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 . . .

Goodbye My Dearest Ultra

Given the sporadic nature of my present duties for Nanay, Gio, Eia and our household, my ultimate dream of running the 100k Ultramarathon has to be shelved for now. I just wish that when the right time comes, my aging body could still endure the demands of its gruelling training schedule. If by God’s grace I do make it, I will probably be the first Filipina to run 100k at 100 heheheh . . 

Running will still be the star of my weekly regimen but focus will be on speed rather than distance. This is in coherence with my current availability constraint. I no longer have the luxury of running for endless hours. Hence, my new training schedule would be:

Monday: YOGA with Gio and Eia

Tuesday:  Easy Run

Wednesday: Strength Training 

Thursday: Tempo Run/Speed Interval Workout

Friday: Strength Training (Groceries/Marketing)

Saturday: Zumba with Eia and our neighbor Annie

Sunday: Long Run with Hills

Goodbye my dearest Ultra. I will always keep you in my heart, now and forever. Hoping that someday, you and I will finally be together.

Is Your Mind in Remarkable Shape? (#4)

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 3 life events in previous posts. We are now in #4: YOUR WEDDING DAY OR A CELEBRATION THAT CHANGED YOUR CIRCLE

“Maybe it wasn’t a wedding. Maybe it was the day a new grandchild arrived, or a reunion where everyone finally came home. If you can recall the song, the toast, the way someone’s voice cracked at the end of a sentence, you’re showing off your brain’s ability to bind PEOPLE + EMOTION + PLACE into one durable file. Bonus points if you remember what went wrong (there’s always something) and how folks rallied.”

January 25, 1997: Friends and relatives came from near and far to witness the Once-In-A-Lifetime Event that nobody thought possible—my wedding! It was like a Grand Reunion like no other. Normally, the death of a dearly beloved brings members of the family and long-lost friends together in the wake. In this case however, I was still breathing and very much alive.

I will start with what went wrong. The invitation specified 3:30 PM. At 4 PM, my “Prince Charming” called me. He sounded very nervous. He asked me why I was still home. The church was already filled with guests he didn’t know. Quite understandable because out of the 250 guests, he only had 25.

A few days before the wedding, we had  a terrible fight. At the height of my rage and anger, I called the wedding off. After all the hullabalou, we reconciled but a reasonable doubt clouded my mind. So I instructed him to go the Parish Office as soon as he arrived at the church and call me. I wanted to be sure that he was already there when I show up in my eye-popping body-hugging wedding dress.

Apparently, he forgot about our deal. He thought I changed my mind of marrying him because I was never late of our scheduled appointments. When the official photographer knew that we were finally leaving, he summoned the parents of the bride. That’s when I realized that Tatay already left ahead of us. Nanay told me he was excited to entertain his own set of friends in the church. So Tatay was missing in the video and photoshoot of his only daughter’s pre-wedding documentation.

I requested our accompanist/vocalist to sing “Sa Iyo Lamang” as our Wedding Song. Back then, I didn’t know that it was actually a Funeral Song.

Both my husband’s father and mother cried a river during the wedding. I vividly remember his mother talking to Nanay in between sobs with her trembling voice “siya ang pinakamabait sa mga anak ko.”  (He is the nicest among my children)  His father was also talking to Tatay with the same exact words in his own cracked voice. Can somebody enlighten me why the parents of the groom were the ones weeping and not the parents of the bride? 

In the wedding reception, my godson Macky and I belted out Bon Jovi’s tear-jerking song “I’ll be there for you”. Thank God my son Gio was not yet alive during that tine.  Otherwise, he would have hidden himself under the table until everybody was gone. But of course, the guests didn’t mind. They saw how happy I was that a little damage to their eardrums won’t hurt that much.

To be continued . . .

Is Your Mind in Remarkable Shape? (#3)

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 #1 and #2 life events in previous posts. We are now in #3: A MAJOR MOVE

“Moves burn into memory because they force your brain to remap daily life. If you can remember the exact street, apartment number, first neighbor you met, and how the light fell in the kitchen at 5 p.m., your spatial and autobiographical systems are high-functioning teammates.”

I have moved countless times in my life. Some were major moves and a lot of minor ones in between. 

For once and for all, I want to seal the exact number of times I moved in the past. Bear with me as I run through Memory Lane to feed my burning curiosity. 

Here goes:

1. When I was 6, we transferred from Dizon Apartment to our very first home along Gen, Santos Drive, Marbel, South Cotabato. Bombit Gabaldon was the first neighbor I met—also my first Crush heheheh . . . Though we studied at different schools, we became close as playmates. Our house had lots of windows. At 5 PM, our kitchen was still well-lighted by the natural beams of sunlight.

2. During the summer of 1973, I transferred to Imang Bayang’s apartment at Leveriza St, Malate Manila. It was right in front of San Andres Market. Our neighbors there were members of the generational gang wars which were prevalent during those time. I thought Imang Bayang was joking when she warned me to watch out for stray arrows while walking along Leveriza St. for I could be in the middle of a messy gang war. When I saw the people around me suddenly got down to avoid being hit by stray arrows, I did realize gang wars were real so I hurriedly laid flat on the ground to protect myself!

3. When classes started, I resided in Holy Spirit Dorm at 790 San Sebastian St.with Neneng, Nimfa, Menchu, Leah, Haida and Ningning. It was just in front of University of the East where I studied 3rd yr and 4th yr High School.

4. After high school graduation, I brought my things back to Leveriza.

5. From Leveriza, I moved to UP Kalayaan Residence Hall in Diliman, Quezon City in 1975. We were the first residents of this Co-Ed Dorm for Freshmen. The first neighbor I met was Elsa. Though we were both from Marbel, our paths did not cross before because she studied in Notre Dame while I studied in public schools prior to UE HS. But we became so close that she is now my son’s godmother.

6. After my Freshman year, I brought my things back to Leveriza.

7. From Leveriza, I moved to 37-C Tomas Morato Avenue, Quezon City in 1976 with the de Jesus siblings. They were family friends from Marbel. Ate Baby and I shared the same room and the boys (Abet, Jojo and Peter) stayed in the other room. Sometimes, Kuya Ato visited when he had free time. Their other siblings Vic, Ondet and Detdet from UP LB usually spent  weekends with us.

8. In 1977, Tatay and Nanay finally left Marbel to join their only daughter. From Tomas Morato, I excitedly moved to our new home in Philamlife Village. The first neighbors I met were mother and son Vicky and Ariel. Vicky was a Voice Teacher so every morning, her playing scales on the piano and vocalization with her son prompted my day instead of the rooster’s cock-a-doodle-doo at dawn.

9. Before settling in our new home, Nanay and I returned to Marbel to tie loose ends. Philamlife bought our property there so we had to clear the whole house. We had a Garage Sale of the things we wanted to dispose. Some were just given away. Those furnitures and other items we loved so much travelled with us on the same ship that we rode from GenSan to Manila. From Manila, we hired a Lipat Bahay Truck to bring them to Philamlife Village.

10. I was away from my parents for 4 years so even though it was time consuming, I commuted from Las Piñas City to UP Diliman Quezon City and back to be with them. During my final year however, my undergraduate thesis needed undivided attention so I decided to stay in Molave Hall, a dormitory inside UP Campus.

11. From Molave Hall, I immediately went back to Philamlife Village after my gruelling Thesis Defense.

12. After graduation, I took a looong vacation then joined the Soft Drinks Division of SMC in 1980 where I initially clocked from 7 AM to 7 PM. It was exhausting to commute after working for 12 hours so I moved to a Room for Rent near my office in Makati.

13. From Makati, I moved back to Philamlife Village when my new charismatic Boss designated an official driver for me. He actually talked to my father and asked his permission if I could regularly work overtime. He assured Tatay that a driver will always bring me home every night. 

14. In 1983, I moved in with my 4 classmates in CRC (Center for Research and Communication) to an apartment in Bo.Kapitolyo, Pasig City. We were the first batch of female qualifiers for the Work and Study Scholarship Program in MS Industrial Economics.

15. When Vins, Tess and Grace returned to their homes, Gay and I rented a room near Pasig City Hall but only for a while. The owner’s ferocious dog bit me so we scouted around for a new place to stay.

16. After a few months, Gay and I transferred to a studio-type room in San Antonio Subd, very near CRC. Then she got married and left for the States so I was left alone. 

17. In 1986, some friends and I put up a corporation and opened a restaurant in Ermita, Manila. That’s when I moved to an apartment at Vito Cruz St.

18. I moved back to Philamlife Village when we closed the restaurant. My childhood dream was to make clothes so I went to a Fashion School and started a garments shop in our garage.

19. From our garage in Philamlife Village, I transferred my sewing equipments to a commercial space fronting PLDT in Talon. That was 1989.

20.  In 1990, we moved to a place with 2 bedrooms to house the stay-in sewers and staff. It was in front of Southland Homes.

21. In 1991, we moved to a house inside BF Resort Village.

22. In 1992, we moved to a house near Christ the King Church.

23. In 1993, we moved to San Isidro Subd. where I rented 2 apartments. One was for the Shop and the other one for the living quarters of sewers and staff.

24. When I got married in January 1997, my then husband took over the management of my garments business in August and we moved to a 3-storey building near CAA shortly after I gave birth to Gio.

25. In 1998, we transferred to a big residential house in Airmen’s Village and converted it into a factory with housing of stay-in sewers and staff.

26. In 1999, while pregnant with Eia, we transferred to an even bigger building along CAA Road. Back then, we had 45 workers.

