InsiderPH features the inspiring stories of Metrobank Foundation’s awardees as Outstanding Filipino for 2024 — teachers, soldiers and police officers who are making significant contributions to nation building.
With over two decades of dedicated research and practice, she has not only advanced academic discourse but also driven tangible societal change.
Her interest in social relationships and interaction was piqued by her experience as a formator in the UP Student Catholic Action Organization. Doc Gina’s desire to delve deeper into the human psyche led her to take an MA in Psychology in the University of the Philippines.
This journey culminated in a Doctor of Philosophy in Industrial/Organizational Psychology at the Central Michigan University.
Despite lucrative opportunities abroad, her love of country drew her back home. Armed with a world-class education, she became the first Filipino with this degree to return home to teach.
Currently a professor at the Ateneo de Manila University, Dr. Hechanova-Alampay’s work has significantly contributed to the body of knowledge in psychology, addressing critical gaps in the national research agenda. Her extensive body of work, which includes 13 books, 21 book chapters, and 48 journal articles, has collectively amassed over 4,257 citations.
Doc Gina’s seminal work, “Understanding the Filipino Worker and Organization,” has become an indispensable text for industrial/organizational psychology courses in the country and an essential resource for psychometricians preparing for board exams.
She also edited an international book, “Resistance, Resilience and Recovery from Disasters: Perspectives from Southeast Asia” expanding her influence outside the country.
Her contribution has also been in equipping a new generation of scholars and practitioners in psychology. Her mentorship been instrumental in fostering a competent community of researchers and practitioners.
This is evident in the 86 students and 29 faculty members she has mentored to produce peer-reviewed publications. She also guest-edited two special issues of the Philippine Journal of Psychology, demonstrating her position as a preeminent research mentor in the field.
Dr. Hechanova-Alampay has also made an indelible mark on public mental health in the Philippines. With an estimated 3.6 million Filipinos who suffer from mental health illnesses and have limited access to costly treatment, the need for accessible care has become more urgent than ever.
Recognizing the critical shortage of mental health services in the Philippines, Doc Gina has spearheaded the development of innovative solutions to make mental health information and services more accessible to all.
In the aftermath of Supertyphoon Haiyan, she led the development of the groundbreaking Katatagan Resilience Program and the Supporting Empowering and Enabling Students program of the Department of Education. She also led the development of Katatagan Online Program during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Doc Gina’s team trained over 130 facilitators who implemented it in various settings. An enhanced version, Katatagan Plus, is currently being rolled out as a community-based mental health program, casting an even wider net.
As Chief of Party of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Renewhealth project, Dr. Hechanova-Alampay assisted the Department of Health in developing the Lusog Isip mobile app and the Lusog Isip Online website to promote wellbeing and reduce depression among distressed Filipinos.
The mobile app and website have significantly expanded access to mental health resources, reaching over 17,000 users. In partnership with the Department of Education, Doc Gina’s team created the Lusog Isip Kabataan Education (LIKE), a video-based prevention program that has evidence of improving mental health literacy among youth.
Dr. Hechanova-Alampay’s commitment to addressing mental health issues is further exemplified by her work in substance use. In response to the previous government’s war on drugs, she spearheaded the development of community-based drug rehabilitation and aftercare programs.
Through her leadership, the USAID Renewhealth project was able to train over 4,000 personnel and have reached more than 40,000 clients across nine regions.
By developing evidence-based prevention, treatment, and aftercare programs, Doc Gina has enhanced community-based support for individuals struggling with substance use.
Dr. Hechanova-Alampay’s contributions have garnered widespread recognition, including the 2023 UP President Eduardo Angara Fellowship, the 2022 Philippine Federation of Professional Associations (PFPA) Distinction Award for Psychology, the 2021 Global Citizen Citation from the American Psychological Association, and 2018 Professional of the Year in Psychology from the Professional Regulatory Commission.
Doc Gina’s pioneering work has expanded the frontiers of public mental health in the country and has equipped and inspired countless individuals to pursue careers dedicated to enhancing the best parts of our humanity. — Metrobank Foundation