UP CAMP Strengthens Community Engagement Through Makati Senior Citizens’ Wellness Fair

Makati City, Philippines – The University of the Philippines Manila College of Allied Medical Professions (UPM-CAMP) actively participated in the Makati Senior Citizens’ Wellness Fair held at the Brgy. Valenzuela Sports Complex on March 7, 2025. The event, a collaborative effort with the Makati City Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO), the Makati Office of Senior Citizen Affairs (OSCA), and the United Senior Citizens of Makati, marked the first initiative stemming from a newly forged partnership between UPM-CAMP and the City Government of Makati.

Bringing together faculty, students, staff and alumni from occupational therapy (OT), physical therapy (PT), speech and language pathology (SLP), and clinical audiology, the program aimed to promote healthy aging and enhance access to rehabilitation services for the city’s elderly population.

In her address, CAMP Dean Mia Rotor emphasized the college’s commitment to public service and community health. “CAMP is committed to provide excellent service that is data driven and designed to improve quality of life and promote health and well-being to the Filipino,” she stated, highlighting one of the unit’s strategic goals to expand its societal impact.

With over 100 senior citizens from Makati’s 33 barangays in attendance, the wellness fair featured interactive booths offering fall risk assessments, cognitive screenings, technology education, wheelchair adjustments, and leisure activities facilitated by CAMP students and faculty. Additionally, hearing screenings were made possible through the support of Manila Hearing Aid, which provided a mobile hearing screening van to ensure accessibility for attendees.

“This is what we do. As rehabilitation professionals, we want to make the public aware of the services that we provide,” explained Assoc. Prof. Fernando Alejandro Ligot, Head of the newly reconstituted CAMP Public Service Committee. “We’re hoping that this is the start of something expansive – not just with the Municipality of Makati but elsewhere.” The committee played a pivotal role in planning, organizing, and implementing the event alongside the Makati-based collaborators.

Ms. Benita Tanyag, OSCA Officer-in-Charge, expressed her appreciation for the initiative, noting the enthusiasm of the participants. “I have observed and seen how participative and how very much interested [the participants] were and I am hopeful that what they learned today will serve them a longer purpose. As members of the organization, the United Senior Citizens of Makati, they will be able to share with their fellow senior citizens the knowledge that they have gained from this experience.”

According to the 2020 Census, Makati has an aging population of over 37,000 senior citizens aged 65 and above, emphasizing the growing need for accessible and community-driven health initiatives. With the success of this wellness fair, UPM-CAMP and its partners are set to explore further opportunities to advocate for active aging and holistic well-being in the years to come.