27. Gio was in Nursery when we transferred residence to an apartment in Sta. Cecilia Village.

28. From Sta. Cecilia Village, we moved back to Philamlife Village but we transferred our things from the apartment to the Auto Repair Shop that we recently opened. Being a mechanic, it was my Ex-husband’s dream and my mother was generous enough to support him financially.

When my EX and I parted ways in 2002, I did not bring anything with me from the Garments Factory and neither from the Auto Repair shop.. I left everything behind without looking back. I regarded the material things I lost as the price I had to pay to regain my freedom.

So all in all, I moved 28 times since I was 6 years old. My parents told me that we changed residence twice before settling in Dizon Apartment. That means I moved 30 times from the time I was born to the time my heart died for my husband.

Thanks to Jordan Cooper’s article, my curiosity was ignited and my memory stretched. I now know the exact number of times I moved.

Do you?

To be continued . . .

Postscript to #2: The Day I Learned to Drive

In my previous post, you learned that I was only 10 when I received my first driving lesson from my dear father in my hometown Marbel, South Cotabato. Through the succeeding years, Tatay would bring me to vast vacant lots where I could hone my driving skills.

Fast forward when it was crucial for me to use a delivery van in Metro Manila for my garments subcontracting business. Nanay would only allow me to drive if I formally enrolled in a Driving School. For her, Tatay was a reckless driver. She did not trust him to have taught me the right way to drive. She believed that the only way to learn proper driving was from a reputable Driving School. To further convince me, she hinted that she would shoulder the Tuition Fee if I did enroll.

Just to ease my mother’s mind (plus the fact that she was the one paying heheheh…), I enrolled in a 5-day Driving Course complete with 5 weekend classroom teaching of Trouble Shooting. 

Before we started our first lesson, my arrogant instructor warned me that every time the engine accidentally stops due to my negligence, I would pay him a bottle of Coke. I asked him if there was ever a student who escaped this punishment and he boastfully replied none so far.

And so it began. With Angela Bofill’s song “Break it to me gently” vibrating in the air, I maneuvered the Driving School’s car with the glaring caption “STUDENT DRIVER” plastered on its front, sides and back. I followed my teacher’s instruction to signal right or left whenever we turned. On our first day, we just circled around the block of Manuela Commercial Complex, the mall right outside our Village. We reached 1 hour without any mishap. Hence, no Coke for him.

On our second day, we explored the very narrow street of CAA. The road was slippery, muddy and filled with humongous potholes. There we encountered all possible forms of transportation you can only find in the Philippines. Pedestrian lanes were non-existent. People crossed the street from anywhere to everywhere anytime without any qualms whatsoever. I bet he was waiting for me to break down but I maintained my composure. Again, no Coke for him.

On our third day, we drove to Alabang. There, we practiced ascending/descending hills and entering/exiting different parking space locations. He intentionally asked me to stop while backing up a slope, expecting that it would rattle me but I did not flinch. For 3 consecutive days, I did not owe him any Coke.

On our fourth day, we entered the EXPRESSWAY. That was the time to drive really fast or the other motorists would throw matchsticks at you if you were moving like a turtle. I remember catching a glimpse of him gripping tightly on the upper bar as if his life depended on it. He probably thought it would be the end of him. He must be totally relieved when we finally returned to the Driving School in 1 piece. That’s when he announced that I no longer need to report the next day. He rationalized that I already finished the 5-day Course in 4 days. He also commented that he couldn’t fathom why I bothered to enroll in the first place.

My, my, my. And I was even planning to treat him for lunch with Coke on our fifth day! Oh well, some things were just not meant to be.

Is Your Mind in Remarkable Shape? (#2)

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

We tackled #1 in previous post. We are now in #2: THE DAY YOU LEARNED TO DRIVE

“Parallel parking on a hill. White knuckles. The instructor with the peppermint breath. Vivid recall here blends motor memory with context: the route you took, the song on the radio, the one instruction you still hear when you back up (“turn the wheel toward the curb”). If those details snap into place when asked, it’s a quiet sign your brain tags emotional learning and keeps it accessible.”

I will never forget my first driving lesson.  I was only 10 then.

Tatay and I were waiting for Nanay in the car for our Sunday Mass. Out of the blue, Tatay instructed me to sit in front and watch him turn on the ignition. Then we switched places. When I successfully turned on the ignition, he showed me how to  manually back up. Our house was located at the farthest end of a 750-sq m. lot so our perimeter gate was about 400 m from our garage. While some people are finding it hard to back up, it became my forte for obvious reason.

The radio was not on because Tatay was giving me a lecture on basic driving course. Besides, even if the radio was on, it would be inaudible because of Tatay’s loud voice which became even louder when I almost hit our still closed gate and he shouted “BRAKE!”.  Thank God I did not panic and hit the brake in the nick of time.

I survived my first driving lesson. 57 years ago!

To be continued . . .

Postscript To #1: My First Real Job

In my previous post, you discovered that my first real job was at the Soft Drinks Division of San Miguel Corp in 1980. While working there as Market Analyst, I was juggling several informal side hustles.

Makati Sales Office had a total of 150 personnel including the contractual sales truck helpers. All men except our Manager’s Secretary, the Nurse, and me. 

The Secretary and I shared the same filing cabinet. On the first drawer was her files. On the second was her belts for sale. On the third were my files and at the fourth were my PANTS FOR SALE. The last drawer contained pure Cacao Tablea from Kablon Farms. 

Name it—Levi’s, Wrangler, Jordache, Gloria Vanderbilt, etc. I’ve got it. The men just told me their preferred brand and their sizes.  They also ordered for their wives, mistresses, sons and daughters. I then relayed the specifications to my Ate Alma (Nanay’s youngest sister) and she delivered my orders once a week. I paid her the full amount in cash while my buyers paid me in 2 installments—on the 15th and 30th. We called this arrangement 2 GIVES. My aunt charged me ₱100 per pair of pants. I sold them for ₱180 each. 

Every payday, I would give the Payroll Master the list of my customers’ names with the corresponding amount to be deducted from their payroll. He would set aside this in an envelope and hand the payment to me. This way, I didn’t have to run after anyone. No sweat.

We all received our allowances on the 5th day of the month. Some of the men were already struggling on the 3rd. They would ask me to buy their allowance for ₱100. Then on the 5th, the Payroll Master handed me their ₱130 allowance.

SMC provided us with free sack of rice every month. My room would be filled of sacks of rice during giving day. Some of the men sold me their sacks of rice for ₱85. Then after office hours, outsiders were allowed to buy sacks of rice from me. I would sell them for ₱130 per sack.

Kablon Farms was (it still is) being managed by my friend Jun Pantua. He supplied me with Pure Cacao Tablea and I sold them in our Office and to some restaurant owners.

Lastly, Tatay’s friend who was migrating to the US sold me his Dodge Coronet 440 for ₱5,000. When my uncle saw it, he instantly fell in love with it. According to him, that was the kind of car fancied by tourists from Saudi Arabia. Long, hard, stable and spacious. He offered to rent my car for ₱2,000 a month, net of all expenses. Without even thinking, I immediately said YES!

Is Your Mind In Remarkable Shape? (#1)

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

What are these 12 life events? Let us look at #1: YOUR FIRST REAL JOB

“Not the lawn-mowing hustle. The first PAY-STUB job. If you can still name your Boss, the breakroom smell, the color of the timecard, and exactly how that first paycheck felt in your palm, your episodic memory is doing excellemt work. That level of detail means you didn’t just store the fact—you stored the SCENE. Ask yourself: do you remember what you bought with that first check? The more specific you get, the more impressive the circuitry.”

My first real job was at the Soft Drinks Division of San Miguel Corp. as Market Analyst. That was in 1980. My Boss was the enigmatic W.W. We did not have a regular breakroom but a cozy canteen which was always oozing with the aroma of the delicious food being offered for the day by our amiable concessionaire. Our timecard was pale yellow in color. Our paycheck was in brown envelope which included bills and coins.

When I first received my paycheck, I kissed it like it were my baby and tucked it in my heart while time stood still. Then I excitedly approached the dashing Route Salesman whose voice was sexier than Neil Diamond whenever he sang “September Morn”. He was responsible for the area around San Andres Market, famous for its vast selection of local and exotic fruits. I handed him my paycheck and requested him to buy the tastiest DURIAN he could possibly find. He would know because he was a native of Zamboanga. People there are inherently experts in classifying durian. And I wasn’t disappointed. The durians he selected were beyond heavenly that they completely blew my mind away!

For once my father and mother both agreed with me that the durians were indeed to die for.

To be continued . . .

A Whole New World With Nanay’s Alzheimer’s (Part 11-H)

Back when Slimmers World Philippines in Alabang offered an insanely promotional sale of ₱6,000 Lifetime Membership Fee, we rushed to its Branch. During that time, Nanay’s weight ballooned from 99 lbs to 114 lbs. Well, she transferred from Marbel, South Cotabato to Pampanga—the Food Capital of the Phils. Gaining weight was inevitable.

The Nutritionist assured Nanay that she will lose 6 lbs at the very least so she registered right away. Then looking at me, she offered a customized program that would make my stomach flatter. I refused. I honestly felt my stomach was flat enough. 

Nanay convinced me to register for a Lifetime Membership as well and she would pay for the both of us. I dunno why in the world did I turn her down. Maybe because I had so much confidence in myself that I can very well manage my weight. Even then, I should have said YES!

Up to this day, I still regret that decision. How did I not foresee that skinny me would gain 25 lbs in the future? I was in love with food. Crazy that I overlook that fact.

At her prime, Nanay religiously visited the gym for group aerobics and strengthening exercises and nutritional advice. She also availed of its facial services.

It is ironic that Nanay doesn’t need any of those now. She is at present 85 lbs without even trying. She barely eats and hardly moves. 

