500-plus walk their way to healthier living

The CNMI Council on Physical Fitness and Sports’ campaign to promote a healthy lifestyle among the CNMI community kicked off early yesterday morning as over 500 walkers of all ages trekked from the Fishing Base on Garapan to the American Memorial as part of the much-anticipated Mass Walk.

The walking cast included the governor, the four mayors in the CNMI, several legislators and department directors, government and private sector employees, students, school officials, parents, and even a couple of senior citizens.

Refreshments were provided at the AMP and various activities were also featured, including aerobics, and hula-hoop games and dodge ball for the kids. The kid games were organized by the staff of the Division of Sports and Recreation.

“What a great turn out,” said Gov. Juan N. Babauta. “I very impressed with the overwhelming participation of the community.”

Saipan Mayor Juan B. Tudela agreed, adding that the turnout of young kids and adults was “great.”

“This was well-attended, and it shows the community’s response to the message,” he said.

San Vicente Elementary School fifth grade students Joseph Palacios and Kurtsam Arboliras said they enjoyed the event, especially because of the great number of participants.

“[We] like it because exercise is good and it is fun to walk with a lot of people. It feels good [and] we are going to join again.

Babauta elaborated on the overall goal of the activity, which is good health. “The overall effort is to combat the escalating health care cost and lift the burden from taxpayers and also doctors and nurses,” he said.

The governor said the Council was specifically formed for this purpose, especially since the cost of health care has steadily been going up. “You can have more and more financial service, but it still would not be enough to deliver health care,” he said. “Providing activities—such as the walk—that promote a healthy lifestyle is a measure that will assist with the prevention and onset of various diseases.”

In his brief remarks after the walk, Tinian Mayor Francisco M. Borja said creating an organization to better the health status is “way overdue” and he commended the governor for initiating the formation of the Council.

“We want to educate the public,” he said. “You’ve all heard about people being addicted to other stuff…well I ask the CNMI citizens to get addicted to living well.”

Visors, T-shirts, and buttons were also distributed to the participants.

The Council also announced that a Mass Walk will be held on Rota on June 19. A walk on Tinian is expected to take place sometime in July.

The Council was established in December 2003 and consists of Babauta, Rota Mayor Benjamin T. Manglona, Borja, Northern Island Mayor Valentino I. Taisakan, and Youth Congress Speaker Alvin C. Fejeran. For the past months, members engaged in several meetings to further organize the Council and attract more members.

The Council’s goals include improving the health status of the CNMI; promoting expansion of physical education programs in both public and private schools; reducing incidence of disease resulting from lack of physical fitness and nutrition; encouraging better coordination between government and private sectors in the promotion of physical fitness of their employees; and promoting inter-island participation in physical fitness activities.