Marilyn Cahatol

Article (news)

Francis Orcio

ABS-CBN News

<div><br/></div><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display:flex;max-width:550px;width:100%;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px;text-align:center"><iframe id="twitter-widget-6" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" style="position:static;visibility:visible;width:550px;height:623px;display:block;flex-grow:1" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-6&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1982265905427153306&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2025-10-26T00%3A47%3A19.390904%3A79fa3a03-22d1-4a79-ba58-b126dd43e1b0%26action%3Dedit&amp;sessionId=9dce374dc9f73ddccf58d31abc0f3aca488190b9&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px" data-tweet-id="1982265905427153306"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — The Philippine Heart Association (PHA) marked the global observance of World Heart Day 2025 with the call “Galaw-Galaw Pilipinas!”, rallying Filipinos to combat sedentary lifestyles and obesity through regular exercise and healthy living.</p><p>Held at Barangay Bagong Pag-Asa, Quezon City on Sunday, October 26, the event featured free health checkups, medical consultations, heart disease risk screenings, hands-only CPR demonstrations, and Zumba sessions, all aimed at promoting heart health and encouraging movement.</p><p>Dr. Richard Henry Tiongco II, PHA Secretary and overall chairman of the World Heart Day celebration, emphasized that the growing rate of sedentary behavior among Filipinos contributes heavily to cardiovascular diseases, which remain the country’s top killer.</p><p>“Nakita po natin sa ating mga balita na marami po tayong mga kababayan na hindi gumagalaw. Sedentary po ang tawag doon. At ito ay isang sanhi ng pagkakaroon ng sakit. So, active lifestyle at healthy living po ang kailangan po natin sa Pilipinas,” said Dr. Tiongco.</p><p>He stressed that the PHA’s advocacy extends beyond hospitals and major cities, reaching communities nationwide to raise awareness about cardiovascular health.</p><p>“Kami po sa Philippine Heart Association ay nakikipagtulungan sa ating mga kababayan hindi lang sa mga ospital, kundi nationwide sa aming mga kasamahan para mapadami natin ang magandang kalusugan ng ating mga kababayan,” Tiongco said.</p><p>This year’s celebration coincided with the global theme “Don’t Miss a Beat,” reminding the public to stay aware of their heart health. The PHA localized the message with “Galaw-Galaw Pilipinas!” to promote physical activity as a form of prevention.</p><p>Despite challenges such as recent typhoons, Tiongco said the PHA pushed through with the national event to reinforce the message of resilience and proactive health.</p><p>According to the PHA, heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the Philippines, with over 112,000 deaths in 2023, or about 19 percent of all fatalities.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/life/03/30/23/doctors-warn-of-heart-failure-risks-during-summer"><strong>Doctors warn of heart failure risks especially during summer</strong></a></div><p>Contributing factors include smoking, poor diet, obesity, and lack of physical activity.</p><p>“Ang number one cause of mortality o pagkamatay sa Pilipinas ay dahil sa sakit sa puso, cerebrovascular and cardiovascular disease. Ito po ay kailangan natin aksyonan sa tamang gamutan at sa tamang lifestyle,” said Tiongco.</p><p>Tiongco added that regular physical activity can improve mental health as well, reducing anxiety and depression while promoting the release of endorphins.</p><p>“Iyong depression and anxiety can be alleviated with an active lifestyle. Nakalalabas ito ng mga magagandang endorphins sa ating mga utak. Gumaganda ang ating disposition kapag nag-exercise po tayo. More importantly, ang incidence of cardiovascular disease ay nakukurba kapag tayo po ay pumayat habang tayo naging active at nag-eehersisyo,” he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/11/10/21/heart-disease-still-top-killer-in-ph-doctors-say"><strong>Heart disease is still leading cause of death in PH, doctors say</strong></a></div><p>He encouraged the public to stay active even from home, highlighting that fitness does not require expensive equipment or gym memberships.</p><p>In line with this year’s theme, the PHA reiterated its commitment to rolling out continuous programs addressing hypertension, obesity, and other heart-related conditions, including educational campaigns and nationwide health guidelines.</p><p>PHA President Dr. Walid Amil earlier warned that obesity poses a major threat to heart health, citing that 38 percent of Filipino adults have high body mass index (BMI).</p><p>As the celebration marked 25 years of the PHA’s participation in World Heart Day, the association reaffirmed its message that small, everyday movements, beginning in homes and barangays, can lead to life-saving habits.</p><p>“Big changes and milestones always begin with small steps, from Filipino homes and the barangays,” Tiongco said in the PHA statement.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2025/4/29/study-links-chemicals-in-plastic-to-cardiovascular-deaths-0717"><strong>Study links chemicals in plastic to cardiovascular deaths</strong></a></div><div> </div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KO8TgL2ZEd8?si=oarcWy33kOqZbmPz" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>The Philippine Heart Association (PHA) marked the global observance of World Heart Day 2025 with the call “Galaw-Galaw Pilipinas!”, rallying Filipinos to combat sedentary lifestyles and obesity through regular exercise and healthy living.</p>

The Philippine Heart Association (PHA) marked the global observance of World Heart Day 2025 with the call “Galaw-Galaw Pilipinas!”, rallying Filipinos to combat sedentary lifestyles and obesity through regular exercise and healthy living.

'Galaw-galaw Pilipinas!': Heart advocates push for active lifestyle as PHA leads World Heart Day 2025

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'Galaw-galaw Pilipinas!': Heart advocates push for active lifestyle as PHA leads World Heart Day 2025

Francis Orcio,

ABS-CBN News

Published October 26, 2025 02:03 PM PHT

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Health

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World Heart Day

Philippine Heart Association

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