The Lord’s Flock Catholic Charismatic Community hosted a forum on “Health and Wellness” last May 14, 2026, at the Heritage Sanctuary. Four esteemed medical doctors shared helpful tips to take good care of the body, the temple of the Holy Spirit.
Bro. Carlo Marudo energetically emceed program and ensured smooth transition from one speaker to another. Sis. Star Marudo gave the keynote address, emphasizing that ‘honoring the life and body that the Lord has given us makes us better equipped to age gracefully, and become more radiant.”
Lung Care and Breathing Well
The first topic was delivered by Dr. Grace Pancho, pulmonologist, in which she urged the audience to do a “mindset check” by assessing if they are thinking, feeling and deciding ahead of their doctor/s. She cautioned that there is a difference between cough that is caused by allergy versus asthma/breathlessness. Furthermore, she shared tips on how to keep lungs healthy which are based on scientific studies. These include timeless guidelines such as avoiding smoking as well as other air pollutants, wearing face mask for protection against contaminants, taking important vaccines (pneumococcal, influenza, covid 19, RSV) and consulting a doctor. She quoted Sirach 38:1-4, “Honor doctors for their service, since indeed the Lord created them. Healing comes from the Most High, and the King will reward them.”
Navigating Life by Ageing Well
Subsequently, guest doctor, Dr. Annie Soliven, anesthesiologist, spoke about the five pillars of longevity and well-being: healthy nutrition (80% nutritious, 20% indulgence), regular physical activity (150 minutes per week), using the brain regularly to avoid degradation in brain function (quality of rest of 7 to 9 hours to maintain circadian rhythm), and mental and emotional health (faith-based activities prolongs life and helps prevent loneliness and depression). She summarized that health and faith are complementary and brings about superior health outcomes.
Fact vs. Fiction: Busting myths on Blood Pressure and Heart Health
Thereafter, Dr. Marie Regala, cardiologist, explained that among the several risk factors for hypertension, the most common are smoking and being overweight. Regrettably, even among those aware of their hypertension, 6 in 10 fail to keep their blood pressure under control. The facts are concerning: 1) Hypertension is a silent killer because the damage on the organs happens quietly over time. 2) Medicines can control but not cure. 3) Uncontrolled hypertension creates organ damage and is more dangerous to the kidneys and the liver. She shared some “stress hacks”: enjoy, energize, eat healthy, engage, explore, express, deep breathing (4 counts – breath in, 7 counts – hold, 8 counts – breathe out), and more importantly, PRAY (the #1 stress buster).
Beyond Skincare: Lifestyle Medicine for Longevity and Radiant Health
The final speaker, Dr. Sweet Florentino, dermatologist and lifestyle medicine specialist, enthusiastically talked about “Lifestyle Medicine” – a relatively new development under the Philippine Academy of General Physicians. Interestingly, she opined that skin ageing is highly influenced by lifestyle and environment (80%) more than by genetics (20%). What is consumed shows up in the skin (in particular, adequate protein supports collagen remodeling, while high sugar load stiffens the collagen). Exercise should be a combination of cardio and strength training. Restorative sleep can be achieved by limiting caffein after 1pm. These, along with getting sun exposure upon waking up, limiting screen time (blue light confuses the melatonin level), stress management, and substance control all contribute to longevity and radiance. More importantly, having social connections is the most important predictor of happiness and longevity. In a nutshell, small changes can have big impact; habits are like seeds – the fruit does not appear overnight.
After the very enlightening sharing, certificates of appreciation and gift tokens were given to the four speakers by the stewards of the Pastoral Ministry’s Seasoned Adults Cluster, Bro. Lito Santelices and Sis. Millet Linsangan, along with Ministerial Core Steward Sis. Star Marudo.
Finally, Sis. Millet gave the closing remarks by thanking the doctors for sharing their expertise and reiterating that “the bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, received from God …. Therefore, you must honor God with your bodies” (1 Corinthians 6).
To God be the Glory!
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Written by: Millet Lansangan & Jo Advincula
Edited by: Jane Lico (Steward)
