Finding Purpose in MEHMA

By Maria Solita Zaldivar-Guzman

When DJ Monsour Betero first talked to me about having a program on Kalibo Cable TV Community Channel focused on mental health and proposed that I become his co-host, I did not hesitate.

I always say yes to people who have faith in me. My mentality has always been: if they believe in me, why should I not believe in myself? So I never decline invitations to do storytelling, be a resource speaker, a guest, or, in this case, a co-host.

Not because I think I am the best person for it, but because I know opportunities to serve come in many forms. Although it is not that I doubted myself, I knew many other Aklanons had stronger credentials, academically speaking. I am merely a BS Psychology graduate and a mental health advocate who believes deeply in the value of life—and in the words of Pastor Myrl Labor-Radones, “One life matters.”

Maybe, as they say, I am a good listener, a friend who is always on call, always available, and always willing to help whenever, wherever, and whatever the circumstance. I am the kind of person who, upon seeing posts hinting at depression or suicide, would message that person regardless of the hour to ask if they are okay. That is me.

And yes, sometimes I feel I am unintentionally overburdening myself—with four kids, an 8–5 government job, and a lot of side hustles in between. But do it anyway. For me, this show felt like manna from heaven, especially for who are searching for understanding and comfort. As the program’s tagline goes: “Your safe space, your mental health is the priority, and your feelings are valid.”

It was never about the fame; it was about being an avenue of service to others, especially the most vulnerable, the troubled, and the hopeless. Perhaps what makes it work is the chemistry between DJ Monsour and me. Every taping is done in one take unless there are technical glitches. We know how to watch each other’s cues, ad-lib naturally, and create spontaneous, profound exchanges.

I especially love our MEHMA Learn segment, where we share our weekly takeaways. It is funny because we often realize we are going through our own struggles. We feel drained, unwell, or are facing personal problems, but we still show up. And that is when it dawned on me: showing up matters. We never expected to reach a five-digit audience on Facebook alone, excluding our television viewers.

But hearing people talk about MEHMA, how they relate to a particular episode, or how they have picked up something from our MEHMA Learn or MEHMA Advice segments, is truly overwhelming and heartwarming.

Now that we have wrapped up a full 21 episodes for Season 1, we are on hiatus to rebrand the show and add more engaging segments, and even invite guests. We hope to continue touching hearts, helping more people, and building a community that uplifts one another, spreads kindness, and inspires hope.