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BARANGAY BAGONG PAG-ASA, Quezon City, October 25, 2025 (SDN) — Hundreds of people, young and adults, are expected on Sunday, October 26, to join the Philippine Heart Association (PHA) headed by Dr. Walid Ahmad Amil, president, as it celebrates World Heart Day (WHD) 2025.
The PHA has chosen to conduct the celebration at the Multi-Purpose Hall of Barangay Bagong-Pag-asa in this urban jungle of modern skyscrapers, giant malls, government offices, private companies, the rich and the poor, and a teeming humanity of over three million people in 142 barangays.
The PHA announcement sent to SDN – SciTech & Digital News shows the observance has two themes, “Don’t Miss a Beat” for the international version and “Galaw-Galaw Pilipinas!” for the Philippine celebration. At 8 a.m., activities are expected to kick-off, with the venue not far off from SM City North EDSA.
As 46 percent of adults in the Philippines, the PHA said, are physically inactive and 75 percent of adolescents living a sedentary life, Filipinos need to get moving and do some some physical activities that are safe for them.
The half-day affair focused on the heart, the lump of muscles and veins in every human being, will feature
• Free heart health and wellness fair under one roof.
• Risk factor screening (cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure, weight, and waistline check).
• Consultations.
• Hands-only CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation), Zumba/Exercise sessions, and nutrition counselling, wellness lectures for families.
• Learn new “Galaw-Galaw” (Keep moving) steps from celebrity Fitness Coaches Jim & Toni Saret
• Announcement of 3 “Don’t Miss A Beat” Jingle Reels Contest Student Winners. PHA has infected students with the indomitable spirit to keep the PHA advocacies going through their short but powerful video productions.
Here’s more from the PHA announcement sent by Gynna Gagelonia, PHA media affairs relations officer, a journalist as well.
The PHA says the WHD has celebration is now 25 this year; its observance in the country is, of course, led by the PHA.
PHA to Filipinos: prioritze your heart, get moving
To keep the World Health Day tradition alive, PHA National adopted the “Don’t Miss a Beat” Campaign.
Aligning with the WHD theme and responding to the World Heart Federation’s (WHF) call on all WHF-member societies to penetrate the grassroots, the PHA’s localized WHD theme is “Galaw-Galaw Pilipinas”.
A WHF-member, the PHA has been the lead agency of the yearly WHD celebration in the Philippines since 2000.
Don’t Miss a Beat” and “Galaw-Galaw Pilipinas” emphasizes the importance of moving more to shed some extra pounds, burn calories and improve one’s cardiovascular health; and connecting with health and wellness professionals, most importantly, loved ones, and engaging in health practices with your community.
According to Dr. Richard Henry Tiongcco II, PHA secretary, concurrent WHD chair, and Dr. Iris Garcia, PHA Director III, concurrent Advocacy chair, big changes begin with small steps, making Barangay Pag-Asa the launching pad for sparking community-driven heart-healthy habits.
The PHA urges Filipinos to prioritize their heart health by making conscious choices to stay healthy and by being vigilant for warning signs of cardiovascular-related conditions. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) refers to diseases of the heart and the blood vessels.
The PHA said forty-six percent of adults are physically inactive while 75 percent of adolescents have a sedentary lifestyle, telling them, “Filipinos, get moving!”
Here’s more:
• Obesity, one of the risk factors for CVD is now at epidemic levels. WHF 2025 report: CVD remains the number one killer worldwide. One in five people will die early from CVD, which claims more lives than cancer and chronic respiratory disease combined. Yet, up to 80 percent of heart disease and stroke cases are preventable.
• From the same WHF report: Obesity and inactivity are major health challenges, with recent data showing over 1 billion adults living with obesity in 2022, and nearly one-third (1.8B adults) failing to meet physical activity recommendations.
• If current trends continue, projections showed obesity potentially affecting 1 in 5 women and 2 in 7 men by 2030 and physical inactivity rising to 35 percent of adults by 2030.
• World Obesity Federation (WOF) 2025 report: In the Philippines, around 38 percent of Filipino adults had a high BMI as of early 2025.
The PHA said the event will gather health and local leaders from the Department of Health (DOH) , and Quezon City Health Officer Dr. Ramona Asuncion; Philippine Heart Center (PHC) Director Dr. Avenilo “Jun” Aventura Jr.; PHA President Dr. Walid Ahmad Amil with the PHA Board and Councils, alongside fitness icons Coaches Jim and Toni Saret, who will highlight the power of public and private collaborations in pushing for lifestyle change.
As usual, the event will be hosted by Dr. Iris M. Garcia Luigi and Pierre S. Segundo, PHA Director/Advocacy Chair, PHA Treasurer, respectively. — EDD K. USMAN (©)