In celebration of Women’s Month, Benguet State University, through the Institute of Social Research and Development (ISRD), in collaboration with the College of Social Sciences (Departments of Psychology, Anthropology, and Sociology), the International Relations Office, and the Gender and Development Office, successfully conducted the “Traditional Chinese Medicine Learning and Healing Sessions” from March 4–7, 2026.
The four-day initiative highlighted the university’s commitment to fostering international collaboration and culturally grounded approaches to health and wellbeing, bringing together local communities and global practitioners in a shared space of learning and healing. A total of 132 patients availed of the services throughout the activity.
The engagement formally opened with a courtesy call to Hon. Roderick Chiok Awingan and President Kenneth Laruan, affirming institutional and local government support for cross-cultural health initiatives.
At the core of the program was a specialized clinic held at the International Dormitory lobby, led by Paul Weidian Chen, a fourth-generation Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) doctor, together with his team from Zion International Organization—Esther Chen, Jimmy Cheung, and Riki A. Gudelano. Through pulse diagnosis, acupuncture, cupping, and herbal recommendations, the team provided holistic and personalized care, emphasizing the interconnectedness of physical, emotional, and social well-being.
Reflecting on the experience, Dr. Chen shared:
“As a Chinese medicine practitioner, I am very honored to participate in the ‘Traditional Chinese Medicine Learning and Healing Session’ organized by BSU during Women’s Month… In just 20 or 30 minutes, many participants felt obvious relaxation and relief… The essence of TCM is not only relieving symptoms, but helping individuals regain inner balance and vitality. Without these cross-cultural efforts, the warmth of TCM would not reach communities like Benguet. I look forward to more cooperation in the future.”
Beyond clinical services, the program also fostered intercultural learning and environmental awareness. During session breaks, Esther Chen led informal nature walks, introducing participants to medicinal plants found within the campus and demonstrating how everyday flora can support health and healing. Participants included BSU employees and their families, students, local elders, and community members from surrounding areas—reflecting the program’s inclusive and community-centered approach.
The initiative further underscored the value of people-to-people connections in internationalization efforts, where knowledge exchange goes beyond classrooms and into lived, embodied experiences of care and wellness.
As shared by TCM team member Jimmy Cheung:
“𝐻𝑜𝑛𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑒 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝐵𝑆𝑈’𝑠 𝐴𝑙𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑀𝑜𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑒 𝐶𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑐 𝐼𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒…𝑀𝑦 𝑑𝑒𝑒𝑝𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑀𝑎𝑦𝑜𝑟 𝐻𝑜𝑛. 𝑅𝑜𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑘 𝐶ℎ𝑖𝑜𝑘 𝐴𝑤𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑎𝑛, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐵𝑆𝑈 𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝐾𝑒𝑛𝑛𝑒𝑡ℎ 𝐿𝑎𝑟𝑢𝑎𝑛 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑟 𝑣𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑟𝑦 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑝 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑠𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡. 𝐼𝑡 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑙𝑦 𝑟𝑒𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑒𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑇𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝐶ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑒 𝑀𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐿𝑎 𝑇𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑑𝑎𝑑 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑦.”
Through initiatives such as this, BSU continues to strengthen its global linkages while grounding international partnerships in meaningful community engagement—advancing both health and sustainable peace through cross-cultural collaboration.
📸J. Caligtan, ISRD Staff
#BenguetStateUniversity, #TraditionalHealing, #PartnershipsCorner
