PASAY CITY — The Health and Wellness Conference and Expo (HWONFEX) 2025 returned to the SMX Convention Center from September 5–7, showcasing health and wellness products, services, and destinations aimed at promoting healthier living.
A Vision of Regenerative Wellness Tourism
With the theme “Go & Get Better: Regenerative Tourism Recharges All,” the three-day expo highlighted the Philippines’ physical, cultural, and natural approaches to well-being, while positioning the country as a global destination for wellness tourism.
The event partnered with the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (PITAHC), which featured hands-on exhibits on hilot, Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupuncture, and other traditional practices. PITAHC-certified practitioners offered demonstrations rooted in local healthcare traditions.
Joyful Wellness at HWONFEX
Philippine Star’s Joyful Wellness, a health platform under the NEXT division, also joined the expo.
Editor Kai Magsanoc participated in the “Wellness Tourism Influencers Panel,” where she shared how Joyful Wellness uses digital platforms to promote credible health information.
“During the pandemic, we worked with doctors like Dr. Macalintal and Dr. Kilimanguru. People often check Facebook or Google for medical information, so our goal is to meet them where they are,” Magsanoc said.
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She added that Joyful Wellness taps social media and multimedia storytelling to broaden health awareness. “Joy is a good indicator of wellness. We remind people that their health is in their own hands,” she said.
“Daily choices—what to eat, how to spend time—affect quality of life,” she said.
WATCH the HWONFEX 2025 highlights:
Broader Context: Social Media and Health
According to a 2021 systematic review (Chen et al.), social media has become a widely used channel for health promotion, education, and outreach by institutions, professionals, and the public worldwide.
The 2023 advisory of the U.S. Surgeon General cautioned that adolescents who spend more than three hours daily on social media face twice the risk of anxiety and depression symptoms.
In the Philippines, a study of university students found that online social support during the pandemic improved mental well-being and reduced psychological distress (Abad Santos et al., 2023).
Another study showed that 91% of young women in Metro Manila displayed signs of social media addiction, linked to negative body image and social comparison (Gamboa et al., 2023).
These findings highlight that social media is both a tool and a challenge in health awareness.
Globally, it facilitates education and community support. Locally, it provided lifelines during the pandemic. Yet overuse or misuse can harm mental health, especially among vulnerable groups.
As digital platforms evolve, the challenge is to guide users toward balanced, informed habits and to strengthen safeguards against harm.
By leveraging social media, Joyful Wellness encouraged more Filipinos to pursue healthier, more active lifestyles.
Other Activities
The expo also offered wellness consultations, product exhibits, and networking opportunities. The Department of Health provided free vaccinations, while another session focused on workplace wellness.
Exhibitors included the Department of Health, Department of Tourism, PITAHC, Mwell, The Hilot Hub, Anytime Fitness, Organica Nutrition, The Zen Institute, Wellness Tourism Association of the Philippines, among others.
Joyful Wellness concluded its participation with the message: “It’s a movement, for a better you.”
For more stories, visit Joyfulwellness.ph or follow Joyful Wellness on Facebook.
Photo and video by Stanley Gajete
