUNGga

PagpaLUNGga: CBT Workshop on Smoking Reduction

On March 7, 2025, as part of the PagpaLUNGga: Anti-Smoking Campaign organized by the West Visayas State University – College of Medicine, a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Workshop on Smoking Reduction was successfully conducted in Barangay North Baluarte, Molo, Iloilo City.

The workshop was facilitated by Levy Anne Amosin-Hechanova, MA, RPsy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) trained Licensed Psychologist, President & Chairman of Huzons Health and Psychological Center, who guided community members through practical CBT strategies to help them understand smoking triggers, manage cravings, and build healthier coping habits.

Through interactive discussions and behavioral exercises, participants learned how thoughts, emotions, and habits influence smoking behavior, empowering them to take steps toward smoking reduction and healthier living.

The activity was conducted in partnership with Huzons Health and Psychological Center and was attended by a few incorporators supporting the university’s Family and Community Medicine outreach initiative. 💙

Youth Take the Lead in “Community Action for a Smoke-Free Barangay” Forum 🚭✨

On February 28 at the Barangay North Baluarte Covered Court, the youth of North Baluarte gathered for an empowering forum titled “Community Action for a Smoke-Free Barangay,” where Dr. Dennis Dignadice, a specialist in Family and Community Medicine with a subspecialty in Hospice and Palliative Medicine, led an engaging discussion on the health effects of smoking, the dangers of second-hand smoke, and practical strategies for preventing smoking behaviors among young individuals, equipping participants aged 18 and below with knowledge and a renewed sense of responsibility to become advocates for a healthier, smoke-free community. 💜🌱

🏀💨 Team WAYBI in Action! 💪🌱
Youth Health Forum: “Community Action for a Smoke-Free Barangay” with Dr. Dennis Dignadice 🩺

Then, shoot your shot in our Basketball One-Day League 🏀🏆 – prizes await!

Take part in our Pick-Up Butts Challenge! Let’s work together to keep our community cigarette-free. 🚭🧹

📅 Feb 28 | Don’t miss it!

🎨𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗝𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗪𝗔𝗬𝗕𝗜: 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 — “𝗧𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝘀𝗵: 𝗕𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗤𝘂𝗶𝘁𝘀” 🚭

Last February 22, 2026, at the Brgy. North Baluarte Mini Gym, 10 talented young artists showcased their creativity and advocacy in an On-the-Spot Poster Making Contest using oil pastels. In just one hour, they created powerful masterpieces promoting a smoke-free future. 🌱✨

🏆 THE WINNERS
🥇 1st Place: Stephanie Claire B. Martizano (Entry #04)
💰 Prize: ₱500 + Certificate of Recognition

🥈 2nd Place: Abigael M. Monteclaro (Entry #03)
💰 Prize: ₱300 + Certificate of Recognition

🥉 3rd Place: Zedrick M. Salinas (Entry #05)
💰 Prize: ₱100 + Certificate of Recognition

👏 All participants received Certificates of Participation and were gifted illustration boards and oil pastels to support their passion for art and advocacy.

Together, these young creatives proved that art can inspire change and help build a generation that chooses health over harm. 💜

Trash the Ash — Be the Generation that Quits! 🚭🔥

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝗩𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗺𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗩𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀

The Reading is Vital program of WVSU-COM Vital Signs Publication formed the second segment of Project WayBi on February 22, 2026, at Barangay North Baluarte Day Care Center, using storytelling as a platform to educate children about the dangers of smoking and va**ng.

The session featured a reading of “Luna and the Bad Lobo,” authored by Rhea Lynne Billones and illustrated by Louisa Nacionales, which follows a young girl’s journey in understanding the negative effects of harmful habits through an engaging and child-centered narrative.

Facilitators guided participants through reflective discussions after the storytelling, helping children connect the story’s lessons to real-life health choices while reinforcing awareness about the effects of smoking and va**ng in a safe and supportive learning environment.

The storytelling session reached around 35 child participants and demonstrated how literature and creative engagement can effectively communicate public health messages while nurturing reading appreciation among young audiences.

