The Nursing Students’ Organization, in partnership with the Student Council and the Provincial Youth Development Office, spearheaded the seminar “Breathe Life, Lead Change: Empowering the Youth for a Healthier Tomorrow.”
The activity, which commemorated National Lung Month, National TB Awareness Month, and International Youth Day that gathered first- and second-year students as its primary audience was held at the University of Northern Philippines Gymnasium on August 29, 2025.
Central to the discussions is the alarming rise of vaping among Filipino youth. Recent reports revealed that one in seven adolescents aged 13 to 15, or around 14.1 percent, are e-cigarette users. Even more concerning, youth vape users surged from 37,513 in 2021 to 423,185 in 2023. Experts attribute this trend to aggressive marketing, easy access, and the misconception that vaping is a “safer” alternative to smoking.
Guest speakers presented diverse perspectives on lung health and youth advocacy. Ms. Olivia Marie Ibatuan, Provincial Youth Development Officer of Ilocos Sur, tackled the harmful effects of smoking and vaping. Dr. Christopher John Cuadra, adult pulmonary medicine specialist, discussed the implications of lowering the legal vape age from 21 to 18 under the Vape Law and offered strategies for smoking cessation. UNP President Dr. Erwin Cadorna underscored the economic burden of smoking through his talk “Smoking is money burning.” Meanwhile, Mr. Lester Aldrin Rayray, , Nurse III, gave an informative lecture on tuberculosis prevention and control.
Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being, SDG 4: Quality Education, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals), the program went beyond information-sharing by fostering health literacy, youth leadership, and collaboration for wellness.
More than a seminar, the event empowered students to become advocates for healthier lifestyles, echoing its call to “breathe life” into their communities and lead change for a healthier tomorrow.
Article by Rizza Abinsay, Photos by The Nightingale Publication and Nursing Students Organization
