PH’s first and biggest Health and Wellness Festival for Teachers by Gabay Guro and mWell a big success

by GLEN P. SIBONGA

IN celebration of its 17th anniversary, Gabay Guro held the country’s first Health and Wellness Festival for Teachers, at the same time launched its new program pillar with mWell last October 6 at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

The successful festival was led by Chaye Cabal-Revilla - Gabay Guro Chairperson, mWell President and CEO, and MPIC Executive Vice President, Chief Finance Officer, Chief Risk and Sustainability Officer.

According to Ms. Chaye in her opening remarks, "This is a continuation of our celebration which started last week. This is our 17th year in Gabay Guro and again we want to give tribute and appreciation to our teachers for their effort in furthering the education in our country.

"Ngayon po dinagdagan natin ang ating pillars - may seven tayo ngayon - ng pangwalo, eto ang health and wellness. Bakit? Kasi tayong mga guro kailangan healthy and well para naman makapasok kayo araw-araw dahil kayo ang magtataguyod ng pagbibigay kaalaman sa ating nga estudyante who are our future leaders."

Former beauty queen Nicole Cordoves along with former Pinoy Big Brother housemate, actor, model, pageant winner and athlete Michael Ver hosted the event.

The event was also packed with zumba sessions led by top YouTube Zumba group TML Crew and special guest Teacher Georcelle along with her G Force dancers. Added entertainment was provided by singer and social media personality Kevin Montillano. Michael Ver also showed his other talents in doing voice impersonations and beatboxing.

Athletes also supported the mWell and Gabay Guro event like the Gabay Guro volunteer athletes Alas, Meralco Bolts players, Cignal HD Spikers, PLDT High Speed Hitters, and others.

Teachers play a vital role in instilling values, inspiring dreams, and laying the foundation for a brighter tomorrow. Taking care of our teachers is taking care of our children too. The Wellness Fest is a new initiative that underscores the importance of teachers’ holistic well-being, recognizing how vital mental and physical health are in enhancing educational success and empowering educators to thrive in their roles.

With the theme “Teachers Inspiring Change, Building the Country’s Future,” Gabay Guro Grand gathering not only gave entertainment but also included new elements focused on teachers’ well-being. Attendees enjoyed the interactive programs designed to enable them to thrive both in and out of the classroom.The event featured wearable wellness technology and gathered Lifestyle medicine doctors, fitness coaches, celebrity athletes in one big wellness festival for teachers. 

Holistic Teacher Support: Wellness Fest Takes the Spotlight

Gabay Guro’s Health and Wellness Fest was staged in cooperation with mWell, the country’s health and wellness mega app.

The festival provided teachers access to free health consultations, fitness sessions, and wellness workshops. At the core of the wellness fest was holistic and preventive wellness. Beyond doctor consultation, the event aimed to empower teachers with health and wellness services from mWell readily available anytime, anywhere with just few taps on the phone. 

Central to the event were interactive discussions on mental health, stress management, nutrition, and self-care—critical areas teachers often neglect due to the high pressures of their profession. Additionally, attendees explored experiential booths focusing on fitness, food and nutrition, wearables, mind health, and telemedicine.

"Our teachers play a crucial role in shaping the future of our nation. And they must be at their best for our youth," said Ms.Chaye. “Gabay Guro's Wellness Fest is a vital first step in ensuring our teachers’ health and wellbeing is taken care of. mWell makes sure that our teachers get access to a holistic wellness program - from doctor consultations, food and nutrition to preventive health solutions."

A fully integrated digital platform, mWell provides holistic wellness solutions for everyone. The mega app features an mWellness score which measures health based on daily activities including exercise, steps, and sleep. It also has the Mind Health Score, based on a scientifically backed WHO-5 wellbeing index, which provides insights into one’s mental lifestyle. mWell also provides food and nutrition support through its recipe features developed by nutritionists and dietitians.

Most importantly, mWell provides innovations that make health and wellness accessible for everyone with its mWellness wearables – ring and watch – designed to empower everyone to take control of their health powered by a holistic digital solution. 

Powering Digital Wellness

At the core of this initiative is mWell, which provides accessible healthcare services—from virtual consultations to telehealth options—ensuring educators can receive care anytime, anywhere.
PLDT Home's partnership with mWell allows GabayGuro to offer a digital-first solution to health and wellness, reinforcing its mission to bridge technology and well-being for educators nationwide.

Over the past 17 years, Gabay Guro has not only provided over 3,000 scholarships but has also built classrooms in underserved areas, enabling educators to teach in better-equipped environments. Through its digital tools and innovations, such as the Gabay Guro Super App, teachers have access to resources that support continuous learning and career development.

With the launch of the Wellness Fest under its Health and Wellness pillar, Gabay Guro addresses teachers’ mental and physical health while demonstrating its commitment to supporting educators not just professionally but holistically.

The Wellness Fest was supported by Awaken Fitness Center, Carica, Diagnostics Plus Inc., Health Wellness Beauty Care Salon and Spa, Inna Circle, Physiare Physical Therapy Center and Vision Express. Along with 555 Tuna, Azumi Boutique Hotel, BDO, BPI, Canon Marketing Philippines, Inc. Cardinal Santos Medical Hospital, Carmen’s Best, Chery Tiggo, Cignal, Delos Santos Medical Center, Del Monte Kitchenomics, Devant, D’World Specialists Travel and Tours, Enchanted Kingdom, Good Life and Jolly by Fly Ace Corporation, Huawei Philippines, Illo’s Group, InLife Insurance, Katinko, Landco, Las Casas Filipinas De Acuzar, Lifeline 16911 Medical Inc., Maynilad, Meralco, Kawasaki by Motorlandia, Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Poten-Cee by Pascual Laboratories, Penshoppe, PhilCare, PLDT Home, PLDT Telescoop, Pocari Sweat, Purefoods, PWC, SGV Foundation, SV More Group, The Generics Pharmacy, TV5, Unionbank and VPharma for Tencha lozenges and Sleepamin capsules.