The female members of the Magalona family could be among the most energetic in Philippine show business. Mom Pia Magalona did ballet until she was a teenager, did yoga and pilates, and for a time tried zumba. Now she walks during mornings and evenings. Daughters Maxene Magalona and Saab Magalona embrace the same pursuits. Maxene runs and does boxing, while Saab goes to the gym with a personal trainer and practiced yoga. This dedication to fitness is what has kept the Magalonas beautiful, and more importantly, healthy.
However, the demands of showbiz have left Pia struggling to find time for exercise. She is, after all, personally looking after the careers of her children Max, Frank, Saab, Elmo, and Arkin, who are becoming well-loved celebrities in their own right. “I honestly could do better,” said Pia. “I can use the excuse that I have no time for it, but I know that the only way to achieve this is to actually make time.”
Despite her hectic schedule, Pia manages to fulfill her duties as a mother of eight, a manager of five, and an active individual with aplomb. One look at her and she obviously has mastered the art of multitasking. She describes her day as waking up at 5:30 am to help prepare Arkin, 13, and Clara, 12, for school.
She drops them off and picks them up herself, and in between, juggles walking the dogs and running errands, which may be as mundane as doing the groceries to the more glamorous like a photo shoot. She and her two younger children have an early dinner, followed by a walk, then it’s off to bed at 8 in the evening. Pia still knows how to have fun, and makes time for what’s important to her. “Socializing with friends is one of the best types of therapy!” she declared.
While it can be challenging to create a rhythm of discipline when it comes to her family’s health, Pia credits consistency as a key in their active lifestyles. Truly, the hardest and most crucial step is making the commitment to be healthy.
A recent study found out that 58% of Filipinos find it difficult to have the discipline to exercise regularly, with 40% of us claiming we are too busy or don’t have the energy to exercise.
“It’s important to exercise with the family because we need to share the value of being physically fit with each other. This way, exercise becomes a part of our lives, and our routine,” said Pia, who was inspired by her own mom to be physically active. At the age of 74, Pia’s mom walks, bathes and takes care of her dogs personally, and does laundry and housekeeping chores herself.
An active, fulfilled life
Exercise is widely acknowledged as one of the most important aspects of keeping healthy. It helps prevent lifestyle diseases such heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. But many people still do not know that an inactive lifestyle can also be a precursor to bone disease, especially osteoporosis.
“Progress in technology and urban living has changed lifestyles; children have no sports, they play computers,” said Dr. Miles Dela Rosa, president of the Osteoporosis Society of the Philippines Foundation Inc. (OSPFI). “We lack physiologic balance and healthy bones need physiologic motion.”
Studies reveal that an inactive lifestyle can lead to brittle bones. When bones become brittle, it is easier to get fractures, even without trauma. Broken bones due to brittleness may result in severe pain, disability, and even mortality! In the Philippines, it is estimated that over four million Filipinos will be at risk for osteoporosis by 2020.
Moreover, sitting is now called the new smoking. A separate study by Nielsen Philippines showed that Filipinos are the second heaviest Internet users in Southeast Asia, spending 21.5 hours online per week.
“I am raising my family to be strong and resilient,” Pia said on her family’s bone health. “As a mom, I lead by example. As parents, we are our children’s mentors. They can feel if we are sincere in what we do, so we really need to develop a take-charge attitude.” This attitude also extends to her daughters’ other commitments, including professional and personal ones.
Pia also maintains her family’s bone health through their diet, which she says consists of food rich in vitamins and minerals: eggs, fish, green, leafy vegetables. The family also eats calcium-rich food such as yogurt, cheese and milk in its different forms.
As the face of Filipino working moms, Pia advocates a holistic approach to health. “We should be self-disciplined, enough to be able to enjoy the good things in life, by living the good life. We should stay active and mentally alert by getting enough rest, exercise, and having the correct diet. These are all important to maintain good health, especially for the bones.”