AROUND 500 senior citizens participated in Walk for Life event on Sunday, October 1, at SM Ecoland parking area.
As early as 6 a.m., Sunday, enior citizens from three districts of Davao registered and participated in zumba and warm up activities prior to the walk for life event in celebration of the Elderly Filipino Week.
Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth)-Davao Division Chief IV Field Operations Division Filbert Bryan Sollesta said that the event was done in partnership with the Department of Health, City Government of Davao through the City Health Office, and Office of the Senior Citizen's Affairs.
"We invited 500 citizens who will participate in the walk of life we also prepared services like medical, opthalmological, eye checkup, dental check-up, free massage and haircut," Sollesta said.
TV5 provided rice porridge for the participants.
The CHO helped provide physicians who will do the check-up and conduct health profiling to the senior citizens.
DOH also brought dentists and all other health professionals to conduct checkups.
"We intend to really promote wellness to the elderly as recognition of their contribution to the society, we also want to make them happy by giving them a break in their day to day routine," he said.
Evelyn Ragaña, a senior citizen from Buhangin, said that it's her second time to join the he yearly event for senior citizens.
"I am happy. Last year we also participated, we have attended last year's event at SM Lanang. Secretary Janette P. Loreto-Garin was there and we took pictures," she said.
Ragaña said that she hopes that the events will add life to the senior citizens like her and that would inspire more seniors to join different activities.