MAY in all humility request the Inter-Agency a Task Force (IATF) members, to please open the Bible, if they have any. Pause and take time to read. The Holy Book said the biblical age is seventy, and ask any physician he will tell you that if you are a strong seventy you will reach eighty. And each year added to eighty is a bonus. And what measurement the IATF used in banning the 60 years old individuals from going out from their residences? I hope they can advance a good and acceptable reason. Is it because there’s a citizen law that extends a 20 percent discount on their medicine purchases? Is that it? A healthy sixty-year-old won’t be allowed to enter a food chain or a mall? When some senior golfers can hit a ball up to 250 yards on the fairway? All of them are vulnerable? Say that again. If only I can disclose the names of septuagenarian friends of mine who are still dating girls in their twenties and thirties, maybe I can convince the IATF the sixties aren’t that old by today’s standard.
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Now let’s get poetic in combatting the pandemic written by my friend, former classmate in the College of Philosophy and Letters University of Santo Tomas Rodolfo Cantiveros. He is a little bit older than I am. He is originally from the beautiful province of Quezon and he is now based in Canada.
"Our spirit is high, Sky is the limit. Our faith is much stronger than the fear you have spread. Our hope is firm that we go ahead with our lives even to the point of new normal. Our love with our fellowmen has become more solid as granite. It is a beautiful life as we stay in love with our loved ones, and busy in many opportunities in life and enjoy the blessings of God." The eloquence of Rod’s pen never escaped him.
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Now getting back to the senior citizens' issue. Malaysia’s Mahatir and our very own President Rodrigo Duterte supposedly are past their prime, yet to this day they are still very active. Many of the justices of the Supreme Court are nearing seventy years of age? Senators like Tito Sotto, Frank Drilon, Cynthia Villar, Lito Lapid and Dick Gordon shouldn’t be allowed to go out of their residences? They are in their sixties. Haven’t they heard that "life begins at forty." And that the sixties are the new forties. Age is only a number really. I can speak for myself that being in the seventies, I can claim am still active in many things. I can still write. I conduct a TV show, I package business deals, I do consultancy works for government entities, PR works for politicians and business enterprises. I can still perform.
When I am with senior citizen groups, big laughs always explode alleged sex exploits become the topic. Everyone has a story to tell. It is an excuse to be a doubting Thomas but never voice your disagreement. And each time a pretty lass is passing the DOMs (darling old men) can't be restrained in their most malicious looks. Most men in their sixties never lose their appetite on women though they can no longer drill or can do the roundhouse, even with the help of viagra. But they can perform, less the acrobatics. Some don’t even need the blue pill. In short, the sixties should not be caged.