Abstract

Healthy citizens are important for a healthy society. When people are healthy, they can not only enhance their capability to fight different virus outbreaks but also participate in the building of better and healthier societies. However, different forms of sickness as a result of people’s lifestyle are appearing in many countries. Ironically, in a developing country like the Philippines, policies for healthenhancing activities have gained minimal support. This paper will argue that promoting a healthy lifestyle that involves five essential elements – feet, fork, fingers, sleep, and heart – is necessary for a healthy society. This means that people must be physically active, eat pre-dominantly plant-based food, avoid vices such as smoking and too much alcohol, get enough sleep, and establish deep connectivity and reciprocity with their fellow human beings and the rest of creation as exemplified by many indigenous peoples. While some people choose to stay healthy through their conscious choices, many carelessly behave unhealthily. This is where government policies and programs for proactive health and wellness must be crafted and implemented. Instead of focusing much on prescriptive medicine, government should support the promotion of healthy lifestyle as an important modality to ensure that citizens are healthy and have a strong immune system not only to fight a pandemic but more so in preparing them in their vital role to build better and healthier families and communities necessary for a more reliable and healthier society.