In time for the month-long celebration of World Mental Health Awareness Month this October, social media celebrity Macoy Dubs, a long-time mental health co-champion of PLDT and Smart, shared his personal mental health journey through the employee engagement initiative, “Better Today Conversations: Mind Your Health”.

Macoy experienced a difficult childhood, leading to a series of traumatic experiences that ultimately affected his mental wellbeing.  In 2016, Macoy was diagnosed with Dysthymia, or persistent depressive disorder. Through self-acceptance, empathy, and self-love, Macoy says he has found healing since 2019.

Healing is not linear

“The journey is not as smooth as a freeway. Marami tayong pinagdadaanan pero we choose to be better every day. We tried and never get tired, right? Sinubukan natin at hindi tayo susuko. We keep up and we conquer. Now we are here – nagtagumpay tayo,” Macoy said.

Macoy shared that trying becomes a vehicle of hope. Living by the words “let’s try, subukan natin,” Macoy’s many attempts to try consisted of struggles, creativity blocks. Despite this, Macoy persisted and eventually became successful at creating content, allowing him to make an impact on social media.

His parting lessons are anchored on a deep sense of hope – of growing and learning; and letting go of the things we cannot control. “As we grow, we learn. I had to learn how to heal myself, how to be better. Pinili kong tulungan ang sarili ko,” Macoy said.

He also shared how his role as a content creator means that “influencing is about inclusivity”. According to him, through initiatives like the Better Today Conversations, it becomes a platform to influence people to be more empathetic and more human.

“It’s choosing to be better – to have better conversations, a better tomorrow, and a better today. Kung kinaya ko, kaya niyo rin. Let’s shape our traumas and regain the power where we’re able to overcome these difficult times in our lives. Masasabi ko na napagtagumpayan ko ito dahil sa aking heroes – my parents and to all the people who support me along the way,” Macoy said.

Better Today’s emphasis on mental health is a key part of PLDT and Smart’s continuing commitment to help the Philippines contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG), particularly UNSDG #3 that stands for good health and well-being.