Reflections on Ma’am Angie’s “Secrets” in Reaching 100

( Kindly read previous post to better understand this.)

1. No wonder less than .01% of the world’s population reaches 100. Almost all husbands either womanize, drink, or smoke.

2. My dear parents always argued in front of me. Tatay passed away at 88. Nanay is presently 91.

3. I moisturize Nanay’s face everyday but I seldom moisturize mine huhuhu… I remember watching Dr. Vicky Belo in one of her interviews. She said there are only 3 ways to maintain a young-looking face: “ #1. Moisturize #2. Moisturize and #3. Moisturize.”

4. Ma’am Angie is now in a wheelchair caused by 2 previous falls. Hoping that I could prevent falls by practicing YOGA. I do it every Monday with my son Gio and daughter Eia. Ma’am Angie used to take brisk walks everyday. I don’t run everyday. Only 3-4 times a week to accommodate Strength Training and Zumba in my weekly schedule. 

5. I also take 2 liters of water everyday but not warm. It is either ice-cold or iced water from the freezer.

6. My mother loved reading books but stopped around 10 years ago. She has Alzheimer’s now. At 100, Ma’am Angie is still reading books and newspapers. Her daughter Mimi and I plan to regularly read books like Ma’am Angie.

7. It is not easy to include 5 servings of fruits and vegetables everyday but I try my best to fulfill them. 

8. Ma’am Angie only eats premium fish but I eat all kinds of fish.

9. Lechon, humba and liempo are also my favorites!

10. I love to sing too but sadly, singing doesn’t love me. Ma’am Angie is blessed with angelic voice. Mine was cursed from birth.

Do you think you’ll reach 100 without Alzheimer’s like Ma’am Angie?

Ma’am Angie’s Take on Reaching 100

 We celebrated Ma’am Angie’s 100th birthday yesterday. In a nutshell, these were her revelations:

1. She was blessed with a husband who did not womanize, drink nor smoke.

2. She and her husband did not argue in front of their children.

3. She moisturizes every morning and before bed and sunblock in between.

4. She used to take brisk walks everyday before she slipped in the bathroom. 

5. She drinks 2 liters of warm water everyday.

6. She regularly reads books.

7. She eats fruits and vegetables.

8. She does not eat fish except pampano, lapulapu and salmon.

9. Her favorites are lechon, humba, liempo  (Mine too!) heheheh . . .

10. She loves to sing. She sang 3 songs with her walking buddy in the party. She memorized all 3 songs while her friend was holding a cheat sheet. Amazing!

Tribute to Ma’am Angie, Turning 100 Today!

Less than .01% of the world’s population reaches the age of 100. Ma’am Angie, CONGRATULATIONS for belonging to this extraordinary Club of Centenarians!

I salute you. You have survived the Great Depression, the Second World War, the Philippine, Asian, and Global Financial Crises, the Covid-19 Pandemic, the tragic death of Nora Aunor . . .

May you stay as vibrant, influential, articulate as you were before as the Regent of Daughters of Isabella, our adviser in Koronadal Pilot Elem. School, professor in American and English Literature at Notre Dame of Marbel College.

Thank you for igniting our passion for books, love for learning, and zest for life.

May you find true joy and happiness embracing God’s unpredictable plan in this millennium.

May your mind, body, heart and spirit be at peace—now and forever.

I love you, Ma’am Angie!

Is Your Mind in Remarkable Shape? (#8)

According to Jordan Cooper: “If you’re over 65 and can still remember these 12 life events, your mind is in remarkable shape.”

We have tackled the 7 life events in previous posts. We are now in #8: A TEST OR CREDENTIAL THAT MATTERED

“Exam room, pencil type, the question you wrestled the longest. High-stakes tests glue themselves to memory because your arousal system tells your brain, ‘Keep this.’ If you recall the proctor’s shoes, the clock’s tick, and the relief in your chest as you walked out, your recall system is precise and well-indexed. I’ve mentioned this before but accuracy under stress is a classic marker of cognitive fitness.”

Back in 1975, the graduating high school students had to pass the National College Entrance Exam (NCEE) to be eligible for College admission.

There I was, seated beside the window, nurturing the wind blowing my hair like I was in a shampoo commercial. While trying to fix my hair as gorgeous models normally do, a strong gust of wind suddenly blew my test paper away! It flew out of the window and landed on the roof near our room.

