Help yourselves, help the country

Health care is expensive everywhere you go. But in most well-developed countries, health care is subsidized and available to all, regardless of social status. Not so in the Philippines.

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In spite of PhilHealth, coverage is still limited to some conditions, and if you have multiple chronic diseases, there will still be out of pocket expenses that will drive you to bankruptcy. Our social safety net is shot full of holes.

So, what can we do? Falling ill in this country is a no-no. “Ika nga, bawal magkasakit!” Therein lies the rub. Are people really striving to be healthy, or just shrugging shoulders saying, “Bahala na!?”

If we're really serious about health, then we should go the whole route: healthy diet, plenty of physical activity, and yes, weight bearing ones, and a wholesome mental attitude.

Our motto from now on should be: Help ourselves and our fellow citizens.

It starts from childhood. Feed our children nutritious food, not the fastfood garbage we keep binging on. Keep them safe from communicable diseases with vaccinations. Ensure they can play outdoors safely and not give them cell phones and tablets that they sit with all day, playing havoc with their mental health.

Let us buy from local vendors, especially those selling on roadside stalls, trade fairs, weekend markets and other popup sites. The profits go directly to the people selling. All that walking to the various vendors will do a lot for our health and well-being as well.