Out of the dark and into brighter days ahead

Gone are the days when the subject of mental health is treated as taboo. As conversations about mental well-being grow, creating safe spaces where people can openly share their struggles and feel heard has become more important than ever.

This was at the heart of the SM Cares Better Days series, which held its eighth stop at the Mall of Asia Music Hall, bringing together mental health advocates, personalities and young people to remind one another that no one has to face their struggles alone.

The event has a simple message: be an Army of Light for those still finding their way out of the dark.

Royston Cabunag, the SM Cares program director for Children and Youth, emphasized that the series showcases how shopping malls can be more than just commercial spaces. They can also become places where people find comfort, build connections and feel a sense of belonging.

“SM Supermalls nationwide go beyond leisure or shopping spots; they are also a place where people can connect,” he said.

Supported by the National Youth Commission, the initiative also underscored the need to empower more advocates who can reach young Filipinos nationwide. Undersecretary Joseph Francisco R. Ortega expressed hope that the Army of Light would continue to grow.

Hope campaign from one person’s journey

Behind Better Days is the story of mental health advocate Ymari Kristia Pascua, whose experiences inspired the initiative. Having lived with bipolar disorder and psychosis for 11 years, she knows what it feels like to believe difficult days will never end.

“I felt like my worst days were permanent,” she said.

Her journey became the foundation of a campaign reminding young people that their struggles do not define the rest of their lives. Healing takes time and courage, even when the road ahead seems uncertain.

One of the event’s most meaningful details was a wall installation of pencils and markers, the same tools Pascua said she had used to keep herself from self-harm during difficult moments. Through creativity, what once helped her endure her darkest moments became a message of hope for others.

A daughter’s legacy

Joining Pascua was celebrity and mental health advocate Kuya Kim Atienza, who has experienced the pain of losing his daughter, Emman Atienza. As he spoke about her and the life she lived, the room grew emotional, a reminder that behind conversations about mental health are real people and families who deserve compassion.

“A little kindness can save lives,” Atienza said.

He also hoped the initiative would grow beyond a series of events. “May this be the beginning of a movement, a kindness movement,” he said.

Perhaps that is what an Army of Light is meant to be: a community that chooses to understand rather than judge, listen rather than dismiss, and offer compassion even without all the answers.

Reclaiming strength

A sit-down conversation with Pepe Herrera, Jannina Vela and Dani Barreto explored navigating life’s challenges, dealing with difficult emotions and caring for oneself.

For Barreto, part of the journey involves reclaiming one’s power and removing negativity from one’s life. Admitting something is wrong, she stressed, should never be mistaken for weakness.

“When you say that, ‘I’m not okay. I need help,’ that’s strength,” she said.

Sometimes, the first step toward feeling better is simply being honest about how we feel.

Herrera highlighted the importance of rest in a society that equates productivity with success.

“Our bodies are not meant to receive stimulus to work 24/7,” he said.

Slowing down is not giving up. Sometimes a pause is exactly what we need to keep moving forward.

A safe space

What stood out most was the feeling of being in a space where people could simply be themselves.

Being there felt like receiving a big hug, the kind that lets you breathe a little easier and reminds you that you do not have to carry everything alone.

I admit that so much of what was said resonated with me that I found myself wanting to cry.

Listening to talk of kindness, rest, asking for help and finding the strength to keep going made me reflect on how much we hold inside without realizing it.

That is what made Better Days meaningful. It was not just about talking about mental health but also about making people feel that their experiences matter and that there is room for them, even on their hardest days.

Through Pascua’s story, Atienza’s message of kindness and the speakers’ honest conversations, the event reminded everyone that becoming an Army of Light does not require having all the answers. Sometimes, it simply means showing up for someone and reminding them they are not alone.

Because while the road toward healing may not always be easy, the darkness does not have to be permanent. Even when we cannot see the light just yet, we can keep moving forward, one day at a time, with the hope that brighter days are ahead.