As part of its continuing advocacy, Reading is Vital reaffirmed its commitment to serving children through community book-reading initiatives that combine literacy development with meaningful health education.

𝗞𝗶𝗦𝗦 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗦𝗧 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗦𝗺𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱-𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗹𝘆 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀

Project WayBi was conducted on February 22, 2026, at the Barangay North Baluarte Day Care Center through a collaborative effort with ICAST and the Sangguniang Kabataan of Barangay North Baluarte, bringing together young learners for an interactive health education initiative focused on smoking prevention.

One of the featured segments, the KiSS Project of ICAST, introduced children to age-appropriate discussions on the harmful effects of smoking through storytelling sessions and creative coloring activities designed using child-friendly educational materials.

Through guided storytelling and visual learning exercises illustrating how individuals can stop smoking and make healthy choices, facilitators translated complex health concepts into relatable lessons suitable for early childhood understanding.

The activity engaged approximately 35 children who actively participated in the storytelling and coloring sessions, demonstrating how preventive health education can begin at a young age by fostering awareness, curiosity, and positive health values.

By integrating play-based learning with public health messaging, the KISS Project highlighted the importance of early intervention in shaping healthier behaviors and strengthening community efforts toward a smoke-free future.

Yosi, Yosi, Baya-i! 🚭

Come and join our movement for lung health and a smoke-free environment!

Only at Project PagpaLUNGGA 🫁💜

Tiktok:
https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSmXjR6x7/
https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSmXjR6x7/
https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSmXjR6x7/

Okay ka LUNG? 🫁
Kasi kami, magiging okay lang pag OK ang LUNGS! ✨

Last February 22, Team PagpaLUNGga, together with Ma’am Kai Evangelista from ICAST, conducted a seminar for the Brgy. Council, and MSME owners of Brgy. North Baluarte, delivering a crash course on the do’s and don’ts of cigarette selling and purchasing 🚭📚

It was a productive and interactive morning as store owners, residents, and barangay officials came together for meaningful conversations that helped bridge the gap between ordinance implementation and its real-life impact on the community 💬✨ Ideas were shared, questions were raised, and everyone left with a clearer understanding of the path forward.

During the event, Brgy. Capt. Alen Aurelio and Project Leader Stephanie Villavicencio led the review and signing of the proposed Memorandum of Agreement on the anti-smoking policies set to be implemented in Brgy. North Baluarte 🖊️📄

To top it all off, members of ICAST, led by Ma’am Kai Evangelista, turned over anti-smoking signages and display materials to be installed in high-traffic areas across the barangay 🚫🚬 Several store owners even requested extra signages and pledged to proudly display them within their business premises — a true show of community support! 🙌

Together, we’re taking meaningful steps toward a healthier, smoke-free North Baluarte! 💜

𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗦𝗺𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗟𝗲𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗣𝗮𝗴𝗽𝗮𝗟𝗨𝗡𝗚𝗴𝗮 🫁✨

Project PagpaLUNGga continued its second leg of the “Yosi, Yosi, Baya-i” campaign with a stress and coping workshop by the Order of Asclepius and a small-group discussion on smoking prevention, held at the Barangay North Baluarte Health Center, Feb 21.

The stress and coping workshop was conducted by WVSU-COM's Order of Asclepius through its Project Kaleidoscope, the organization’s flagship mental health initiative aimed at promoting emotional resilience and healthy coping strategies among participants.

The session introduced practical breathing exercises, stress management techniques, and approaches to transforming negative stress responses into healthier and more positive coping mechanisms, emphasizing mental wellness as a key component in smoking prevention. 🚭

Participants were then divided into facilitated small groups to discuss the perceived pros and cons of smoking, encouraging open dialogue and reflection guided by facilitators. 💜

The activity concluded with a collective discussion led by organizers, where participants highlighted the harmful health effects, financial burden, and broader public health consequences of smoking, demonstrating the program’s impact as a continuation of the first Yosi, Yosi, Baya-i session conducted on February 8 in empowering the community toward informed and healthier lifestyle choices.