Who’s over 60?

When I was still young, in my teens, my concept of senior citizens, or those about 50 years old and above, was an old woman with white hair and doing almost nothing, barely able to walk and thus needing help to move around. Well, seniors are supposed to be weak, shouldn’t they be?

Well, let me tell you. When I reached the age of 50—that was 11 years ago—I danced a lot, played bowling, and traveled in and out of the country alone. Yes, at 50, I still could do things by myself.

No differently that I am in my senior years now. I still play bowling, dance a lot, participate actively in our homeowners association and in our parish church, and I still travel alone in and out of the country.

My biggest challenge was on a trip last February from Canberra, Australia. Qantas Airways did not accept  “check-through” flight to Manila because I was booked with different airlines: Qantas for my domestic (within Australia) flight, and PAL for my international (Sydney-Manila) flight. After getting my luggage from a domestic airport, I had to pull and push my two pieces of luggage down the subway and ride the train going to the Sydney International Airport. I had to make long walks, pulling and pushing luggage. Terrible! Surprisingly, I was able to reach the airport all by myself, tugging 23 kilos + 7 kilos of luggage, while carrying a heavy handbag, to boot!

So, am I a senior citizen?

My typical day starts with the 6-a.m. Mass at Immaculate Heart of Mary School chapel. I wake up at 5:15 a.m., dress-up and take a 15-minute walk to the chapel. After the Mass, I take another 15-minute walk back home to get my badminton racket and proceed to the park to play badminton from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.

We organized the Badminton Club back in 2003. At first, the oldies played badminton to work themselves into perspiration, believing this would lower their cholesterol, sugar, triglycerides and blood pressure, “concerns” elderly flesh is heir to. But because we played badminton every day, we got to play better, and now we are able to play mean badminton matches, even against younger competitions. Now we play badminton just for the joy of the game.

But many are surprised how we can play badminton at our age. After all, being a fast sport, badminton is generally seen as a game for the young. As president of the Badminton Club (for two years now), I do a lot for the club, like organizing tournaments, conducting badminton clinics for children during summer, in addition to the playing routine for physical fitness.

After playing badminton, I  proceed to a SM mall and the bank, and then do some errands. There is a lot of walking here. Sometimes, I take part in aerobics/dancing sessions as a form of exercise and as a hobby as well.

I am also a member of  Sunflower Green Volunteers in our homeowners association. Here we have a solid waste management program.  We have been practicing waste segregation since 2001. We also conduct seminars on solid waste management. In our homeowners association, I represent the women sector and I am a member of the Ladies Circle that handles the association’s social activities.

As a member of the Ministry of Lectors and Commentators, I am also actively involved in our parish church’s activities. This year, I was elected deputy head and was given a lot of responsibilities. It is my task, for example, to assign the lectors and commentators for every Mass (be it a weekday or Sunday Mass, or a wedding Mass) and baptism. My husband (who is of my age) and I are both members of the Couples for Christ. We regularly attend household, chapter, cluster and sector assemblies. Sometimes, we are couple-sharers. My husband also serves as speaker in Christian Life Programs and I help him prepare his talks, one of the ways of serving the Lord.

My mother will be 95 years old this August. I  also take care of my Nanay.

Really, my days are filled with a lot of activities: religious, sports, community and personal activities. I praise and thank the Lord for giving me good health and allowing me to continue serving Him through my brothers and sisters. Some are surprised to see me line up on senior citizen lanes. But I am very happy that I have gone past the age of 60 because of the perks I enjoy being a senior citizen. Aside from enjoying the deduction of the 12-percent VAT and the 20-percent senior citizens discount, we are assigned priority lanes in banks and department stores.

Oh, I do not feel I’m over 60 years old! Yes, age—it’s all in the mind!

Yolly Salva-Samson, 61, worked as an accountant.