The COVID-19 pandemic has been there for over a year and may substantially negatively impact student’s mental well-being. This study aimed to assess the subjective mental well-being and satisfaction with life of Filipino college students. This cross-sectional study involved the analysis of 1,141 college students in the Philippines. The data were collected using the Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale and the Satisfaction with Life Scale. Results indicated that while 52.8% reported high satisfaction with life, 40.2% had poor mental well-being. Self-reported health status (β=1.899, p=.000), age (β=0.179, p=.000), and year level (β=0.306, p=.000) predicted mental well-being. On the other hand, subjective mental well-being (β=0.736, p=.000), self-reported health status (β=0.967, p=.000), and age (β=0.691, p=.025) predicted life satisfaction. The COVID-19 pandemic has likely affected students’ mental health and well-being. Interventions should be initiated to address the mental health needs of the students during this pandemic and even beyond the health crisis.

BACKGROUND: The exponential increase of cases and the emergence of the new COVID-19 variants continue to be a challenge. It remains crucial to assess whether or not minimum health standards against COVID-19 are consistently followed. This study determined the higher education students' practice of protective measures against COVID-19 of more than a year into the pandemic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire web survey, cross-sectional study was conducted among higher education students (n = 2309) of a public university in the Philippines. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software. RESULTS: Results indicated that students generally had a high practice of COVID-19 preventive measures. However, only 45.9% always practice physical distancing measures, and only 35.9% always seek information related to COVID-19 after more than a year into the pandemic. Female, married, graduate level, with a monthly family income of PHP 10,000 and above, and personal knowledge of someone who tested for COVID-19 had a significantly higher practice of COVID-19 protective measures. Older age, higher general self-reported health status, and higher intention to comply with recommended protective health behaviors were significantly correlated with higher practice of preventive measures against COVID-19. CONCLUSION: After more than a year of being into the pandemic, students still practice preventive health behaviors, however, this is not done consistently. As the pandemic is still not over in the country and many parts of the world, continuous monitoring and a reminder to practice minimum protective health protocols are needed to mitigate and prevent the spread of COVID-19.

This study aimed to determine the competence of SUCs student-teachers in State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) and the relationship existing between their competence and the variables in their profile. The descriptive-correlational method of research was employed in this study. The respondents were the 127 fourth year college students of selected State Universities and Colleges in Negros Occidental, Philippines. The data in this study were obtained using the modified instrument based from NCBTS. The mean, oneway ANOVA and Pearson r were the statistical tools used to determine the level, differences and the relationship existing between variables. Findings revealed that the level of competence of SUCs student-teachers was high as a whole and in almost all of the domains except in community linkages. No significant differences were observed in the level of competency of SUCs student-teachers as perceived by the respondent groups. Likewise, no significant relationship was observed between student-teachers level of competence and the identified variables in their profile. It was concluded therefore, that SUCs studentteachers were competent in terms of the seven domains except in community linkages.Likewise, respondent groups were almost the same in their perceptions of the competence of SUCs student-teachers in terms of the seven domains. Furthermore, SUCS student-teachers competence is not related to the variables in their profile. It was therefore recommended that student-teachers should continuously exert effort in doing their tasks as student-teachers. Furthermore, student-teachers are encouraged to strengthen their links to the communities, particularly as these links help in the attainment of the curricular goals.