‘Black White Red’ animated video gives light to depression

The winning team - Alyssa Marie Misa (center, left) and Ma. Isabella Parca (center, right) with Globe SVP for Corporate Communications Yoly Crisanto (left) and NGF President Jean Goulbourn (right)

What was just a school assignment is now a moving reel of hope to promote mental health awareness and encourage those who suffer from these conditions to seek proper intervention through the 24/7 HOPELINE 2919.

Entitled “Black White Red”, the project won the top prize in the “Hope in 40 seconds” animated video competition of Globe Telecom, Natasha Goulbourn Foundation (NGF) and De La Salle – College of St. Benilde (DLS-CSB) with support from the Department of Health – National Center for Mental Health (NCMH). The winning team received a certificate of recognition and a cash prize of P40,000.

The video created by Ma. Isabella Parca and Alyssa Marie Misa, senior BS in Animation students of IAcademy represents the feelings of pain, loss, and loneliness (black), the need to hurt oneself (red), and the realization that there is still hope (white).

Parca and Misa’s work was inspired by their personal lives and the script was drawn out of their love for spoken poetry. “We want to share our story and let people know that it is okay to reach out,” Parca said.

Misa added they just simply translated their work. “It was an outlet and it was a good opportunity to share our story in the right way” as the duo confessed that there have been times when they felt they were alone in their thoughts.

Yoly Crisanto, Senior Vice President for Corporate Communication of Globe, said: “We are the social media capital of the world and yet there are so many people who cannot talk about the things that they are going through. If Globe is to be the network partner of the youth and if we are going to be true to our advocacy and our purpose to be with them, we need to help them. And we’re doing that through technology.”

Globe has been providing technological support to people suffering from depression through the initiative of NGF 24/7 Emotional Crisis and Suicide prevention HOPELINE 2919 (toll free for Globe and TM) and 0917558-HOPE (4673) in line with the DOH campaign to promote mental health awareness and well being in the Philippines. HOPELINE 2919 receives an estimated range of 45-60 calls per day or over 17,500 calls since 2012 about possible depression, suicidal thoughts and relationship problems, among others.

World data from 2005-2015 revealed that more than 300 million people are battling depression which is the leading cause of ill health and disability. The most vulnerable to this condition are the youth, ranging from 15 to 29 years old. In the Philippines alone, about 3.3 million Filipinos are suffering from depression, yet about a third of this population is likely not even aware they suffer from it. It is also interesting that only one out of three individuals who suffer depression will seek the help of a specialist.

Jean Margaret Goulbourn, President of the Natasha Goulbourn Foundation, said: “I have nothing but gratitude for Globe because without them, we wouldn’t be where we are today. We hope that the video animations presented and awarded will help the community learn more about mental health and encourage their friends and family who suffer these issues to reach out and talk to us so we can help them seek proper aid.”

The other winners of the “Hope in 40 seconds” video animation contest are “Out of Reach” by Maria Marquiala Pellejo and Ralph Reyes (second place), and “Hope in your hands” by Nia Colinayo, Jade Velasquez, Bradd Maesa, Gray Santos and Angelo Sarmiento (third place). They received a certificate of recognition and a cash prize of P30,000 and P20,000, respectively.

A Viewer’s Choice Award was also given to Pellejo and Reyes for the “Out of Reach” video for garnering 589 likes and 267 shares on Facebook. They received another P15,000 and a certificate of recognition.

The other two videos that made into the Top 5 were “Light Beyond Shadows” by Rex Lynnus Sueno, Elisha Zapara and Khalil Albuainain, and “Hope^4” by Aleks Elizabeth Dolor Isla and Erika Marquez. Both teams were also recognized on stage.

To cap off the awarding ceremony, Rofil Sheldon Magto, Program Manager of Globe Citizenship and Advocacy, officially launched a campaign, “Create. Another Day” with the hashtag #SeeYouTomorrow. This campaign, which focuses on mental health awareness, is intended to reach out to the youth and anyone in need of such help.

Globe, together with NGF, DLS-CSB and DOH-NCMH, will continue to reach out and use the network to create a positive impact on the world, including providing support to the mental health awareness advocacy. By tapping technology and social media, assistance can be extended to more people.

The advocacy is in support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal No. 3 which ensures healthy lives and promotes well-being for all.

To watch the winning entries, please visit https://www.facebook.com/GlobeBridgeCom/posts/789836424538216