Staying relevant in old age

While it’s a hard truth that forgetfulness often comes with age, it’s also a time of wisdom and experience. As I’ve added another year to my age, I’ve noticed changes in my mental abilities. These changes, though sometimes frustrating, are a natural part of aging. People often forget things more as they get older; this is normal. It’s not Dementia, nor is it Alzheimer’s. I’ve seen my aunts and uncles, my Lolas and Lolos, generally forget where they placed their keys, eyeglasses, purse, and money. It’s not enjoyable, but it doesn’t affect one’s ability to be productive and do things in everyday life. My Lola and my mother lived into their 90s and remained active. Senior citizens, bless them, are still helpful and can stay relevant. 

It is inspiring to know that many people my age, of the 60s, 70s, and 80s, are still working and producing wonders, like artworks, books, clothing, and foods in their undertakings.   The Seniors’ Prom last May 9 was a blast. Seniors my age came, took to the floor, and donned merry faces to the beat of a professional band that a newfound friend, Ferdie, a happy-go-lucky multi-awarded musical entrepreneur, tapped to entertain. And what entertainment it was. I reunited with old friends, rekindled old ties, and stirred inner debates about remaining useful, nay relevant, in today’s world and society.

I turned 71 with mixed emotions, combined with a dreadful feeling of whether I can remain relevant and valuable to society as I continue to add years after this birthday. I turned melodramatic and saw my audience, who were my age, nodding in agreement and listening intently as I spoke. It was this birthday, which I playfully called “Seniors’ Prom,” that, for the first time, I invited outsiders from my nearby family to come and have fun and enjoy.

Those who came remain active citizens in their homes and communities. Reconnecting with senior men and women from the Taichi group, Mariners, the Camarines Sur Chamber’s business sector, UP alumni, the Church, and old friends, as well as retired teachers and professionals, judges, and lawyers, gave an incredible feeling of staying connected, up to date, and always in the know. It was good to hear that some of them in their 80s can still keep a conversation running without fear of exhaustion.

Being in and not out, active and responsive to our surroundings, and open to personal change when we encounter diverse thoughts are crucial for staying relevant to and contributing to what’s going on around us. Most importantly, taking action when most are not doing anything is vital. We must not be passive observers, but active participants in shaping our society.

Being relevant is about staying connected. I made sure of that when I started counting the ways of aging, growing old physically, but not in spirit or mind, when I celebrated my 70th birthday. While we can deny the evidence of aging, we eventually face this reality every time we get up in the morning with aches in our back, knees, and legs, or all of them. Connecting with local, national, and international situations is a compelling reason to live and hope for something more. Being updated on global wars and conflicts, such as the war in Ukraine, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the Myanmar civil war,  etc, that affect everyone, young and old, rich and poor.

A few days before my birthday, the midterm elections took place. Not much has changed – dynastic politics, dominated by clans and political bosses, and patronage, a society deeply divided between the haves and mostly the have-nots, with towns and cities entrenched in related issues of nepotism, smuggling, public works contracts, bribery, diversion of public funds, and corruption.  The Philippines has been in the top one-third of the most corrupt countries for years, based on the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) published by Transparency International.

From the pages of the Bicol Mail, I learned about a Joint Affidavit, Manifestation, and complaint regarding a personal encounter with vote buying filed by senior citizens, a couple, a retired Literature professor, Paz Verdades Santos, and her husband, a retired judge of the Naga City Regional Trial Court, Soliman Santos, both residents of Canaman, Camarines Sur, which occurred a day before the May 12 elections. Earlier, I received a message from Doods, the retired professor, who vehemently complained about the insensitive, utterly offensive attempt at vote buying and violation of data privacy with the revelation of their personal information.

Their Joint Affidavit invoked their ‘exercise of civic duty to be truly meaningful.’ We believe that COMELEC and/or any other concerned agency or organization should, as stated, ‘go after and hold accountable the big fish, not the small fry.’ We are both retired septuagenarians.  We have no further investigative and evidence-gathering capacity beyond our JA testimony, which supports two pieces of documentary evidence.  Please do not expect us to do more, as we have done the small part we could do. This commitment to our civic duty is a responsibility we take seriously, and we hope it inspires others to do the same.

The Santoses can remain very relevant at age 71 and even beyond. The roles have shifted as enlightened citizens who are ready to take action to initiate change are crucial because the issues they raise and fight for are deep and encompassing. “I can still feel the outrage: If teachers and lawyers can be bribed, anu na daw sa buong Pilipinas.”