Riyan Portuguez’s journey as a psychologist is a voyage towards self-discovery and fulfillment. And her fascination about human behavior has developed into an advocacy to help other people understand themselves better. In fact, this led to Riyan’s involvement with PLDT and Smart, as a resource speaker for both its internal and external mental health initiatives.

“I cannot describe the way I feel about working with PLDT and Smart for its Better Today program. I’m both thankful and fulfilled to be part of this advocacy, as well as surprised, because not all organizations are this dedicated to go to the grassroots level to give mental health services to the people,” she said.

Better Today is a collaborative initiative and platform that concretizes PLDT and Smart’s commitment to promoting wellness, safe spaces, and changemaking in the digital world. Better Today strives to bring wellness and change-making from the self or individuals to the family and to the communities. Better Today believes in the power of the youth to be co-champions in its advocacies: mental health awareness and child online protection.  

Riyan believes that women should be made aware about mental health. According to the psychologist, studies have shown that women are part of the demographics that oftentimes experience discrimination, stigma, career problems, missed opportunities, and other factors that affect mental health.

“I think the PLDT and Smart’s Better Today program has strides to elevate mental health awareness. We are now at the level of implementation, so that we can lessen the stigma against mental health. We need to reach the grassroots level, which is what Better Today is currently doing,” she noted.

“It is important to improve women’s mental health. It is important that instead of putting each other down, we lift each other up. Because when we do that, we empower our community, we become stronger. Dapat umaabante tayo bilang mga babae,” she added.