18/03/2026
Thank you and the Institute for Biomedical Ethics for having me as one of the speakers for the Colloquium on Loneliness and Isolation.
It's surreal to speak about my own personal experience as a migrant on how isolation and loneliness felt during my first few years in the Alps (which, surprisingly led me to the creation of The Sacred Space). Though no one speaks openly about this topic, I feel this topic is becoming more important and relevant. For example, in Switzerland alone, studies have shown that up to 50% of Swiss residents have felt isolated or lonely at any given time (and presumably, way worse with migrants). Loneliness is a silent killer and I don't even want to mince my words about that.
After an afternoon of lively and thought-provoking discussion, I left the venue feeling both hopeful and deeply supported. There was a real sense of shared purpose in the room - people coming from different perspectives, yet all committed to addressing loneliness and isolation in meaningful ways.
I felt encouraged by the potential to partner and collaborate with practitioners, academics, and interventionists. Our conversations sparked a lot of ideas about working together on grassroots approaches, things that are community-driven, culturally sensitive, and rooted in real lived experiences, to help migrants feel more connected, supported, and like they truly belong.
Filipinos