If only the Lifetime Gym Membership were transferable from mother to daughter!

Sigh . . .

A Whole New World With Nanay’s Alzheimer’s (Part 11-G)

It was December  of 1973. My very first time to go home since I transferred from Marbel to Manila. Will be spending my 2-week Christmas Break with my dear Tatay and Nanay. In my excitement to buy Christmas decors, food, and gifts, I realized too late that I already spent all my money! 

Before I could even think of a solution to my problem, my aunt/guardian told me she and my uncle will fetch me at my Dorm and bring me to the airport. Bless them! I didn’t have to worry about my transportation expense anymore. I already had the airline ticket so no need to worry. 

Or so I thought. 

The plane landed in Davao City. Nanay was supposed to be there waiting for me. We will ride the bus going to Dadiangas (now GenSan) then ride another bus going to Marbel. 

Guess what? There was no sign of Nanay among the people waiting in the Lobby. Instead, there was a number of fellow kababayans (townmates) who were shrieking like they won the loterry upon seeing me. I had no idea why my presence made them so happy. It turned out that they were stranded in Davao City because they already spent all their money so they couldn’t leave the airport anymore. They were waiting for a fellow kababayan whom they can borrow money from. And they thought I had money to lend them so they were jumping with joy! 

You can just imagine how disappointed they were when they learned that we shared the same fate. Our only hope was my dear mother who was nowhere in sight.

So there we were, exhausted like refugees in an Evacuation Camp, wondering if we will ever be rescued. After waiting like eternity, Nanay suddenly appeared. Everybody at my left and right rushed to her and enveloped her. They were crying and laughing at the same time while having a group hug. They explained their predicament to Nanay and my mother generously distributed cash to each and everyone of them as if she was a representative from DSWD. They promised to pay her back in Marbel. 

After the commotion subsided, I told her I was dying of hunger so off we went to the first restaurant nearest the airport. There, I stuffed myself to my heart’s content. I was free to eat anything I want and I wasn’t the one paying heheheh…

When we finally arrived at the Bus Station, we were informed that the last trip already left. We had no choice but to stay overnight in a nearby hotel and return first thing in the morning. The following day, we received the shocking news that the last bus was ambushed at the outskirts of Davao City. We thought we were unlucky to miss the last trip but we were  actually the lucky ones!

I wondered how much money Nanay brought with her. She practically fed a small village in a manner of speaking and she still had money left! I shivered at the thought of what might have happened if she didn’t arrive to fetch me. But I was more scared thinking that we nearly lost our lives on our way home.

Nanay could no longer remember anyone from Marbel and anything that happened there. All she could remember was her being the Rural Health Midwife of Marbel.

I just hope those people whom she helped in their times of need did not forget her. And I wish they include Nanay in their prayers.

To be continued . . .

Lunch Break at 12 Midnight!

Eversince Gio accepted an online job based in the US, my schedule has been erratic. It took me weeks to get used to it but thank God I finally got the hang of it!

Gio works 9PM to 6AM with Lunch Break at 12 midnight. We would happily eat together and enjoy 1-2 episodes of The Golden Girls during his Lunch Break. Because of this, I stopped weighing myself everyday heheheh…

After dinner, I attend to Nanay’s bedtime rituals. When she gets to dreamland, I then turn my attention to Eia.  After our evening prayers, I get to sleep @10 PM then Gio wakes me up at 12 midnight.

I hit the sack again a little past 1 AM, setting the Alarm @5:30 AM to get ready for my run. But first, I join Gio for his breakfast. This is the time that he shares stories about what transpired during his 9PM - 6AM work. I don’t eat with him but just listen. He then sleeps after that and wakes up @ 2PM to have his daytime lunch. He teaches at his Piano Studio from 3PM to 9PM with Dinner Break at 7 PM.

Based on the length of Gio’s story telling in the morning, I make adjustments on what type of run I should go for. I need to adjust because I have to be back @7:30 AM to attend to Eia, then Nanay.

We requested Coach Emy to move our Yoga practice from Friday to Monday so Gio could still join us. He can wake up early on Monday because he is free from work Sunday night unless he went out on a date and slept late.

Sunday is still the perfect day for Long Run because I have a straight 6-hr sleep during Saturday night. Gio only works Monday to Friday for his US-based job.

Based on the above scenario, I should be doing the following:

Monday — YOGA

Tuesday — Speed Interval Workout or Tempo Run

Wednesday — Speed Interval Workout or Tempo Run

Thursday — Strengthening Exercise

Friday — Groceries or Marketing

Saturday — Hills Training

Sunday — Long Run

Ideally, an Easy Run follows a Long Run but I cannot do that anymore. At 67, I can no longer run and practice YOGA on the same day. If only I were 10 years younger!

A Whole New World With Nanay’s Alzheimer’s (Part 11-F)

It was 1971. My dear Tatay and Nanay asked me for my heart’s desire. They wished to reward me for being the Valedictorian in our school. I told them I wanted to see Guy and Pip (Nora Aunor and Tirso Cruz III) in the Parade of Stars during the Manila Film Festival. I thought I was asking for the moon but they just couldn’t say NO because it was gonna be in June, my birthmonth when I will be turning 13.

We positioned ourselves at the Ospital ng Maynila and waited for the incoming arrival of floats. I couldn’t remember the other stars who passed by because I was only interested in seeing Guy and Pip in the flesh. Then there it was, the float I was waiting for—right in front of me. I was screaming at the top of my voice while trying to reach the hands of my idols. We couldn’t get out of the flood of die-hard fans so we just walked beside the float until it reached Cinerama Theater along CM Recto Avenue (more than 5 kms away from Ospital ng Maynila).

We hurdled the long queue to buy tickets at the booth and luckily, we were able to sit at the middle row in the Orchestra area. It was like a Grand Picnic inside the theatre. We could hear the clinking sound of spoons and forks of the people eating in the dark while watching Guy and Pip heheheh . . .

It was a very rare occasion that both Tatay and Nanay accompanied me to watch a Nora Aunor film. I was ecstatic to say the least. However, I was sad not being able to rewatch it because Tatay insisted that we leave immediately after the first screening to fill our hungry stomachs. What a pity. Back then, we could have stayed inside the cinema from opening until closing without anyone forcing us to leave.

A lot of people surmised that Nanay named me after Nora Aunor. That’s not true at all because Ate Guy was only 5 yrs old when I was born. But Nanay was extremely elated that from poverty, Nora rose to fame as the Philippines’ first and only Superstar. Nanay kept reminding me that she did an awesome job naming me Nora. In 2022, Nora Aunor was conferred as National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts. She was regarded as the most awarded Filipino actress in history.

In a way, I was relieved that Nanay could no longer remember Nora Aunor when the latter met her untimely demise last April 16, 2025. Thank God my mother was spared of the terrible anguish and pain I went through with my idol’s passing.

During tragedies like this, having Alzheimer’s Disease is a gift.

To be continued . . .

A Whole New World With Nanay’s Alzheimer’s (Part 11-E)

Nanay was born in Pampanga but her adventurous Tatang and Ima tried their luck in South Cotabato during the Magsaysay Admistration. Back then, Mindanao was dubbed the Land of Promise because of its fertile soil and rich natural resources. They were given free land to farm and initial support to economically settle in their new dwelling.

Tatay was born in Naic, Cavite but was assigned to South Cotabato where he was promoted as Operator-In-Charge for the Bureau of Telecommunications.

Nanay easily learned to speak Ilonggo, Cebuano and Ilocano. But Tatay remained loyal to his native tongue, seeking the help of an interpreter whenever he encountered someone who couldn’t communicate in Tagalog.

They met in Marbel (now Koronadal City, the Capital of South Cotabato) when Nanay was serving as a Rural Health Midwife. Call it fate or destiny or whatever but their respective offices were just beside each other.

We were always on our toes around Tatay because he was a strict disciplinarian. If we wanted to keep secrets from him, Nanay would talk to me in Kapampangan while I respond to her in Ilonggo. We did that to confuse Tatay when we didn’t want him to understand what we were saying.

One time, I was watching TV and the 2 actors happened to be talking in Kapampangan and Ilonggo. I almost fell on my chair laughing. I didn’t realize that listening to an exchange of conversation in Kapampangan and Ilonggo could be so hilarious!

Nanay is still fluent in Kapampangan but I am now struggling to catch the meaning of her words. I am still fluent in Ilonggo but Nanay seemed oblivious to it now.

Now here’s the clinch: Just recently, Nanay shifted to English!

To be continued . . .

A Whole New World With Nanay’s Alzheimer’s (Part 11-D)

Nanay was a born dancer. She did not take any formal dancing lessons but she could sway like a pro. 

Philamlife hosts an Awards Night every year to acknowledge its top producers and Agencies. At the end of the program, several DIs (Dance Instructor) appear and choose from the crowd whom they will dance with first. I try my best to be hidden but God works in very mysterious ways. More often than not, A DI will approach me and ask me to dance. My reply has always been: “Could my mother dance with you instead?” The DI then turns to Nanay and she immediately goes to the dance floor with him. 

Year after year Nanay would tell me: “You just need to be obedient inorder to dance with a partner. Just follow what he wants you to do. Do not go against his will. The reason why you can’t follow is because you are disobedient. You are a rebel.” Well, I agree with her. I prefer dancing my own way—no rules, no inhibitions. I want to dance just the way I’d like it to be.

6 years ago, our friend Tita Cors celebrated her 90th bday in the ClubHouse. There were only 2 DIs. The first DI approached me and as usual, I directed him to Nanay. I thought I was able to escape the ordeal but heaven was making a joke on me. The second DI also approached me and I already ran out of mother to bail me out. I had no choice but to hold onto his hand while making our way to the stage. Yup. The 4 of us danced on stage!

