On May 11, PAHRA was invited by the UP Manila Pre-Law Society to their 1st Interchapter Paralegal Training. Edel Parducho, Head of Human Rights Education at PAHRA, delivered a talk on Psychological First Aid in the Legal Context.


“Ako ‘yung isa sa mga nagcontextualize ng psychological first aid para magamit sa developmental work in general dito sa Pilipinas,” Parducho explained.


He proposed that one way for human rights defenders to protect themselves is to educate them on how to use psychological first aid in their work. This includes concepts of self-care and preventive care, which all stem from psychological first aid.


He also shared his experiences traveling around the country: “Umiikot ako ng Negros at Bicol para turuan, not only lawyers but also paralegals, na i-apply ang principles ng psychological first aid sa trabaho nila. Bilang ang paralegal work ay more or less ay first aid na legal aid.”



Parducho emphasized the risks and stress associated with being a paralegal, noting that burnout is common: “Stressful ang paralegal work. Just be aware na bilang frontliner na service providers, may kaakibat na risk sa atin. Just make sure na [we are] prepared, matutong mag-observe, actively listen, matutong iugnay ang sarili sa mga serbisyo na kailangan mo para patuloy mong magawa ang trabaho mo.”


The event saw participants from the UP Manila Pre-Law Society, UP Diliman Pre-Law Society, UP Los Baños Pre-Law Society, and PUP Manila Pre-Law Society. Held at the UP Manila Theater, other speakers included Atty. Mark Joseph Tagala, Auditor at the National Union of People’s Lawyers - NCR and Associate Lawyer at Altamira Cas and Collado Law Offices, and Vic Obina, in-house paralegal from Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP).


Photo credit from UPM Pre Law Society Facebook Page.