As a senior citizen, how do you manage to maintain a productive and fruitful lifestyle?

Pope Francis has designated the last Sunday of July as the World Day for Grandparents and The Elderly. Davao Catholic Herald’s columnist and Guidance Advocate Dr. Nelson Magnaye sought out three senior citizens and asked them this question: As a senior citizen, how do you manage to maintain a productive and fruitful lifestyle?

Chona Rosario D. Ongkingco
66 yrs old

“Age is a matter of mind… If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” – Mark Twain

Indeed, when I turned 60, I realized that it was true. I didn’t feel nor see any changes in me. I was full of energy and was personally managing my business; had actively participated in my various civic and community involvements.

Then, the COVID pandemic came.

For a while, my life was put on hold. I had to retire my business and, being a senior citizen, and by virtue of the executive order on quarantine, I stayed home.

To while my time, in between chatting with my Facebook friends and joining discussions in group chats, I binged watching movies and TV series on Netflix. Then I got hooked on Korean Dramas! Blame it on “Crash Landing on You”!

This didn’t last very long, though. Some friends, who busied themselves as plantitas, sent me plants so that I can start gardening. This gave me a reason to go out of the house to buy planting materials.

Also, my civic and community groups started to get back to life by holding virtual meetings and planning activities.

All these get me going and, I would say, make me productive.

Cometa Flor F. de los Reyes
72 years old

I can say that I have been living a productive and fruitful lifestyle. I joined a senior choir singing contest and a ballroom rumba competition, and I was one with the groups who reigned as champions in both events. Yet, the fruitfulness of a life is not limited to these achievements. I have raised two successful and healthy children and grandchildren and I feel fulfillment in being a mother and a grandmother. For me, a senior citizen’s life should be maintained in the most fitting way through a lifestyle that nurtures holistically. First, for one’s physical health, be healthy! Eat nutritious food, get enough rest, and avoid stress! Secondly, for one’s mental health, enjoy life for it is a blessing that we have reached this age. And, last but definitely not least, for one’s spiritual health, always thank God, the source of all things, for the blessings you have received.

Adela Garcia-Ellson
69 Years Old

Reaching the age of 60 is a gift from God. Not everyone enjoys this privilege. From age 60 to 65, nothing seemed to be different since I was still in active service with the University of the Philippines. Before retiring in November of 2016, I had already ironed out my plans after retiring.

Just in time after parting ways with the University, I got some consultancy projects which made me occupied for 5 years. I was so fulfilled since I was able to continue my passion for teaching. I was even so satisfied since the results of my studies on collaborative governance and enhancement of workplace cooperation were put into practice. My exposure with big banana companies has paved the way for my theorizing and validation of my findings. My immersion also served as a venue for materializing the saying that “a teacher will always remain a teacher ‘till the last breathe.” I was even more busy but tiredness and boredom never came to my mind. I love my engagement being a development and training facilitator for enhancement of managerial, supervisorial and social skills. With Covid-19, plans as well as my daily routine shattered into broken pieces. No more work… no more engagement. SCs are even not allowed to go out. At first, humiliation and disappointment enveloped my heart and mind, but eventually dissipated when I started to read some novels. I also went back to writing poems with focus on the memorable days I shared with my elementary and high school batch mates. Recalling sweet memories and writing short stories and poems made my days while enjoying the company of my two grandchildren and taking care of my special child. SCs should remain active not only physically but also mentally and socially. The social media gives opportunities for SCs to be connected…. thus, making them as partakers in the evolution of the society.