I recalled Nanay’s words and prayed to God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit; all the angels and saints; Jesus, Mary, and St. Joseph; and to my guardian angel to help me OBEY the DI’s direction. 

I have no idea what happened next but I just followed the DI’s lead. The song finally ended and with great applause, we descended the stage with utmost grace and poise.

Last year, we celebrated Nanay’s 90th birthday. Instead of ballroom dancing, we had line dance instead. The DI was the only one on stage and Nanay was among the crowd mimicking her dance moves. Everybody was amazed that at 90, Nanay could still dance like before, but of course milder and slower.

My daughter Eia dances everyday at home. Nanay used to join her a few times a week but now, she prefers to sleep on her rocking chair than move her frail body. She completely lost her interest in dancing.

The once “Belle of the Ball” has now taken her Final Bow.

To be continued . . .

A Whole New World With Nanay’s Alzheimer’s (Part 11-C)

It was 1996, the year before Hongkong was handed over by the United Kingdom to China. It was also the year before my dear parents formally handed me to my supposedly Prince Charming in my dream wedding. Now you know why it was etched in my memory.

We were part of the large Philamlife group tour in Hongkong. I was still in the Garments business  at that time but Nanay was entitled for 2 slots so as her only daughter, I excitedly tagged along.

At 38, I felt like a child again dragging my 62-yr old mother to the most exhilerating rides in Ocean Park. She gladly accompanied me. She happily obliged without any objection. 

We were queuing for nearly 2 hours at the roller coaster ride when we were informed by our Tourist Guide to join the others in the Ocean Theatre for the dolphin and sea lion show. I told Nanay she could just leave me there but she reminded me that we should comply with the itinerary of the Group Tour. Heartbroken, I left the queue and went with her. For me, the roller coaster ride of any theme park was the highlight of my thrilling adventure so you can just imagine my frusttation and disappointment.

I was still bickering while watching the marine mammals show and hearing the screams of the roller coaster riders when we saw the roller coaster suddenly stopped. We heard the announcement that there was a technical problem that needed to be resolved. Nanay couldn’t stop thanking the heavens that we followed protocol. Otherwise, I would be up there fearing for my life in mid air until God knows when.

Sometimes I wonder if I was indeed Nanay’s daughter. She was very obedient while I am a rebel. She was astoundingly diplomatic when she wanted anyone to hear her side of the story while I am brutally frank. She could reprimand someone in the gentlest manner possible while I can be ruthless.

Our current situation is a completely different scenario. I can no longer drag Nanay anywhere, not even to the park or nearby Supermarket. She vehemently defies Doctor’s orders to eat well, play games which stimulate the mind, engage in mild exercise and walk for a few minutes everyday. Whenever I ask her to stand from her rocking chair, she would instantly say “I don’t want”. In fact, that is what she always say whatever it is that I want her to do, like a broken record.

The world’s once most obedient woman is now a rebel just like her only daughter. And I thought we did not share the same blood!

To be continued . . .

A Whole New World With Nanay’s Alzheimer’s (Part 11-B)

A native of Marbel, South Cotabato, I was barely 15 when I moved to Manila and temporarily resided at the Holy Spirt Ladies Dormitory along San Sebastian St. It was just across UE Claro M Recto where I finished High School.

When Nanay is summoned to attend a Conference in Manila, she would squeeze herself in my single bed instead of enjoying the luxury of hotel amenities provided by Philamlife. We would watch a movie together and eat out.

There was a Chinese Restaurant beside Ever Gotesco theatre and so we decided to have dinner there after watching a movie. We did not see each other for months so we had so many stories to share (that was 1973-1975 so no mobile phones yet). We were literally shocked when we accidentally found out that we were the only customers left, the waitresses and staff were half-asleep, the floor sparkling clean and all the chairs were already arranged on top of the tables. They were just waiting for Nanay and me to finish. So we hurriedly got the receipt and Nanay had to leave a hefty tip to compensate for their extended time.

That was then. We could talk for hours non-stop. Nanay never ran out of stories. She would talk and talk as if she swallowed a talking gadget. I terribly miss those days . . .

To be continued . . .

A Whole New World With Nanay’s Alzheimer’s (Part 11-A)

In our family, Nanay took the role of the breadwinner and Tatay took the responsibility of taking care of their only daughter. Well, more of disciplining me actually. He was so strict I felt I grew up in a military camp. 

Nanay oftentimes tell me “it is NOT the quantity but the quality of time spent together that matters”. She may not be around everyday to ask how I was doing but she made sure that during summer/semester breaks, we would take a vacation somewhere together. Also whenever she was called for a Conference in Manila, she would make sure to visit me in my Dorm or apartment.

Sadly, Nanay does not remember any of those moments. But I vividly remember every single one of them.

Let me share one: We went to watch the movie Mahogany, just because I love Diana Ross. Believe it or not, we were munching on green mangoes with spicy-sweet bagoong and crunchy Chicharon inside the theatre. We were totally unaware that these were prohibited inside the cinema in Manila until one of the staff reprimanded us! We immediately apologized and promised to keep them tucked inside our bags. 

Good that we already stopped binging on our baon or we could have missed Brian’s famous line to Tracy: “Let me tell you something and don’t you ever forget it: SUCCESS IS NOTHING WITHOUT SOMEONE YOU LOVE TO SHARE IT WITH.”

Do You Know Where You’re Going To . . .

(Part 11 will document mother and daughter moments. I will try my best to recall them while I still can. Hence, there will be upcoming sub parts for Part 11. Hoping that I will not run out of letters in the alphabet heheheh . . .) Heaven forbid that I will inherit Nanay’s Alzheimer’s someday but if ever I do, I have something to remind  me of our fond memories together.)

To be continued . . .

The Golden Girls

My friend Agnes had this crazy dream before: Our BS Statistics group of friends will settle in Tagaytay when we retire and there, we can pass the time away chatting, playing, dancing, eating, etc. And because I am the only runner in the group, I will be in charge of running errands heheheh . . .

Miracle of miracles, half of my friend’s dream came true. She was able to buy a huge property in Tagaytay, built 4 houses for her family and her 3 sisters inside the compound! I could probably join her someday, when my son decides to get married and raise a family of his own. Of course I will take Nanay and Eia with me. 

Whenever Gio and I watch the TV Series The Golden Girls during his lunchbreak, I can’t help but imagine how happy it would be if our fantasy became a reality. Who knows? Maybe it will, in God’s appointed time.

What is Your Diet? (Part 2)

Last Saturday, Eia and I enjoyed a sumptuous lunch with the company of BEC 5 friends to celebrate our neighbor’s 88th birthday. We had salmon sinigang, boneless bangus, lechon kawali, grilled squid, lengua, pinakbet, pansit sotanghon. There was lumpiang Shanghai which I chose not to eat, giving my share to my beloved daughter who adored it so much. For dessert, turon with sesame seeds and avocado ice cream. I didn’t have the heart to eat the cake. It was so beautifully crafted I felt it was sacrilege to even touch it.

I almost choked on my food when my friend’s husband announced excitedly “CHEATDAY!”

That word seemed foreign to me now because I already ditched all strict weight-loss diets long time ago. A CHEATDAY is the day when you allow yourself to eat the food you want, considering that you forbid yourself to do so for the rest of the week. This is to avoid the feeling of deprivation leading to unwanted cravings.

In my mind I told myself “maybe for you, but not for me.” I cheat everyday!

What do I mean? 

I don’t wait for the 7th day to eat what I want. I do it everyday practicing the 80/20 Rule: 80% of my food intake is healthy and the remaining 20% is anything that I want, be it healthy or not.

For someone whose passion will always be eating delicious food, this is the best “diet” for me.

What’s yours?

(Chat with me via Messenger or at ndelr62@gmail.com. Stay safe everyone!)

A Whole New World With Nanay’s Alzheimer’s (Part 10)

When my dearest Tatay was still with us, I used to say that I am a single mother taking care of 3 children—my 87-yr old father, my 14 yr-old son and my 12-yr old daughter. Back then, Nanay was still strong as a bull, braving horrific traffic from Las Piñas to Pampanga and vice versa. As Philamlife’s Senior Agency Manager for Pampanga/Olongapo, she stayed in Pampanga Mondays to Fridays. We only saw her during Saturdays and Sundays. In her own words: “I am just a VISITING GUEST in my own house. I don’t even know where the rice bin is.” Tatay’s classic line whenever Nanay leaves for Pampanga went like this: “Pray that I am still alive when you get back and I pray that your guilt will not haunt you forever.”

Tatay was semi-bedridden when Nanay finally decided to leave her beloved company of 50 years. After only 8 months of living together, my father left us for good exactly 1 week before his 88th birthday. I thought Nanay’s presence in our home would prolong his life but I was wrong. He confided that he was ready to go. He could rest in peace knowing that Nanay was already around to look after me and my 2 children.

It has been 13 years since Tatay passed away. Much has tremendously changed since then. Nanay is now a PERMANENT RESIDENT in her own house. She doesn’t want to go out anymore except for the Sunday Mass and for her random joy rides around the village.

Several tennis courts, a swimming pool, billiard and pingpong tables were literally at the back of Nanay’s house in Pampanga. Beside it was the Bowling Center. She was probably the most visible player in Greenfields Country Club Homes. She was also a regular golf competitor inside Clark US Air Base. I couldn’t imagine how a very active woman like my mother loathes the slightest movement now. She doesn’t even want to take a walk inside the beautifully-renovated park of our village or stroll at the mall. Just outside Philamlife Village is VistaMall on the left and SM Center on the right. 

