Insider Spotlight
While risk factors like hypertension, high cholesterol, poor diet and chronic stress are largely preventable, experts warn that emotional stress also plays a significant role in heart health.
Studies show that creative activities like painting and drawing can lower cortisol, ease stress and lift mood—making art a powerful ally for both mental and cardiovascular health.
Driving the news
In a fresh push for holistic wellness, Watsons Philippines launched #heARTworks, a program blending art and heart health. Held Sept.18 at drybrush Gallery in SM Mall of Asia, the event featured an oil pastel workshop led by master artist Noli Española, alongside free blood pressure and glucose checks at the nearby Watsons MOA 7 store.
“We want people to see that wellness goes beyond prescriptions. Through #heARTworks, we are making health check-ups more accessible and more meaningful. We’re creating a space where care and creativity meet, a place where people can pause, reflect, and recommit to themselves,’’ said Joweeh B. Liao, director of Health Business Unit, Finance, Property, and Store Development of Watsons Philippines.
What’s Next
Watsons aims to make heart care both physical and emotional. “Today shows us that when we care for our health and nurture our creativity, we not only feel better inside, but we also share that light with the people around us. This is what it truly means to Look Good, Do Good, and Feel Great,” said Sharon Decapia, senior assistant vice president for marketing, PR and sustainability of Watsons Philippines.
The initiative underscores a rising movement: merging medical checks with creative expression to fight the nation’s No. 1 killer. —Ed: Vanessa Hidalgo
