Sunday, September 14, 2008 Cebuanos shed extra weight to raise funds By Rich M. Salibay Sun.Star Correspondent
CEBUANOS added another record of sorts after beating Metro Manila in the latest count of the total number of calories burned in the Halika fitness challenge at the Cebu City Hall grounds yesterday morning.
Halika, which promotes healthy and active living, was attended by nearly 2,000 participants and had them burning 157, 975.40 calories, beating Manila’s 114, 412 count last year.
For health-conscious individuals, the activity also helped them lose unwanted fats while being able to support some charitable institutions. Coca-Cola, which backed the event, donated P1 for every calorie burned to the chosen beneficiaries, the Kalinga Youth Foundation and Cebu City Task Force on Street Children.
Among those who participated in the challenge were representatives from the Phil. National Army regional command, Cebu City Police Office, city officials, senior citizens groups, as well as children, women and youth organizations.
Instructors
Dance instructors from Manila led the exercise which, according to them, should be part of everybody’s ADL or activities of daily living. They added that the exercise can be done while doing the regular house chores.
On the other hand, Dale Eric Alcarez, one of the organizers, said working out needs not be expensive and added that a home can be made into a mini-gym using the simple but effective steps the instructors were teaching.
Most of the participants of the challenge were also elated with the result.
“I am happy we now hold the record as the city having the most number of calories burned in massive exercise. But what’s most important in the activity is learning the importance of sports and exercise especially in our job. We have to be fit and in good health always and be always prepared when our duty calls us,” said PO1 Franklin Orcullo.
Aside from cops, children as young as nine and a grandmother were also present yesterday.
Healthy
“Maayo man kung mag-exercise ta kay makapahimsog man. Magluya man ko basta dili ko mag-exercise (Exercise is good and it makes us healthy. I feel weak if I cannot exercise),” said Grade 4 student Shiela Estonino.
“Maoy sulti sa akong doktor nga magsige ug lakaw-lakaw og mag-exercise. Bahalag hinay-hinay basta kanunay para matul-id ang mga ugat (The doctor told me to do some walking. It doesn’t matter if I do it slowly, but it should be frequent),” said Merolina Clarion, a grandmother of 12.
After the Cebu stop, Halika will hold similar events in Davao and Baguio later this year.