Nanay used to joke that she was no longer the Manager but the Telephone Operator in their Office during LunchBreak. During those days, employees were required to work during Saturday mornings but they were given a Break from 12 noon to 2 PM for the whole week. Everybody took advantage of this by taking a nap after lunch except for Nanay. She was the only one awake so she answered telephone calls until 2 PM. She often boasted that she never took a nap in her room or anywhere else.

That may be true then. Nowadays, she takes a nap right after waking up! She also takes a nap after eating breakfast, lunch, afternoon snacks and dinner. Oftentimes, she even takes a nap while eating!

So now, I am a 67 yr old single mother taking care of 3 children—my 91 yr old mother, my 27 yr old son and my 25 yr old daughter. No wonder my Soulmate could not find me!

Practical Tips on Portion Control

 Weighing your food before it enters your mouth is time-consuming and stressful. Besides, you cannot just take out your food scale in public to monitor your calorie intake. Here are some practical tips to somehow manage the amount of food you can tolerate.

1. If you cannot eliminate rice from your daily consumption, limit your serving to the size of your clenched fist. This is equivalent to 1 cup so if you want to lose weight, use a 1/2 cup measuring utensil. As time goes by, your eyes will be used to what 1/2 cup of rice looks like. It is approximately the size of a tennis ball.

2. If you prefer pasta over rice, 1 serving equals 1 cup so it is also equivalent to your clenched fist.

3. 1 slice of bread equals 1 serving so if you are eating a sandwich, you are eating 2 servings of bread.

4. A 3-ounce serving of beef, pork, poultry and fish is approximately the size of your palm.

5. Now this is exciting:  You need at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily. 1 serving of vegetables equals 1 cup. The more fruits and vegetables you consume each day, the better for your body. 

6. How many eggs should you consume in a day? Some say 1 egg is enough but others think you can have 2  a day. In one of Dr Willie Ong’s YouTube presentation, he commented that if you eat 2 eggs today, you should not eat any egg tomorrow.

7. A serving of butter is roughly the size of a domino.

8. You may take cheese equal to 3-4 size of dice or 1 matchbox.

9. Eating 1 slice of pizza is challenging. So when I eat 2 slices during snack time, I don’t eat dinner anymore. 

10. If and when I am about to indulge in Unlimited Buffet Lunch (which happen a lot nowadays), I resolve to fast the day before and the day after.

How To Exercise When You’ve Got No Time For It

 Let’s face it. Not everybody has the luxury of time. There are days when we just find it hard to squeeze all the things we ought to do in 24 hours. And this happen to tbe true whether you are an 8am to 5pm employee, a business proprietor, a WFH professional, a homemaker, a salesperson, etc. We want to allot some time for exercise but we simply can’t find the time.

Well, here are some practical tips:

1. Upon waking up in the morning, roll your head, shoulders, arms, wrists, fingers hips, thighs, knees , legs, and toes while saying your morning prayer. This only takes 2-3 minutes and you already nourished your body and soul.

2. Join your family when they walk your furry pet. You bond with your loved ones while gaining some steps. 

3. Customize your working table. As much as possible, stand while working. Sit when you feel tired.

4. If working while standing is impossible for you, at least try to stand when talking over the phone. You may also walk around your desk. Or just lift your body pretending you’re a ballet dancer.

5. Don’t waste time circling for a parking space near the Entrance of your building. Park at the first available slot then walk towards the Entrance. You saved gas and gained strength.

6. Instead of queuing at the elevator, take the stairs if you’re only going to the 2nd or 3rd floor. Your heart will thank you for that.

7. Take 8-12 glasses of water everyday. That way, you will have more trips to the kitchen or the office pantry. Taking 8-12 glasses of water would also result in more trips to the Rest Room resulting in more steps in a day.

8. When you put eggs in boiling water, it takes 10 minutes for them to be cooked hard-boiled. Take this opportunity for a 10-minute exercise. 

9. When queuing to pay at the Cashier Counter, lift each leg one at time. Hold as long as you can for each leg. Monitor your improvement by using a stopwatch or just counting mentally.

10. If you are a Catholic praying the Rosary everyday, do so while climbing up and down the stairs or walking in the garage. This would amount to 15 minutes exercise. If you are non-Catholic and enjoy listening to music to relieve your stress, do so while doing some form of activity.

11. When refilling water for ref bottles, hold them up high on the way to the refrigerator. You stretched and strengthened your arms.

12. Use a coconut husk to shine your floor instead of a floor polisher. There are coconut husks specifically modified to serve this purpose. While scrubbing the floor, stretch your arms up for a whole body workout.

13. When you are standing in line for whatever reason, engage your core. You can do this by breathing deeply (you should feel your stomach inflating) then exhale slowly while purposely tucking your stomach all the way in. You can also do this while sitting down. Keep your chest very still. Only the stomach expands and contracts. Do this regularly and you might be surprised to lose that stubborn belly fat!

14. While watching your favorite TV show, exercise during commercial breaks.

15. When watering your plants, use 2 pails of water instead of a water hose. Carrying the 2 pails of water is your strengthening exercise while the trips to the faucet takes care of your cardio exercise.

16. If you are living in Metro Manila and driving your own car, you can literally exercise while stuck in traffic.

17. People are surprised that my car is not automatic. It is not a vintage vehicle but I specifically requested for a manually-driven SUV so I could still move my hands and feet while driving. If you are still planning to buy a new car, give it some thought.

If you have additional tips to share, do chat with me via Messenger or email at ndelr62@gmail.com. Stay safe eveyrone!

A Little Bit Of Family History

Nanay was 89 when she was medically diagnosed to have Alzheimer’s. Her father and brother also had the same disease and passed away at a much younger age than her. Her mother did not have Alzheimer’s but did not escape a fatal stroke. Taking care of 10 children would certainly make a mother’s blood pressure surge.

Tatay left us at 1 week before he turned 88. His father passed away at 96 and a week later, her mother joined her darling hubby. She was 98. They lived in Naic, Cavite where they enjoyed the freshest of fish everyday.

On her death bed, my mother’s grandmother asked for pork adobo with visible fat.I know this to be true because I was there beside her when she finally said goodbye to her family. She was only 103.

What can we deduce from these limited yet significant piece of family history?

1. If you have a family member who had Alzheimer’s, there is a high probability that you will have it too. Therefore, it can be concluded that I am at risk to have Alzheimer’s. This blog is actually my journal which I can go back to if and when I need to refresh my memory (to put it mildly). 

2. When Nanay asks me how long do I think she will live, I answer her: “Apung Deni died at 103 though she ate lots of pork with fats in her lifetime. You should live longer because you always followed a healthy lifestyle.”

3. My grandparents in Naic Cavite almost reached 100. They were fortunate to have fresh fish everyday. For 79 years the couple ate together in one big plate. They also advocated the 1 fruit per meal principle. They believed that eating different kinds of fruit at the same time destroys the stomach. My father was the extreme opposite of his parents’ principle. One Christmas Season, there were already 13 kinds of fruit on the table yet he will still ask for more! (In case you’re wondering, the 13 fruits were banana, mango, papaya, avocado, guava, santol, apple, pineapple, pomelo, melon, watermelon, chico and orange.) When he asked for more, I bought him mangosteen, marang, and pear. I would have bought durian, rambutan and lanzones but they were not in season.

4. Each body is different. Eating fats may be bad to most people but it did not affect Apung Deni, my great grandmother.

5. My father and his parents all had superb memory. My grandmother, even at her 90’s could still add and subtract without using pen and paper. She and my grandfather still knew the names of all their acquaintances. Unlike my mother’s father. When someone approach him and ask him “Tatang, what is my name?” He would answer back:”You are already this old, you still don’t know your name yet?”

A Whole New World with Nanay’s Alzheimer’s (Part 9)

THEN and NOW:

1. I used to dose off when Nanay talks non-stop. Now, the situation is reversed. Nanay sleeps when I begin to talk.

2. Nanay used to love veggies. She looks at them now with hostility.

3. Nanay started walking everyday when she retired. Then her walks became irregular. Then shorter until they completely stopped.

4. Nanay loved gardening before. Whatever she planted bloomed and bore fruits. We had santol, avocado, papaya, banana, jackfruit. Those days are over now.

5. Nanay used to dance aerobics and lift dumbbells even after she retired. Her exercise now consists of stretching, bending and pulling when she changes her undies and clothes.

6. Nanay stayed in Pampanga Mondays to Fridays. She travelled to Las Piñas Saturdays then back to Pampanga Mondays. She no longer leaves the house now except for Sunday Mass and joy rides around Philamlife Village.

7. She doesn’t recall staying in Marbel or in Pampanga. She knew she was a midwife but forgot she worked with Philamlife for 50 years. However, there are some recurring flashbacks that happen every now and then.

8. She still remembers her brothers and sisters but sometimes, she forgets who are still living and who already passed away.

9. She used to boast before that for 365 days a year, she prayed the rosary 365 times. She still recalls the Joyful, Sorrowful and Glorious Mysteries when prompted. 

10. She still recognize everybody in our household. I tell her everyday that I am her only daughter. She knows her daughter’s name is Norberta but she has no memory of our past as mother and daughter. Not a single one. One time, she did not remember me at all. She knew Gio and Eia as her grandchildren but she forgot their mother. I had to hold myself together to prevent a nervous breakdown. I know it isn’t Nanay’s fault to forget her one and only daughter but it still pained me. I have no choice but to be strong for her and my 2 precious jewels. So help me God.

A Whole New World with Nanay’s Alzheimer’s (Part 8)

 A very close friend once told me: “Your mother talks non-stop like a radio. But unlike the radio, she cannot be turned OFF” heheheh . . .