My first impulse was to go after it but the proctor directed me to ask for help from a UE staff. I dashed from the third floor to the ground floor and looked for the janitor on duty. After searching for ages, Manong ran with me upstairs and stepped out to the roof to retrieve my test paper. We both saw my test paper dancing in the air and landing on the roof of the adjacent building. I could not just stand there and watch my test paper disappear from my sight so I hurriedly joined Manong as we chased after my test paper together!

At that instance, how I wished I was just having a bad dream. I could feel my heart pumping as if an elephant was stomping its feet on it. I almost peed on my cycling shorts! My hands were trembling like I was having a tremor attack. Even my legs were shaking. Then I cried out with all my might “Lord, please stop the wind and let me have my test paper back and let me finish the Exam on time!” Before I could even finish my prayer, there was calmness in the air. I swear I heard His voice “have faith.”

It felt  like I was in a trance when I walked back in the room holding my runaway test paper. I breathed deeply then hastily answered the NCEE questions with my Mongol pencil #2. I already finished SVR (Symbolic and Verbal Relations) and Abstract Reasoning so I proceeded to English, then Mathematics and lastly, Science—my waterloo. Through all these I was reading the questions as fast as I could. And since I knew I won’t have time to review my answers, I did not leave any number blank. When we finally heard the proctor’s Alarm signifying the end of the Exam, I almost collapsed on the floor totally exhausted to the bone.

Back at the dorm, my roommates almost died laughing after hearing my surreal story!

To be continued . . .

Is Your Mind in Remarkable Shape? (#7)

According to Jordan Cooper: “If you are over 65 and can still remember these 12 life events, your mind is in remarkable shape.”

We have tackled half of the events in previous posts. We are now in #7: A CREATIVE FIRST

“The first time you performed, sold a painting, published a post, nailed a recipe without peeking. If you can recall the room, who was there, the specific feedback you got, and the bodily sensation afterward—buzzing hands, quiet pride—you’re demonstrating a healthy loop between memory and motivation. Creative ‘wins’ become beacons your brain uses to guide you forward. If you can still see that stage or smell that studio? Chef’s kiss.”

My very first performance was not done inside a room but on stage in front of the Koronadal Pilot Elementary Sch. students in an open field surrounded by flower gardens and vegetable plots. There was a program after the Flag Ceremony and I was one of the 2 participants. I delivered a Filipino declamation while the other one rendered a song. She was quite small but had a very powerful voice that could break glasses and mirrors.

The feedback that stuck in my mind was the consensus of the teachers that I could replace the school’s Filipino Declamation prodigee who was about to graduate that year. I felt a great sense of pride because I was only in Grade 1 then.

My intensive training started that year. The following year and every year thereafter until I graduated from Elementary, I represented KPES in every Filipino Declamation contest in the region. I won most of the time but oddly, I always lost whenever Nanay accompanied me. This would cause unecessary debate between my parents. But then again, Tatay and Nanay would argue on anything and everything under the sun. That’s why their marriage only lasted for 55 years.

To be continued . . .

Is Your Mind in Remarkable Shape? (#6)

According to Jordan Cooper: “If you’re over 65 and can still remember these 12 life events, your mind is in remarkable shape.” 

We have tackled the 5 life events in the previous posts. We are now in #6: A NATIONAL OR GLOBAL MOMENT AND WHERE YOU WERE

“The ‘Where were you when…?’ question. If you can place yourself—kitchen radio, dorm lounge, the passenger seat at a red light—your temporal and contextual memory are in sync. You don’t need to remember the date; remembering YOUR POSITION in the world when history knocked is the magic.”

I do remember the dates so here goes:

Feb 21, 1986: With all my thesis drafts rejected one after another, I decided to take an indefinite break in Pampanga. I brought my files/folders with me and left CRC.

Feb. 22, 1986: I was enjoying my swim alone in the pool, oblivious of an ongoing Press Conference in Camp Aguinaldo that would change the course of Philippine History.

