In this column (Oct 31, 2010) I wrote that Negros Oriental’s dubious distinction of being called the Motorcycle Capital of the Philippines is a “recipe for unhealthy people and environment”.
The health hazards attributed to riding a motorcycle may be drawn from research that found that bicycle riders “who don’t get enough of exercise may have higher risks of developing osteoporosis because their bones don’t get enough day-to-day pounding…No-impact exercise may have bad impact for bones…” says Dr. Srinivas Ganesh, a sports medicine specialist with the Laiser Permanente in Redwood City.
The theory is that bones are designed to get regular impact, even if it is just from walking around, and without that impact, the bones lose strength and density.
Another sports medicine doctor, Thor Besier, director of research at Stanford University’s Human Performance Lab, said: “Bones and cartilage are designed to withstand pretty large impact loads, and they like that kind of loading. If all you did was cycle and you compare yourself with some one who all he did was walk, well, walking would provide much more stimulus for bone and cartilage health.”
Simply put, motorcyclists like those who populate our roads here in Negros Oriental should spend some time exercising their legs, and the simplest and least expensive form of exercising the legs is by walking.
It is for this reason that on Sunday, July 3, Foundation University will inaugurate another corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative called: “Don’t be a Frog. Walk!” inspired by environmentalist and nature trekker Edward Abbey who wrote: “There is this to be said of walking: It’s the one mode of human locomotion by which a man proceeds on his own two feet, upright, erect, as a man should be, not squatting on his rear haunches like a frog.”
It is reported that 34.45 percent of Filipinos are overweight, making them at risk of acquiring non-communicable or lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, cancer, heart diseases, mainly due to a lack of physical activity and sedentary living.
Negrenenses, being motorcycle riders, are prone to these maladies.
Since last year, FU has been staging events aimed at creating interest for walking among the residents and young people of Dumaguete City.
One of these was the “WE Walk the Talk” for wellness and the environment, held Feb 14, 2010, and participated in by local government officials, a platoon-size delegation of the Provincial Police, and some 2,000 students from FU, NORSU, SPUD, and Saceda Youth Lead High School.
When FU entering freshman were found to be at health-risk due to obesity, it became compulsory for all students to walk a quarter marathon (10.5km), in all of their four semesters of PE courses.
This requirement enabled the students to experience the satisfaction of accomplishing what is perceived as a difficult, if not boring, physical exercise, and in the process, erase any mental and psychological block that discourages indulgence in vigorous activity.
To this date, some 2,000 walkers have successfully completed the Quarter Marathon Wellness Walk, one of whom is Irma Pal who, with husband Alex, subsequently ran their first half-marathon (21km) in the Vancouver Marathon last May 1st in Canada. The couple’s achievement is proof of what anyone can do by just making the first walking step.
On June 2, some 250 officers of FU-based student organizations met with representatives of Task Force SAGARR to explore areas of cooperation, specifically on how students can be part of the process to transform the University Town into a model community.
I understand that one of the recommendations to be submitted by the FU student leaders to the City Council and Task Force SAGARR, backed by 1,000 signatories as required by Sections 120-127 of the Local Government Code (RA 7160), is a petition for a section of Perdices Road and Rizal Blvd to be free from vehicular traffic on weekdays.
The purpose, borrowing from the statement of Atty. Tony Oposa after the successful “Road Revolution” launched June 12 in Cebu, is: “This is not only about cleaning the air and reducing our carbon emissions. It is also about restoring the sense of community among a people, about creating the much-needed open space in a (crowded place), about promoting a healthier lifestyle by walking, cycling, and about showing the world how to get out of the present inefficient, undemocratic, and utterly-wasteful transportation system…Those who have less in wheels must have more in roads.”
“Don’t be a Frog. Walk!” will be launched Sunday, July 3, at exactly 6am. We invite everyone to join the walk around Robinsons Mall and the TeleTech grounds. Water stations and first aid services will be provided to insure safe participation. Be a part of the movement to make Negros Oriental the Walking Capital of the Philippines.