Love is…growing old together

By DEEDEE M. SIYTANGCO

February 13, 2011, 2:56am

Active seniors Reli German and national cooperatives’ sparkplug, Butz Aquino. (Sandee Masigan)

 “I want to grow old with you,

lose count of the sunsets we share,

stroll along a moonlit beach,

always holding hands

and looking into each other’s eyes

with deep love and longing.

I want to sleep every night

with you at my side,

hearing your soft breathing

and with your scent and warmth

to lull me to dreamland.

I want to wake up and feel you

asleep in the crux of my arm

and know you are my best friend,

my lover

my soul mate forever.”

– Anonymous

This is my sixth Valentine’s Day without my Love, my Soul Mate and my Lover. For those who do have their sweethearts still, I say, cherish them! Not only on Valentine’s Day with roses and sweets, but every single day you are together!

Anyway, amidst the past week’s sad and controversial events, like the  suicide of Sec. Angelo Reyes, (thanks to the witch hunt in the Senate led by Sen. Trillanes who forgot his Cavalier’s code) it was refreshing to see my old friend, PR guru Reli German at the Bulong Pulungan in Sofitel. He introduced his latest project--SeLO or Seniors’ Legacy Organization. He brought along his business associate Rey Constantino and bosom buddy and Ateneo classmate, EDSA 1 hero, Butz Aquino both also certified “active seniors.” Butz is chairman of the national union of cooperatives, a non-government grouping.

SeLO takes its name from the character “Selo” in Jose Rizal’s El Filibusterismo.  If you were paying close attention to your Philippine Lit teacher, you will recall that Selo took care of Basilio when the young and sick man ran away from home in Noli Me Tangere.  Basilio then became an aspiring doctor, who was at the cusp of graduation by the end of El Filibusterismo.

Reli said he wants to do something truly significant in his senior years. So, he aims to mobilize seniors who are still active and productive, to do something for the betterment of society. “Enriching passion with compassion.”

Examples of productive seniors are Fred Kummerow, Warren Buffett and our very own Purificacion “Aling Puring” Dy.  They maximize time and talent for the benefit of their communities.

Just to clarify, SeLO is not a group that caters to seniors, but is actually a band of senior citizens who will take up causes and activities that involve various social or economic issues.

It is comforting to know that there are seniors like Reli, Butz and Rey, who are prepared to give back, because they have the energy and motivation to stay active. For those interested, SeLO’s email address is selo.ph@gmail.com.

Still on the subject of seniors, it is sad that while the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 or R.A. 9994 is already in force, one particular benefit is being denied our elderly population.

Department of Health (DOH) insiders say that while the funds are already available for the free vaccination program for indigent senior citizens, the DOH has put the project on hold. What gives, Sec. Ona?

These reports are particularly alarming in view of the flu outbreak in neighboring Singapore.  It is not outside the realm of possibility that the number of influenza cases in the Philippines may soon rise.

It is a given that the sector of our population most vulnerable to the onslaught of influenza and pneumococcal diseases is the elderly, because of their weakened constitution and poor resistance to infection. This is precisely why, in enacting R. A. 9994 last year, Congress specifically mandated that indigent senior citizens be given free flu vaccinations.

Here we have a law that is already in place to protect our elderly indigents, and the DOH purportedly has the implementing budget, yet the wellbeing of our senior citizens hangs in the balance.

DOH and relevant government agencies should get the ball rolling on this project.  The process of bidding, procurement and rollout will take several months at best.  Let’s not wait for flu cases to reach epidemic proportions. The time to act is now.

I myself will get a flu vaccine next month. Summer is fast approaching and this is the season for influenza. The strain you get may be more virulent than you think. Now, there is among the ageing population an insidious “silent killer” that can be avoided. Not the getting old, but the bones getting fragile, brittle and vulnerable to fractures.

Osteoporosis sets in as early as 25 years old and while our bones are supposed to be “renewable,” it can deteriorate too.

You feel it when the bones start to crack and creak and then you wish you could have paid more attention to supplements for bone density and strength. Exercises like running, walking and strength training keep our bones stronger as does a diet rich in vitamin D and calcium. Milk is loaded with calcium, so are tofu, soy foods, dark, leafy veggies and supplements like Anlene.

Clinical studies have shown that two glasses of Anlene meets the daily requirements of women. In two weeks, breakdown of bones is arrested. Well, what are we waiting for, girls? This Valentine’s Day, let’s be kind to our bones and drink Anlene regularly. Look at Senator Pia Cayetano, she is glowing with health and vigor with her Anlene drinks and her active lifestyle!

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