February 12 ------ Acknowledged as one of the most beautiful and finest Filipino actresses of her generation, Angel Aquino once again lent her star power to convince the public to unite and help in the much-needed awareness for heart care.
Aquino was the celebrity special guest, together with Singaporean expert Dr. David Sim, last February 9, during the kickoff event of Heart Failure Awareness Week at Seda Vertis North Hotel. Organized by the Philippine Heart Association (PHA), the event coincided with the launching of the PHA National Heart Failure Network (PHA NHFN).
In her talk, Aquino challenged the public to be aware of cardiovascular diseases particularly heart failure and to take care one’s heart as a personal mission. “We need to build a stronger, more informed community — one that does not wait until it is too late. We want Filipinos to recognize the signs, seek help early, and prioritize heart health not as an afterthought, but as a necessity,” she said.
Heart failure (HF) is a complex condition that can be caused by a number of health problems like coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, heart attack, cardiomyopathy, arrythmias, heart valve problems, and congenital heart disease. Everyone can be an HF patient. Known for her involvement in charitable work and causes, including health, education, gender equality and women’s rights, Aquino surely speaks from the heart. Her second daughter, Thea, now 30 years old, is a hydrocephalus survivor. Aquino herself went through many challenges, including financial setback, to make sure her daughter survives and makes it in life. Meanwhile, Dr. Sim was invited to share his expertise and his country’s HF program which has made strides. “There is immense burden on patients, families, and the healthcare system. But despite its challenges, HF a tough challenge we have to confront. With the right approach — one that prioritizes early detection, patient education, and continuous care — lives can be transformed, and hope can be restored,” he said.
In the Philippines with a population of nearly 117 million, there are only six HF specialists known at the Philippine Heart Association (PHA). One of them, Dr. Erlyn Demerre, chair of the PHA Council on HF, works hard to encourage 18 PHA chapters and 25 training institutions to come together as one force that connects communities for an improved HF literacy, established network and a prevention seeking behavior.
Currently, among the network’s strategies are: developing a comprehensive care and referral system; establishing a multi-specialty team approach and contributing to a national registry that will promote research initiatives. For Aquino, she continues to advocate on things she believes in. In fact, she's among the celebrities who are "regular supporters" of PHA. And as part of her personal advocacy, she encourages everyone, especially women, to know and listen to their bodies, to lead an active lifestyle, and eat in moderation. For herself, she said she does fasting and she doesn't subscribe to three meals a day even if she would be busy in the days to come with her "FPJ's Ang Batang Quiapo" stint. Her entry to the action series somewhat serves as a reunion project with lead actor/ director Coco Martin and the rest of "Ang Probinsyano" cast. It is could be remembered that Aquino played a vital role a soldier who sacrificed her life for the series' protagonist for five years, before bidding goodbye to her character in 2022.
Source: news.abs-cbn.com
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