Science, lifestyle and longevity

Easter commemorates the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is the fulfillment of His promise to rise from death on the third day; it celebrates His gift of eternal and earthly life to all of us. For now, however, may I just write of earthly life?

Luckier than parents. The youngest in a brood of four who are all still alive, I reached my 78th birthday last December. My eldest sibling, now 87, lives in retirement with her husband in Vancouver. My siblings and I are luckier than our parents: Our father died at 54 and our mother at 61.

In fact, our entire generation can expect to live 20 years longer than the previous one. By this measurement, I would only be 58 years old! The upcoming generation will live even longer.

According to Time magazine (March 2, 2015), American babies born today could live 142 years, thanks to science, technology, medicine and improved lifestyles.

Like many of my generation, I have had brushes with ill health. At five, during the Japanese occupation, I nearly died of dysentery. At 21, while chairing a seminar in Naga City of the National Union of Students of the Philippines, my ruptured appendix was misdiagnosed as ordinary stomachache in a small clinic in Tabaco, Albay, where I was given castor oil (!) and injected with morphine which knocked me out for 24 hours. Two weeks later, my ruptured appendix ached again, was diagnosed properly, and excised surgically by Dr. Ricardo Alfonso.

Medical interventions. In 1983, I was told by Dr. Augusto Litonjua, “I am sorry to say you have diabetes. This is incurable but can be controlled by diet, exercise and a little medicine.” I followed his prescription to the letter. And voila! In 1995, prior to my entry into the Supreme Court, Dr. Litonjua formally certified that my blood sugar had normalized. My diabetes was gone! Up to now, I continue to see him every three months for regular consultation, especially on endocrinal secretions.

In 1996, Dr. Dante Morales, after conducting three tests (ECG, treadmill and 2D Echo), said I had irregular heartbeats (arrhythmia) and may need heart bypass surgery. But before sending me to the operating table, Dr. Morales asked Dr. Dy Bun Yok to subject me to an angiogram.

Dr. Jorge Garcia, the famous heart surgeon, agreed to operate on me if the angiogram affirmed the three earlier tests. To my complete relief, the final test showed no blocked coronary arteries; there was no need for surgery. Dr. Garcia kidded me afterwards: “When you die, it will not be because of a heart problem.” Alleluia!

In 2008, while playing golf with Dr. Jack Arroyo, I noticed that, even in bright sunlight, I could not see the driven ball as it landed on the turf 200 yards away. That afternoon I proceeded to the American Eye Center where, after several tests, I was advised to undergo cataract surgery.

“I do cataracts, but Dr. Cesar Espiritu is the best cataract surgeon,” he humbly said. So, at his recommendation, Dr. Espiritu replaced my clouded crystalline lenses with artificial implants. Since then, my vision has been 20/20. If I still sport eyeglasses now, it is because my dear wife believes it more becoming for a retired chief justice to wear them.

I have undergone other medical procedures and conditions, including three surgeries for recurrent hemorrhoids in 1958, 1977 and 2005; a biopsy of my prostate by Dr. Nikko Magsanoc which turned out to be negative; a whole-body MRI in 2012 which showed gallstones and benign liver and kidney cysts; various dental problems; slowed memory retrieval; insomnia; bladder spasms; vertigo; elevated SGPT/SGOT; bone spurs; pulled muscles; stem cell therapy; and carpal tunnel syndrome.

I am grateful for these medical interventions. Thank God, even in my senior years now, I can eat almost anything in moderate quantities. I play golf twice a week and tennis twice a week, too. I exercise in the gym thrice a week and indulge occasionally in ballroom dancing. I do not smoke, gamble, or drink anything heavier than a glass of red wine.

No retirement from work. I retired from the judiciary eight years ago, but I have not retired from work. My every day is full, attending board and committee meetings of a dozen publicly listed companies. I am intellectually refreshed studying these firms’ diverse businesses, unique challenges and distinct corporate cultures. I also head or advise five major foundations and several educational, civic, religious and charitable groups.

I enjoy writing this column; it forces me to think, to polish my typing skill (I personally encode it on my computer) and to keep up with current events. I read both the printed and digital editions of the Inquirer, a few other publications and books.

I delight in surfing the Internet, tracking stock markets and watching TV news reports, science programs (on Discovery Science, History Channel, etc.) and sports events. Though I maintain a personal website, I do not have a social media account. I like my new iPhone 6 plus; it is more handy than my iPad and has more features than my old Nokia.

I have an active social life, attending diplomatic receptions, concerts, art exhibits, birthdays, weddings and charities. I pray for the eternal joy and peace of the deceased during wakes.

I thank God for giving me more years than my parents. I am grateful to my family and friends who forgive my lapses, laugh at my jokes and make me feel younger than my age. I am especially thankful to my doctors and priest-counselors. And I look forward to more years in my life and more life in my years.

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