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Tuesday, April 29, 2003
Mondok: Exercise prolongs life
By Lorna C. Hermogeno
SAN CARLOS -- "Exercise, being the cheapest way to become healthy, prolongs one's life," said Dr. Pablo P. Mondok III, city health officer here.
More than two years ago when the idea of ballroom dancing was not yet too popular among middle aged men and women, the City Health Office (CHO) here already adopted said activity as the most effective form of exercise.
Barangay Health Workers and market/church goers are going through a regular ballroom dancing and aerobics exercise every Friday afternoon at 3 p.m. at the City Gym.
To accommodate ballroom dancers from Poblacion and nearby barangays, the city government, through the CHO, in coordination with the City Ballroom Dancers Association of San Carlos, headed by Rose Claudio and Mely Reyes decided that a regular ballroom dancing dubbed as "Sayaw San Carlos Sayaw" would be held every Friday evening, 7 p.m. at the Liberty Circle in the city plaza.
Mondok conducted the ballroom dancing activity. However, prior to the ballroom dancing a lecture on the benefits of exercise is given by Mondok to the participants coming from different Rural Health Units (RHUs) in the city.
"The ballroom dancing is geared towards the prevention of diseases," said Mondok in an interview with Sun Star. He said that the lecture prior to the exercise delved on hypertensive, diabetic, cancer and kidney preventive control.
"Exercise is the most effective way of warding off diseases and it is for free. You pay for your food, water and vitamins but exercise costs you nothing and yet readily available. I am teaching our Barangay Health Workers basic and simple exercises that they can do at home. While you are watching TV you can do these simple exercises and I guarantee the gains are quite amazing and remarkable. And this, to say the least, is for free. We do not even charge membership fees. No need even for dance instructors or D.I.," he further said.
"I am inviting everyone to come and join us every Friday night and experience the fun and excitement and see for yourself the wonderful benefits of exercise," he added.
Mondok also gave out tips regarding proper diet. The participants to the dancing exercise were advised to drink eight to 10 glasses of water daily because it circulates blood and carries food and oxygen to all parts of the body. Mondok likewise advises the participants to eat a lot of vegetables and fruits and to avoid staying up late at night.
Since its conception, there have been an increasing number of Ballroom aficionados dancing themselves from getting hypertension, heart diseases, cancer, diabetes and strokes and other diseases that could be prevented by increased physical activity.
"We are giving incentive every last Friday of the month. CHO gives out an interesting prize package to the winners of the Ballroom Dancers of the Month contest.
Meanwhile, Mondok has been actively campaigning against cigarette smoking.
This, he said out during the ballroom dancing to warn the participants who have not yet withdrawn from the vice that no amount of exercise can undo the irreparable damage that years of cigarette smoking can cause to one's health.
Mondok likewise informed the people that CHO is giving rewards to smoking quitters.
(April 29, 2003 issue)
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