Feb. 23, 1986: After a refreshing sleep, I woke up hearing the voices of PC Chief Fidel V Ramos and Defense Minister Jesus P Enrile over the radio. For a while I thought I was still asleep and only dreaming that a civil war was about to erupt in the country. Both of them defected from the Marcos Cabinet and pleaded for help from the innocent civilians to support them. What followed was the appeal of Cardinal Sin for the people to unite and go to Camp Aguinaldo and Camp Crame to protect those who turned their backs from the Marcos Administration. Hundreds of thousands of unarmed Filipinos heeded the call and flocked to EDSA (Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue). Armor trucks of Marcos followers were stopped by civilians by offering them food and drinks instead of bombarding them with bullets. Nuns led the rosary brigades in front of the terrifying tanks.

Feb. 24, 1986: I was jolted by the commanding voice of my father to lift my butt up my bed and join the demonstrations happening in Metro Manila. I knew he wouldn’t stop nagging me with his piercing words “what would you say to your grandchild someday when he asks you where were you during the EDSA REVOLUTION?” After breakfast, I left with my knapsack filled with water and assorted snacks because I knew the bus would be taking the longest route back to Pasig. NLEX (North Luzon EXpressway) was locked down to prevent the Marcos loyalists to enter Metro Manila.

As expected, it was almost dark when I arrived in CRC. My friends couldn’t believe I managed to sneak in from Pampanga to Pasig. I just matter-of-factly told them “if there’s a will, there’s a way.” We had a quick dinner then proceeded to Camp Atienza where we kept vigil. It was the only remaining military camp that has not yet joined the Opposition. 

Feb. 25, 1986: At the crack of dawn, military troops from Camp Atienza marched their way towards the gate to unite with the waiting civilians. It was a festive moment! Men in uniform and ordinary citizens hugging and embracing each other. We were crying and laughing at the same time.

I was in Libis, Quezon City during the triumph of the People Power Revolution. Democracy was restored in the Philippines without any casualty. This national phenomenon eventually became a global sensation. Filipinos showed the world that a non-violent Revolution is possible to end a 20-year Dictatorship.

To be continued . . .

Is Your Mind in Remarkable Shape? (#5)

According to Jordan Cooper: “If you’re over 65 and can still remember these 12 life events, your mind is in remarkable shape.” 

We have tackled the 4 life events in previous posts. We are now in #5: A DIFFICULT GOODBYE

“We don’t love these memories but we keep them. If you can recall the chair you sat in, who held your hand, what the doctor said, or the exact way the room smelled, it means your mind preserved the feelings and the facts. That’s emotional granularity—being able to name experiences precisely. It’s protective, not punishing. And yes, being able to talk about it without getting lost is a strong sign of cognitive resilience.”

 November 4, 2012 @ 9:00 AM: We were sitting at our bar stools when Tatay’s geriatrician calmly announced :“Be ready for the inevitable. Expect Tatay to be gone anytime today. Do your best to make his remaining hours comfortable and happy.” Nanay, Ate Ella and I held each other’s hands while trying to hold back our tears. My immediate reaction was:  “Nanay, please do not argue with Tatay anymore. For once, just agree with him OK?”

I hurriedly called Ate Mel (my ‘adopted’ sister) in Pampanga to go to Las Piñas right away. Then I called Tatay’s remaining sisters—Ate Deliang in Sta. Cecilia Village and Ate Bella in Naic, Cavite. Next, his cousins, nephews and nieces close to him living near and far. Then his friends within Philamlife Village and in other subdivisions.

From 10:00 AM until 7:00 PM Tatay was visited by his friends and relatives close to him. Luckily, they came in batches and not at the same time. For a while, I desperately hoped that Dra. Joy made the wrong prognosis. My father was welcoming his visitors with heightened vigor and enthusiasm. He was even telling anecdotes and laughing with them! When my cousin Dennis came and introduced his girlfriend who has a twin sister, Tatay jokingly said “it’s good you don’t make the mistake of choosing the wrong girlfriend.”

The last to arrive was the Special Minister of the Eucharist who gave my father Holy Communion. When he left, I fed Tatay his dinner. That’s when he told me that his only remaining wish was for me to be beside him when he finally breathe his last. I assured him that I would certainly make his dream come true. Then I asked him if we could still leave and attend the 8:30 PM Sunday Mass. He urged us to go so we could pray for him.

Thank God we returned home just in time to exchange our heartbreaking goodbyes.

To be continued . . .