Leaves are supposed
to fall not people

“Have you had any falls in the last 12 months?” was the first question that Jonathan Fidel Zulueta asked the audience during a gathering of the WoW Club members at the GT Hotel in Bacolod City recently.

Jonathan is a former Bacoleño, who has been a successful physiotherapist in London for the past years. When the club learned from his mother, Virgie Fidel Zulueta, who is also a WoW member, that Jonathan was coming to Bacolod for a visit, the WoW president, Inday Pefianco, immediately invited him to talk to the club members and some invited guests from other clubs in Bacolod, on how ageing affects balance and what older folks can do to avoid injury.

The WoW members came to the gathering wearing their MassKara masks for the Best in Mask contest. Everyone waited with anticipation to hear what Jonathan would say. The minute Jonathan went up front, there was a buzz among the ladies. He certainly impressed the crowd with his clean-cut looks and suave manner. The audience tittered when told that he was still a bachelor and “very available”.

Thus, when Jonathan asked his first question, most of the ladies raised their hands. He then launched into a very interesting lecture on why older people are prone to falling and what can be done about it. We were asked to perform simple exercises to find out how balanced we are. It was a mind-opening experience.

One of the exercises he recommended was tai chi, that he said would be very good for proper balance. He also gave us tips on simple exercises that we can do while performing our daily tasks. The audience peppered him with lots of questions and he answered each one with authority. The thing he emphasized the most was to keep exercising to keep the body in good shape.

What an interesting evening it was. Kudos to the WoW organizers for putting up such activities where we learn so much.*

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