In a study conducted to analyze 500 locations worldwide, Manila ranked more stressful than war-torn Damascus in Syria. Pollution, traffic levels, public transport, percentage of green spaces, the financial status of citizens, including debt levels, and physical and mental health were the basis of the research.
This study shows how a vast majority of people in the city are stressed out, how the rise of depression and illnesses continues to affect lives, and how spirits broke. The increase of suicides in the young and the sense of hopelessness for a sustainable future are frightening currents in the lives of the young today.
In line with this, Y Space at the Yuchengco Museum is opening its doors to a festival dubbed as Y Now? Art & Healing Festival (in a Time of Critical Disruption), to give a new perspective on mental health issues.
Happening until June 23, the month-long festival will bring together a series of thematic activities within the complementing fields of art and healing. All events are open to the general public. These programs are also for companies that want to expand their employee engagement programs to offer work-life balance and ways to connect and reach their millennial employees.
The festival includes art appreciation within the context of spirituality. Some talks include art and spirituality seen through the visual arts, Filipino spirituality seen through a cultural icon, architectural talks that teach how to create peaceful, sacred spaces and photography discussions that allow for mindfulness to happen. Included are workshops for work-life balance, understanding the Self, energies and how to manage these, and new perspectives to deal with our fast-paced life. A special mult-arts therapy workshop for children and teens approaches expression and healing in a wholistic manner. Healing circles also include alternative therapies with sound, movement, yoga and meditation while other talks focus on transpersonal topics. There are also exclusive talks to introduce Ayurveda, grief and healing, and centering ways. The festival has brought together a curated group of specialists in their unique, often misunderstood fields.
Ynow? Art and Healing Festival will have a wide array of resource persons, readers and healers catered for different needs. Their personal practice, expertise and gifts will add value to this Art and Healing Festival to help many that are searching for direction, more profound meaning and connections in a time of critical changes happening on our society and planet today.
Here are some of the scheduled activities:
Yspace is located at the ground floor of the Yuchengco Museum, RCBC Plaza, Buendia corner Ayala Avenues, Makati City.
