UNITED States President Joe Biden is a little bit older than I am. I was amazed to see him on his inauguration day walking briskly on Pennsylvania Avenue together with the family and noticed no panting on his part. Once in a while, he did some rabbit run to say Hi to people by the roadside. That’s doubly amazing. ( Talagang totoo ang kasabihan na Kalabaw lang ang tumatanda) He was all smiles. But of course he was all energized because he was to be inaugurated the 46th president after trouncing Donald Trump.
Few years ago, I was one of those early risers who jog on the 2.2 kilometer roundabout of La Pieta Memorial Park in our city. Lino Sanchez, Jr., a media colleague was with the group of the late Dr. Armando Deang and with my own buddies we all did three rounds then. I didn’t realize that we aged fast, though gracefully and that those three rounds can no longer hurdled by my knees. Today I still have my morning ritual of exercise mostly calisthenics and deep breathing. (My bragging right: For those who aren’t in the know, I was a Karate instructor and I established the first Karate Club ‘Beaux Brotherhood Karate Club in Zamboanga City in the mid-sixies).
Repeatedly I want it to be known that the secret of long life is sleeping early. I am no night person. Even when I was young I never stayed too late at night and always wanted to rest my head on my pillow before nine in the evening, and maybe snoring by ten.
I was once a party of friends. It was hosted by former Capas Mayor Antonio’TJ’ Rodriguez. Like a butterfly, I fleeted to several tables to pick stories and opinions and told my own. Dennis Uy, the young entrepreneur who is considered as the youngest billionaire of Angeles City because the rollout of the initial public offering (IPO) of his Converge on the stock exchanges scored P29 billion plus.
I remember I was Intently listening to Dennis where Guagua food chain businessman Jess Nicdao, banker Jay Carlos and other businessmen guests were all ears. At the opposite of the table were husband and wife Rene and Agnes Romero of ROMAC and Engineer Rico Guilas of the Department of Public Works and Highways, now retired. Btw. Rico is now in meat processing business. In another beautifully decorated table were Tarlac Congressmen Vic Yap and Noel Villanueva. They were joined by local officials of Tarlac and some priests.
Moved to another table, and whom did I meet but the brothers Pineda of Concepcion, Tarlac, Chit and Susing. Chit was former president of Northern Cement and a known brain trust and man Friday of the late Boss Danding Cojuangco. Susing was a former board director of Clark Development Corporation and National Power Corporation. I seated myself and joined the table where former San Fernando Mayor Oscar Rodriguez and Governor Susan Yap of Tarlac, together with Magalang Mayor Romy Pecson and Mabalacat businessman Joseph Policarpio were seated. They were sampling the delicious lechon baka and some boiled crabs.
We all laughed out loud (LOL) as we kidded ourselves that we should be eating oatmeals instead of the 'killing me softly' fares. And we laughed, even more, when I said eat all you can while you can because there’s no buffet table in Heaven. I gave them this unsolicited advice. Sleep early and exercise moderately each day.