Yup. That’s Nanay. She could talk straight for 24 hours and I am NOT exaggerating. We were in Pampanga visiting the wake of her relative. The people there took turns talking to her! Even when she was eating, she was talking continuously. She only took a break when she used the bathroom.

Her favorite story at home was when she topped the Midwifery Board Exam with a grade of 99%. She would tell this story over and over again but we didn’t mind. We responded as if we were hearing it for the first time.

When Nanay stopped talking, we knew something was terribly wrong but we just pacified ourselves that she probably got tired of talking already. 

She no longer tell stories now but mumbles to herself “ENOUGH, ENOUGH, ENOUGH”.

This could stem from the fact that when people ask her before the secret of her physical well-being, she would answer “enough food, enough exercise, enough rest, enough sleep, enough stress, and enough money to last you a lifetime.”

When Nanay washes her hands she would sing “ang lahat, tatalikdan ko”. This is the last verse of “Paghahandog Ng Sarili”, the song we normally sing during the Offertory in the Holy Mass. She also sings this when she walks inside the house or when she’s just sitting down and when she’s taking a bath.

At night when I moisturize her face, I let her massage her neck so she could exercise her hands. She would do so while counting in hundreds. For this I have no idea why. I guess in her mind, she is probably counting her money!

Some Good Things Never Last

My heart skipped a beat when Barbra Streisand’s song “Some Good Things Never Last” played over the car radio on our way home this afternoon.

Flashbacks of forgotten memories flooded my mind as if everything only happened yesterday. I tried to hit PAUSE but I couldn’t stop my brain from REWINDing.

We were in his office when he gave me a shocking Directive which totally wrecked me. He instructed me never to visit him nor call him unless I was on the verge of dying. I could have stabbed him thrice and pleaded in court that my action was a Crime of Passion but I didn’t. I did not demand anything from him. I also did not accuse him of anything. I just walked out of his office. And out of his life.

It only took me a few months to recover from a previous romantic relationship but this time, it took me more than a year to gather the broken pieces of  my disheveled life. Losing a best friend was a thousand times more devastating than losing a boyfriend.

As Barbra’s song goes . . . I thought we were lovers . . . I thought we were friends. I guess when reality steps in the dreaming ends.

Unrequited love is undeniably the most painful of all human experiences (next to death of a parent). I had to revamp my whole life to start anew without him by my side. It was a desolate journey.

I thought the crying would never stop. I thought I could never forgive him.

But miracles do happen. Through time the deepest of wounds healed and unconditional love prevailed.

We are back being friends and catch up whenever our schedules permit!

Letting go is an agonizing process but completely necessary to find yourself again and live your life with confidence, honour and dignity.

How God Answers My Prayers

God answers my prayers in 3 different ways:

1. He immediately gives me what I want.

2. He doesn’t give me what I want but He gives something BETTER, not necessarily for me but for my loved ones.

3. He doesn’t respond for a loooooong time. When I am about to lose faith and hope he whispers to me:“Stay still. Listen. Trust in the Lord thy God. The BEST is yet to come.”

OK Lord. I have prayed for a SOULMATE long enough. I have stayed still for as long as I could remember. Maybe the best that you have in store for me is to remain single for the rest of my life? Then I accept—with my whole heart, mind, body and spirit!

Farewell, my Soulmate. I have to let you go before we even see each other . . .

A Whole New World with Nanay’s Alzheimer’s (Part 7)

My mother is the most positive person I’ve ever known. My father is the most negative. Opposites do attract each other right?

A particular situation may be negative from any angle possible but Nanay will naturally find something positive about it. On the other hand, even though an incident is bursting with positive energy from all sides, Tatay will deliberately extract something negative about it.

My father and mother clash on anything and everything on the planet. On one of their anniversaries (they survived 55 years of marriage), I gave them a mounted poster of a dog and a cat lovingly embracing each other with the caption “it’s because we are so different from each other that we have so much to share”. Touche.

One time, Nanay told me that Tatay visited her. I asked her if he was already inviting her to go with him to heaven. She answered “No. He just woke me up and told me to eat”. I jokingly told her “I am sure Tatay will never fetch you to go with him because he is now very happy not having you opposing him.”

While Nanay is soft-spoken, gentle and kind, my father was loud, aggressive and brutally frank.

Alzheimer’s Disease did not change Nanay’s demeanor. She never fails to express her gratitude whenever someone does something for her, however miniscule. She does not only say THANK YOU but utters “thank you, thank you, thank you.” She doesn’t grumble when she asks for anything. She doesn’t raise her voice or lose her temper. She easily says “sorry” when she thinks she did something wrong,

But one thing definitely changed. Nanay told me “I LOVE YOU” only ONCE in my entire lifetime. This was when I was about to enter the Operating Room to give birth to Gio by Caesarian Section. Nowadays, she tells me she loves me EVERYDAY, whenever I kiss her goodnight and bid her sweet dreams before I leave her room.

And when I whisper in her ears “I am Nora, your one and only daughter.” she would answer back “I am Imang Toning, your one and only mother.”

Even with Alzheimer’s, Nanay has kept her sense of humor intact!

To be continued . . .

My Love for Carbs

When it comes to Carbs, I believe that God so loved the world that He gave us Carbs to enjoy heaven on earth.

Whenever Gio takes a bite of my Sister’s home-made brownies, he would declare: “heaven does exist Mama, because I swear I am in heaven now. Thank God for your Sister!”

If God gave us Carbs because he loved us, we should also love Carbs right?

Why am I talking about Carbs now? Well, I just want to take a breather from updating the Series on our journey with Nanay’s Alzheimer’s Disease. Also because my new running buddy Jay and I were talking about Carbo Loading last night.

Carbo Loading is crucial in a training program to avoid “hitting the wall” during a Marathon or Ultramarathon. There are varying views how Carbo Loading works but these are mine:

A day before a Half-Marathon, I include 1/2 cup of rice during lunch and dinner. And additional serving of 1-2 Carbs.

2-3 days before a Full Marathon, I include 1/2 cup of rice during breakfast, lunch and dinner. I also eat an additional 1-2 servings of Carbs each day.

5-7 days before an Ultramarathon, I double my total Carbs intake everyday.

I used to wonder what Carbo Loading meant. The Carbs intake described in journals was my usual food intake. I just couldn’t get it. I couldn’t practice Carbo Loading because I was actually Carbo Loading everyday! I only realised what it exactly meant when I decisively removed rice from my diet and applied portion control in my daily servings. After adapting a healthy lifestyle, I finally got to experience Carbo Loading before a race.

Eureka!

A Whole New World with Nanay’s Alzheimer’s (Part 6)

Today I will tell you a secret. To hide the identity of the persons involved, I will simply refer to them as A and B. 

Here goes:

Through the recommendation of a very dear friend, we consulted Dr A for Nanay’s failing memory. He prescribed a series of tests including a Psychological Exam which took Nanay 2 days to finish. Based from the overall results, Nanay was positive for Alzheimer’s but negative for Depression.

During our first consultation with Dr A, he asked me how I knew the Doctor who referred him to us. I told him she was my classmate from Grade 1 to 2nd Yr High Sch. back in Koronadal City. He was impressed that we are still friends. And I found it weird that he asked for my friend’s specialization and where she was practicing. My friend recommended him to us because they were classmates in Medical School. How come Dr A didn’t know anything about my friend? Was he having pre-Alzheimer’s symptoms?

In our next meeting, we showed him all the results of Nanay’s tests and exams. Naturally, I had so many queries that I desperately needed to know. He answered in very general terms, not specifically directed to my questions in particular. And before I could voice my apprehensions, he started babbling about his own mother having Alzheimer’s. 

When Nanay’s meds ran out, we came back for our third consultation. I planned to ask him again about the questions that he failed to address. Before I could even ask him, he poured his heart out on his dedication to his mother, making him the only one in the family who devotes time for her, insinuating that his siblings didn’t care. He had lots of bottled sentiments and fears. The way he opened up to me, I should have charged him the Consultation Fee of a Psychotherapist! I decided then and there to look for another Neurologist.

Dr B is the exact opposite of Dr A. For her, a Psychological Test was NOT necessary. Just by observing and conversing with Nanay, she automatically deduced that Nanay was going through Depression. She did not even bother to read the 3-page Psychological Assessment which Nanay took 2 days to finish!  She requested more laboratory tests/exams and we complied.

Dr B was more engaging to Nanay and she answered my questions that Dr A failed to settle. She even showed Nanay the actual exercises that she should do everyday. And she gave us activities that we could do as a family for Nanay to participate in. I was more satisfied with her than Dr A on this regard but I couldn’t fathom why she would trust her instinct over the result of a tedious and meticulous Psychological Test. Her conclusion that Nanay was in a state of Depression depressed me.

In our third Consultation, Nanay’s Cholesterol was at a normal level but she still prescribed medication for it. According to her, it is for maintenance. Now THAT bothered me. For 90 years, Nanay never took any maintenance drug. Given this and her previous presumption, I now plan to look for another Neurologist.

So the secret is out. You don’t only seek for a second opinion. Search for a third one!

To be continued . . .

A Whole New World with Nanay’s Alzheimer’s (Part 5)

 If there is one person in the world who abhors eating, that would be my mother dearest. She is the only person I know who loses appetite in front of a table with colorful varieties of food. Her lifelong dream was for a scientist to develop a serum that would enable her to refrain from eating for 1 whole year while maintaining her strength and stamina.

So unlike her only daughter. My passion was, is, and will always be food! My stomach has the ability to expand itself to unlimited capacity when served with various sumptuous dishes.

