Name of Publication: The Philippine Star

Title of the Article: The Crisis of Loneliness

Date of Issue: October 21, 2023

Summary of the Article:

The article, "The Crisis of Loneliness" by Dorothy Delgado Novicio, discusses the
growing issue of loneliness in the United States, despite its material wealth and
secure access to basic rights like food, health, and education. Loneliness is
described as having destructive effects comparable to smoking and excessive
alcohol consumption, affecting people of all generations. The author shares a
personal encounter with an elderly woman suffering from loneliness and memory
lapses while trying to renew her passport, highlighting the emotional impact of
loneliness. The article points to various causes of loneliness, including social
media, instant gratification culture, and a relentless pursuit of economic success. It
also suggests learning from Britain's approach to combating loneliness through
community engagement.

Here are my key takeaways and reflections from the article:

This article sheds light on the profound issue of loneliness, which often goes
unnoticed in a society known for its abundance and material prosperity. The
personal anecdote of the elderly woman struggling to renew her passport serves as
a moving reminder of the emotional toll loneliness takes on individuals, especially
when they are far from their home country. As a Master in Management student
and an HR employee, this article makes me reflect on the implications of
loneliness within the workplace.
Loneliness is not limited to the elderly; it affects people of all ages. In a
professional context, it's crucial to recognize how loneliness can seep into the lives
of employees. The emphasis on economic success and constant competition, as
mentioned in the article, can lead to a lack of meaningful connections and
conversations among colleagues. As someone in the HR department, I believe it is
essential to address this issue and foster a sense of belonging and community in the
workplace. Loneliness at work can result in reduced employee engagement, lower
productivity, and even mental health issues. Fortunately, my workplace,
Department of Health, has a Mental Health Helpline and offers training and
seminars to promote Mental Health.
The article also mentions the importance of community engagement as a remedy
for loneliness. This is a valuable lesson for HR professionals. Encouraging team-
building activities, workshops, and opportunities for employees to interact and
connect on a personal level can combat loneliness in the workplace. It's not just
about the work itself but about creating a supportive and inclusive work
environment where employees feel a sense of camaraderie and mutual support.
The article suggests that, unlike countries like the United States, the Philippines
has a cultural advantage with its friendly and nosy nature, which promotes social
interaction. However, it's crucial to remember that the world is changing rapidly,
and the Philippines may also face increasing challenges related to loneliness,
especially as urbanization and changing work dynamics become more prevalent.
This article reminds us that, as HR professionals and managers, we should
proactively address the issue of loneliness, both in the workplace and in society, to
create a healthier and more connected community for everyone.

Submitted by: Submitted to:

FAITH S. AGPALO FE CECELIA RISOS

The crisis of loneliness

POINT OF VIEW - Dorothy Delgado Novicio - The Philippine Star
October 21, 2023 | 12:00am

An encounter and a series of New York Times articles kept me concerned

about the crisis of loneliness. It is happening in a country that is so
abundant in material wealth, where the people’s fundamental rights to food,
health and education are secure. The article argued that loneliness may be
compared to the fatal effects of smoking and drinking alcohol in large
amounts everyday. It not only “crushes the soul” but is also destructive
physically and mentally. Loneliness is prevalent not only among the elderly
but all across generations.

The predicament is hurting America and hit me hard one day while I was at
the lobby of the Philippine Center to meet a friend. She was in a
conversation with an elderly kababayan who I reckon to be in her early 80’s
and strides with the aid of a walker. Her companion, a few years younger
than her, walks with a cane. They are neighbors, the companion said. The
woman lives alone and suffers from memory lapses, so she accompanied
her to renew her passport. They were unable to do so because she has to
submit a necessary document. My friend advised them to seek assistance
from a social worker. I sensed the sadness in her eyes. I imagined how
lonely it must be to live alone, especially when one’s physical and mental
faculties are faltering gradually. I felt an uncomfortable truth – the reality of
aging while living in a faraway land. In a culture like ours where the elderly
are taken care of and ably assisted by family and friends, seeing someone
so helpless was heart-wrenching. I wish they could work on her travel
documents soon so she could go home.

Amidst the glitter and glamor of the city that never sleeps is the painful
reality that somewhere along the harried corners of the metropolis or inside
cozy apartments are solitary images which not even the brightest summer
sunshine nor the most dazzling city lights could illumine. Backed by
research, interviews and alarming data on how isolation cut deep into the
fabric of modern America, the NY Times article traced the roots of
loneliness among the younger generation to factors such as social media
and a culture of instant gratification. For the working class, it is all about
keeping up with the Joneses. The higher the goal to elevate one’s
economic status, the less time for real conversations, as in the case of
families. For the elderly it is all about being relegated to assisted-living
facilities (which can also be financially-draining for those with limited
means) or worst, by simply being abandoned to the care of the staff.

The article suggested that America should learn from Britain’s experience,
where the minister of loneliness (a post that totally amuses me), who was
appointed a few years back, devised several antidotes to combat the social
malady. Among the most effective remedy focuses on community
engagements, where people regardless of age and gender gather for
workshops, poetry reading, book discussion or any activity that will keep
everyone talking and interacting. This reminds me of what I read from Dr.
Sanjay Gupta’s book “Keep Sharp, Build a Better Brain at Any Age.” He
recommends that while playing online games and puzzles stimulate the
brain or keep one active, nothing beats the experience of belonging to a
group to learn skills such as dancing, cooking, painting or playing a new
instrument.

Trying to understand this so-called first world problems and their solutions,
I thought of some of my friends who live alone and how, as a nomad, I
sometimes experience pangs of loneliness. Two of my closest friends from
my corporate days, who I reverentially address as “Miss” before their
nickname, live on their own for many years now. They are a picture of “two
less lonely people,” to borrow a line from a song. One has found joy in
taking care of her dogs and tending her herb garden and fruit-bearing trees
(she took a short course on composting and organic gardening at the UP
Open University). In her garden, she communes with nature and as a Zen
teacher she interacts with her students through face-to-face or virtual
conversations.

The other friend is still active as a financial consultant, meets prospective

clients and conducts sales calls. She would occasionally send her pictures
attending family themed parties, reunions and corporate events garbed in
eclectic costumes. Both my friends are a few decades older than me thus
their wisdom, infectious laughter and sunny disposition make them a
constant source of light.

A new-found senior friend here in New York happily showed photos of her
recent birthday lunch with her multi-ethnic friends. “We are all widows,” she
said. They call each other every morning “to check, baka may patay na,”
she said good humoredly and with a genuine concern. We laughed at her
candor yet, she said, it is an inevitable reality. She and her friends meet
often in church, over lunches or events.

I now think of how, at this point in our society, loneliness does not appear
to be a major concern yet because our culture and values allow us to keep
in constant touch with our social networks or take responsibilities within our
family systems. Besides, with our innate ingenuity as a people, there is no
need for us to appoint a minister of loneliness (Japan followed Britain,
Australia is considering one), or mark benches with “sit here if you are
happy to chat with passers-by,” as in the case of a town in Northern
Ireland, the NY Times piece also mentioned. We Filipinos are friendly,
cheerful and chatty to the point of being nosy, therefore this is not
necessary. What we perhaps need are more family-friendly parks, clean
and safe public spaces for children, the youth and the elderly and
community centers where people can learn and intermingle amidst a milieu
of creative and fruitful interactions.