WALK

After days of rain, the sun greeted and welcomed more than 500 senior citizens from the seven (7) provinces of Region III for the Simultaneous Walk For Life, a kick-off event for the 2016 Elderly Filipino Week Celebration.

As early as 5 am, delegates from Bataan in their red shirts came to assemble at the SM City Amphitheater for the Zumba Dance. Upon registration, each senior citizen was given a colored, hand-held balloon and a breakfast pack consisting of hard-boiled egg, banana and bottled water, courtesy of the Department of Health.

The 1.3 km walk was led by students from the Sta. Rita School Drum and Lyre Band. Banner holders and flag bearers per province ushered the elderly. First came the “Lolos and Lolas” from Tarlac, followed by the “Inangs and Tatangs” of Bataan, the “Apos and Ingkongs” from Pampanga, the “Nanays and Tatays” from Bulacan cheering Hep! Hep! Bulacan, followed by delegates from Zambales. The Nueva Ecija cluster wore white, while the Aurora senior citizens tailed the walk.

Two (2) stations and a standby ambulance were set up for the medics in case of emergency. A tai chi session at Station 3 served as a pit stop where senior citizens can have a 15-minute cool down before proceeding to the final leg of the walk towards the SM Event Center.

• 
• 
• 
• 

TALK

Talks on PhilHealth membership and benefits, the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Expanded Senior Citizens Act, Elderly Abuse as well as the Department of Health’s Healthy Lifestyle, Managing Hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus were given to the senior citizens.

PhilHealth registration and updating, blood pressure and glucose measurement from the DOH, National Nutrition Council’s advice on weight management and proper diet as well as DSWD’s Help Desk were among the services that were also offered.

• 
• 
• 
• 

THANK

As a sign of paying it forward and giving back for all the glorious years of the elderly, raffle prizes and surprises such as song and dance numbers, as well as take-home cane umbrellas courtesy of DOH, medicines and fans were also given away to participants. Each senior citizen went home with a smile, a full stomach and a heart filled with gratitude for the time, effort and gifts received on that memorable day in October. (END)