People in Pampanga compared Nanay’s eating to a bird. They swear a bird eats more than her! Pampanga is famous for its gastronomic delicacies but Ima (Kapampangan word for mother) would rather eat alugbati (malabar spinach), saluyot (jute leaves) and labong (young bamboo shoot). 

But indeed, people change. 2-3 years ago, she told us she didn’t want to eat veggies anymore! So we gave her meat instead. However, she would just chew the meat and extract the juice, not swallowing the piece. Nowadays, she would just eat fish and Henlin siomai.

She was never fond of sweets. Eating dessert was a mystery to her.  Puzzled, she would ask “how can you still eat something after eating a meal?” I would bluntly tell her that the word dessert appears in the dictionary for a reason heheheh . . .

But surprise of all surprises, Nanay started eating a domino-like portion of Snickers after lunch just before the pandemic. She only stopped doing this around 3 months ago.

She used to eat 1/2 cup of rice but this was slowly reduced through the years. It is already a great miracle if she could finish 5 half-filled spoons of rice now. 

Nanay weighed 99 lbs when she was transferred from South Cotabato to Pampanga. She was 110 lbs when she retired. Now she weighs 85 lbs—my weight when I turned 15. I was 90 lbs when I graduated from college (average increase of 1 lb every year).  After only a month with Coca-Cola, my weight ballooned to 105 lbs! (Gaining an average of 1 lb every 2 days!)

Our greatest challenge now is how to coax Nanay to eat. She would always tell us that she is not hungry. It takes a lot of patience and persistence to convince her that it is only in her mind that she is full but in reality, she has not eaten yet. One time she told me: “Ayaw ko ng kumain. Ikaw, kahit na sa pagtanda mo, malakas ka pa din kumain.” (I don’t like to eat anymore. Unlike you, you will always eat a lot even when you grow old.”)

Well, no argument in that!

To be continued . . .

A Whole New World With Nanay’s Alzheimer’s (Part 4)

 I finally got to sleep in my bed last night. For 2 nights, I just squeezed myself on the rocking chair fronting Nanay’s bed. I cannot leave her because she just changes clothes in the middle of the night and go out to wake up her faithful driver, telling him she had to attend a meeting. She was up all night for 2 consecutive days so I had to watch her closely. Now, she is back sleeping like a log.

When Nanay’s Neurologist briefed us last November 2023, he told us to be ready for anything. He kept reiterating that the medication will not cure Nanay. It will only delay the worst from happening.

We breezed through 2024 without any major concerns. Nanay was passive. Her story telling greatly reduced, seldom talked but still responded to questions and inquiries. Rarely would she initiate conversations.

Nanay’s morning walk became irregular until it completely stopped this 2025. But she would regularly request her driver (now caregiver) to give her joy rides around Philamlife Village.

For her TV viewing, she used to watch EWTN, tennis and golf matches. Slowly, these became infrequent. Her only TV viewing now is the Kapamilya Mass celebrated by Fr. Tito Caluag. We attend this daily.

Nanay still prays the Grace before Meals, remembers the Joyful, Sorrowful, and Glorious Mysteries of the Holy Rosary, and responds in the mass.

She may forget everything but she will probably always remember that she topped the Midwifery Board Exam with a grade of 99% heheheh . . .

To be continued . . .

A Whole New World with Nanay’s Alzheimer’s (Part 3)

 For the past 2 days, Nanay talked almost non-stop. The other day, she thought we were still living in Marbel. Yesterday, she thought we were in Pampanga. She was bubbling about her agents and secretaries, meetings in her office, sales strategies, business opportunities, real properties. She couldn’t believe she already retired in 2012. She even thought Tatay was still alive! And she thought Gio and Eia were still going to school. She was planning to bring them to their respective schools. Then out of the blue she asked me if I was still looking for a husband. I told her I am not. Of course I lied heheheh . . .

She barely slept for the past 2 days. She was busy talking to people she thought were in her room. She was even laughing with them. I heard her mention their names and they were all friends and relatives who have gone ahead of us. She was conversing with them in her native tongue, Kapampangan. She kept telling me to prepare food for them.

At 5 AM this morning, she finally fell deeply asleep. I did not wake her up until 12 noon but she did not budge until 1:00 PM. She told me she didn’t want to eat anymore and when I cajoled her, she gestured to throw punches at me. I held her tight and after a few minutes, I managed to lift her up from the bed and we proceeded to the dining room.

She ate everything I prepared for her but only after a lot of convincing. She immediately went back to sleep after eating then drank her Ensure Gold @ 5 PM. After that, she dosed off until 7 PM to eat dinner. Again, it was a struggle to ask her to eat. She only took 5 spoons of rice with fish. Did not touch the grapes which used to be her favorite. 

After brushing her teeth and personal hygiene, we started with our evening ritual. I asked her to change her clothes herself so she could at least have some form of stretching, bending and pulling. After that, breathing exercises: inhale deeply through the nose then exhale slowly in a whistling manner. 5-10 reps. Then eye drops for her glaucoma. Moisturizing the face came next, followed by massaging her body with lotion from arms to toes. She was already in dreamland before I kissed her good night and sweet dreams.

I wonder what awaits tommorow . . .

A Whole New World with Nanay’s Alzheimer’s (Part 2)

 We were briefed by Nanay’s Neurologists and they pointed out the following:

1. There are two types of patients’s reactions to Alzheimer’s Disease: Aggresive or Passive. Aggresive behavior includes overtalkativeness, defiance and violent reactions while Passive is the exact opposite. Unlike his father, Nanay is passive.

2. There will be an evolution of Nanay’s facial recognition and memory. She will still recognize and remember the people who lives with her inside the household but eventually, we should expect the worst. Time will come when she will also forget us.

3. There will be changes in her daily habits. They will disappear one by one.

4. Her food intake will be lessened day by day until such time when she refuses to eat anymore that we will have no choice but to bring her to the hospital.

5. Her memories of people and places will slowly fade and might be completely erased someday.

6. Her preferences might change. Treat them with respect.

7. Do not force her to go out with you when she declines.

8. Encourage her to do some form of exercise everyday. Her body will deteriorate rapidly when she doesn’t move.

9. Avoid asking her the name of the person in front of her. Better to introduce the person right away.

10. Do not expect the medication to reverse Nanay’s condition. There is still no cure for Alzheimer’s Disease but the meds will hopefully slow down the process.

To be continued . . .

A Whole New World with Nanay’s Alzheimer’s (Part 1)

My mother was the first female provincial District Manager for sales of then Philamlife, now AIA Phils. Her area was South Cotabato. The Main Office was in Marbel (now Koronadal City) where we used to reside and a Branch Office in Dadiangas (now GenSan, the hometown of Manny Pacquaio) which we visited once a week.

Nanay’s family was originally from Pampanga but her parents settled in South Cotabato during the Magsaysay administration. In 1977, she was promoted as Agency Sales Manager for Pampanga and later on, Olongapo was included in her area of responsibility as well.

From an ordinary underwriter specializing in Salary Deduction, she rose to fame leading a Powerhouse Sales Agency in Pampanga/Olongapo. She served her beloved company for 50 solid years.

Nanay focused on her career and loved playing tennis, golf and bowling. Our house is practically a museum of her certificates, plaques, trophies, prizes and magazine write-ups.

She practiced a very healthy lifestyle. Even at a ripe age, she has no maintenance meds. According to her “I am not a car. I don’t need maintenance.”

My mother lived her life to the fullest. She earned the namesake “Mother of Perpetual Help” because of her kindness, gentleness and generosity.

When she retired at 78 (there’s no retirement in Sales so she actually resigned), she still dressed up and wore make-up everyday as if she’s going somewhere, Then after a few years she stopped doing this ritual but still meticulously groomed herself whenever she goes out of the house. Then one day she declared that if we want her to live longer, we just let her stay in the house and not force her to go out with us. Of course we still tried to convince her to join us during special occasions. Then came the pandemic. We were 8 in our household but I was the only one in and out of the house. After the pandemic she would only go out for Sunday mass but she still managed to walk a few blocks around our house every morning.

During meals she would tell the same stories all over again. We didn’t mind, as we knew oldies tend to repeat themselves. Then the story telling stopped. We told ourselves she probably got tired of talking already. We noticed changes in her behavior like telling me to stop giving her books for she no longer wanted to read. She used to love watching tennis and golf matches but that also stopped. There were memory lapses here and there but we thought they were simply part of the normal aging process. A Seminar on Dementia was held in our Parish and we attended. After that eye-opener, Nanay agreed to undergo the necessary series of tests and exams. It was then confirmed what we dreaded most: She has Alzheimer’s. 

To be continued . . .

Tribute to Ss Lou, Our Beloved Cluster Head

There are people who make a difference in other people’s lives. Ss Lou did beyond that. She made other people’s lives better. I, for one, became a better person because of her, so is every person who was fortunate enough to encounter her in this lifetime.

Ss is not a typographical error. She calls me Ss Nora so I call her Ss Lou. According to her, Ss stands for Soulsister. (God apparently couldn’t find a suitable Soulmate for me so He sent a Soulsister instead heheheh . . .)

I rejoined Handmaids Of The Lord in 2003 but it was only during the pandemic that Ss Lou and I became close. Call me snob, introvert, or whatever but I deliberately stayed in the shadows to hide my true identity. I was afraid to be known or recognized, fearing to be given responsiblities that would sacrifice my crucial obligations as father, mother, daughter, and homemaker to my family.

Very few people exhibit the same generous disposition as Ss Lou’s. Even those days when I strictly maintained significant distance between us, she was always showering me with kind words and gestures. It was her unrelenting spirit that finally broke down my wall and welcome her into my chaotic world. 

Ss Lou was the kind of person who will move heaven and earth to help anybody in need. She would pray unceasingly to lift up our individual concerns. She would go out of her comfort zone to lighten the burden of the oppressed. She would spend extra hours to think of ways and means to improve something that needed to be mended. She would love unconditionally and give readily without expecting anything in return. She was always beaming with joy, happiness and enthusiasm that would melt even the hardest of hearts. She would inspire you to believe in yourself, do your best and serve with grace, humility and gratitude to the Almighty.

Thank you Ss Lou, for letting us experience God’s redeeming love through your unparalled faith and devotion. Though I still cannot accept the harsh reality that you will be gone forever, thank you for making my 67th birthday uniquely memorable by allowing me and the countless people who adore you bring you to your final resting place. Hard as it is, I bid you farewell. You will be greatly missed, never to be forgotten. We love you, Ss Lou, now and forever!

(For comments/reactions, reach me via Messenger or at ndelr62@gmail.com. Stay safe everyone!)

What is The Perfect Day For You?

 It was raining cats and dogs this morning, courtesy of Typhoon Crising but still went out to replenish our zero stock of fruits. Dropped by the water refilling station before going home. While trying to keep myself dry under the makeshift tent, a man was venting out his frustrations over a reckless driver to the water station staff. He had a distinct piercing voice that I would rather not listen to but I couldn’t run out of the tent because of the pouring rain. I tried to think of happy thoughts to distract myself of hearing his lamentations and I thought of this: “What could be the perfect day?”

Picture this: The perfect day must have the perfect weather—sunny but not too hot. I am joining the 100km Ultramarathon with a group of running friends who are highly motivated, properly trained and strongly determined to finish the race. We lift each other up through the 100km race route with our inspirational quotes, funny anecdotes and tear-jerker stories. When we hit the unavoidable wall, we cling to each other for support and encouragement. As we slowly approach the FinishLine, I see my family cheering for me with a bouquet of red roses and ice-cold beer. All the pains and aches in my body disappear and I fly like the wind! I receive my trophy, finishers shirt and medal but the flowers, hugs and kisses and beer from my family are the ones that would make the day perfect!

How about you? What do you picture as the perfect day?

(You may reach me via Messenger or at ndelr62@gmail.com. Stay safe everyone!)

What is Your Diet? (Part 1)

 This was the question randomly thrown at me this morning before we practiced YOGA.

Almost instantaneously, I answered: “Diet does not exist in my dictionary. I don’t patronize any. I eat anything and everything, anytime I want.”

We proceeded with YOGA so I did not have time to explain what I really meant.

Let me qualify what I said.

Yes, I do eat anything and everything, anytime I want BUT I practice portion control—except when I am celebrating someone’s birthday in an Eat-All-You-Can Buffet. Unlimited Lunches or Dinners are usually scheduled in advance so I purposely fast the day BEFORE and the day AFTER I binge on my favorite food/desserts.

My typical day looks like this:

I take Herbalife 24 with oats and banana after my morning run. On days that I don’t run because of the rain, I only eat when I’m hungry. I take papaya, a cup of oats, boiled egg, and dark chocolate drink. At other times, scrambled egg with spinach and tomatoes on toast.

My lunch consists of fish with sidedish and 1 slice mango eaten with rice. If pork or beef or chicken is served for lunch, I wrap it in lettuce with kimchi. My dessert is sweet sampaloc/dark chocolate/peanuts/Hi-Chew and Coke Zero. Take note that some days, I take sweet sampaloc and dark chocolate and peanuts and Hi-Chew and Coke Zero all at the same time for dessert.

When I’m home, my snacks become my early dinner. It consists of pandesal with kesong puti and spanish sardines and fresh carabao milk.The number of pandesal depends on how hungry I am. But usually 1-3 pcs.

At 12 midnight, my son Gio takes his lunchbreak (US based) and we snuggle to watch 1-2 episodes of The Golden Girls together. I normally don’t eat with him but when I do, I take a cup of trail mix with milk.

I am 67 years old, 5’1” tall with vital statistics of 37-29-38 weighing 120 lbs on good days and 124 lbs on bad days. I already quit fantasizing for 115 lbs. but still dreaming to lose 1-2 inches off my waistline  heheheh . . . Instead of killing yourself for a Barbie-like figure, focus on gaining strength, wellness, and endurance. Your world will be more enjoyable!

(For comments/reactions, reach me via Messenger or ndelr62@gmail.com. Stay safe everyone!)

Soulmates Do Exist (Tribute to my Friend D)

Some people wander through life silently wishing to find their soulmates. Some are lucky without even looking while some (yours truly included) never caught one even if they fervently pray for it from dawn til dusk.

D and I first met in Cebu, when I was taking a break from my wayward thesis writing. She was then the apple of my friend’s brother’s eyes with whom I was staying. Anybody can easily fall in love with D. She was beautiful, smart, soft-spoken, kind, well-mannered, hard-working, helpful, honest and caring. Without further ado, we clicked in an instant. Naturally, I flew back to Cebu when they finally decided to tie the knot. I was profoundly honored to be part of their once-in-a-lifetime wedding entourage.

Fastforward to 2002. With Ate Ella and 2 children in tow, we made our Great Escape to Cebu. Unfortunately, my friend and her family were out of the county during that time. D graciously offered their marital house for us. That is when I discovered that D and her husband (my friend’s brother) called it Quits. Strange how we could have the same fate when we practically have opposite personalities. I was shocked beyond words. Unlike me, D was the kind of woman any man would choose in any given moment. On top of her exterior and interior attributes, she is a master chef and baker. 

In the midst of her personal struggles, D made sure that we enjoyed ourselves in Cebu. Thanks to her unconditional love, I have never seen my children as happy as they were there. I swear we could have stayed in Cebu forever but Nanay begged me to return to Las Piñas to take care of Tatay who suddenly couldn’t walk because of our frightening disappearance.

Strong as she is, D moved on with her life and fearlessly migrated to the States. Knowing her, I believed in my heart that things will definitely be better for her there.

Guess what? She is now joyfully and happily married to the man of her dreams and doing her passion—cooking and baking!

I just loovvveeee happy endings. Happiest birthday my dearest friend! With all that you are, you deserve the best. Thank you for being you. I hope someday I get to meet your darling hubby and indulge in your yummy masterpieces there in the US.

Yes, soulmates do exist but I just wonder how God picks the person He will bless it with. Have you found yours?

Still waiting hahahah . . .

(Thanks for dropping by. For comments/reactions, you may reach me via Messenger or ndelr62@gmail.com. Stay safe everyone!)

My Typical Training Program

There are a lot of training plans you can find in the internet. Based from my 17 years of passionate love-hate relationship with running, here is my typical weekly schedule. The distance covered will be dependent on my targetted race.

Monday: Easy Run (Level 1-2)

Tuesday: Strength Training

Wed: Speed Interval Workout (complete Workout below)

Thurs: Tempo Run (Level 3-4)

Fri: YOGA (bonding with my son Gio and daughter Eia)

Sat: Rest (I do my marketing/Grocery shopping)

Sunday: Long Run (Level 2-3)

The Levels are numbered 1-5: 

1 = Brisk Walk

2 = Slow Run

3 = Normal Run

4 = Fast Run

5 = Sprint

Below is my Complete Speed Interval Workout:

Warm Up: 5-10 mins. Level 1-2 

Alternating 30 sec Level 5 and 30 sec Level 1-2 (Repeat 5-10 times)

5-10 mins. Level 2-3

Alternating 1 min. Level 5 and 1 min. Level 1-2 (Repeat 5-10 times)

Cool Down: 5-10 mins. Level 1-2

When you are pressed for time, you can still finish the complete Workout in only 30 mins. When you’ve got enough time, the longest Workout will take 1 hr. 

You actually have 2 Rest Days if you are not practicing YOGA. You may spread them 3-4 days apart.

(You may reach me via Messenger or ndelr62@gmail.com. Thanks for dropping by!)

Are You Ready to Run the Marathon?

 If you think you are ready, then nobody has the right to tell you that you’re nuts to attempt it. But it would certainly help if you already did the following at least once before training for the marathon.

1. Finishing 5k in 30 to 35 mins.

2. Finishing 10k in 60 to 70 mins. 

3. A sub 3 hr Half Marathon.

 I believe that speed should come first before distance. This is to equip you with the much-needed confidence that you will reach the FinishLine within CutOff. If it takes 1 hour for you to finish 5k, try to improve on that first before trying to run 10k. Others aim for a personal best of sub 30 mins for a 5k but for ordinary mortals like you and me, 30-35 mins would do (mine was 31 mins.). When running 5k becomes a breeze for you, that’s the time to level up to 10k. Again, there are others who are obssessed with running a sub 1 hr for 10k. (They tell themselves: “If Piolo Pascual can do it, why can’t I?”) Don’t be so hard on yourself. 60-70 mins. will suffice. 

For 1 whole year, I stayed with 10k like my soulmate. It became my comfort zone. I could run 10k without stopping and still looked fresh and bubbly at the FinishLine. I had no intention of running the Half Marathon until Jaymie Pizarro announced The Bull Runner Dream Marathon for first-time marathoners. I did not even think twice. I registered right away. And so I ran 21k for 3 consecutive months before TBRDM. My first Half Marathon was at the Condura Skyway, clocking at 2 hrs 37 mins.

For scientific tips and guidelines, visit runnersworld.com and marathonhandbook.com.

If you think you’re ready, join me in the Cavinti Road and Trail Marathon this coming Dec. 14, 2025.

Good luck with your training!

(You may get in touch with me via Messenger or ndelr62@gmail.com. Stay safe everyone!)