Improve quality of life, health care for elderly Filipinos

BY MANILA BULLETIN

Feb 15, 2024 10:25 AM

  

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Yesterday’s 100th birthday celebration of Juan Ponce Enrile, fondly called Manong Johnny, who serves presently as the Chief Presidential Legal Counsel, calls attention to longevity of Filipinos. 

On Feb. 17, Whang-od Oggay, a Filipino cultural icon, will mark her 107th birthday. According to a New York Times story, she is also known as Apo Maria Oggay, a tattoo artist from the village of Buscalan in Tinglayan, Kalinga-Apayao, and is often described as the “last” and oldest mambabatok;  she belongs to the Butbut people of the Kalinga ethnic group. In April 2023, 106-year-old Whang-od became the oldest person to grace the cover of Vogue Philippines magazine.

President Marcos conferred on Apo Whang-od the Presidential Merit Award in Malacañang yesterday, Feb. 14, “in recognition of her unparalleled contributions to Philippine heritage and culture.”

The Philippine Institute of Development Studies (PIDS), displays an infographic in its website that says: “Did you know that Filipinos have a life expectancy of 71 years? This is an increase of 15 years in the average lifespan compared to the 1960s. With the improvement of the Filipino population’s health, there is a need to ensure social security and health services for the elderly.”

The current life expectancy for Filipinos is 71.79 years old, according to Macrotrends, a digital information service that provides access to key economic and demographic indicators. In Macrotrends’ table of life expectancy in the Philippines from 1950 to 2024, the baseline is at 54.49 years in 1950; 60.70 years in 1960; and 63.06 in 1970. If the concept of a generation is flexed to 25 years, the life expectancy in 1975 was 63.23 years, or just slightly higher than the 1970 figure; in 2000, it was at 68.73 years.

The Philippine Statistics Authority’s 2020 census reports that there were 9,222,672 Filipinos who were 60 years old and over; 5,855,449 were 65 years old and over. Both houses of Congress have passed Senate Bill 2028, Expanding the Coverage of the Centenarians Act. Its actual enactment will come after being reviewed by the Office of the President. This bodes well for Filipino centenarians. As contemplated in the updated Centenarians Act, Filipino senior citizens living in the Philippines or abroad shall be granted ₱10,000 upon reaching 80 years old, ₱20,000 upon reaching 90 years old and ₱100,000 upon reaching 100 years old. 

Senators Imee Marcos and Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, who sponsored and introduced the bill, respectively, noted that many Filipinos do not reach the age of 100 and are unable to enjoy the “benefits and privileges of the present law which awards ₱100,000 cash to every Filipino centenarian.” They cited the rising cost of living and healthcare expenses that has made it very difficult for senior citizens to afford basic necessities. According to a 2017 UP Diliman study: “Older Filipinos are generally not materially well-off, not well-educated and about half consider themselves to be of average health, but have poor use of health services. They also believe that it would be best living by themselves.”

Beyond increasing monetary benefits, it is imperative that health care services for elderly Filipinos be upgraded significantly – and that they be afforded the opportunity to enjoy gentler, kinder living into their sunset years.

If ifs and ans were pots and pans…

TUE, MARCH 7, 2017 BY THE MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR LEAVE A COMMENT

IN MY OPINIONKlaus Doring 

…there would be no need for tinkers! An old proverbs, which hits the nail on its head.

Life doesn’t only consists of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Life has ups and downs and everyone tries to survive in his own clock-shell surrounded by a dangerous  ocean. Life is stuffed with plenty of excuses, and we are sometimes unable to apologize and say a meaningful “sorry” at the right moment.

Excuses don’t know the question of age. I still have two significant examples to share:

The church was crowded. Confirmation. A woman came too late. Traffic jam. In need of help, the woman looked to the left and then to the right. It looked like a young man liked to help her. He murmured, “Show up a bit, the LOLA likes to sit down”. The situation looked problem-free at that moment. But after taking first a deep breath, the LOLA realized the young man’s comment. She was just only 38 years “young”! With uneasiness she looked at the youngster, who started smiling at her. How old could he be? 14 or 15? A very big difference already to her age. Then suddenly, the young man realized his inappropriate remark and stuttered, “Sorry Madam, please excuse me! If I would have only known…!”

Choked with emotions, I also listened the story of my former editor colleague in Germany several years ago. Her mother had expelled her from life. Only while laying on her deathbed, she  did offer a plea in extenuation because of her lifelong fault.

Excuses because one is embarrassed or with a simple alibi can be  found at every corner. Did you, my dear reader, count already, how many times you used the term “IF”?

Just to mention this example, which I noticed several times from my students. ” If I could pass my German language exam, my partner would be very proud of me!” Sure, not only he, also me, as your German language professor at the University of Southeastern Philippines, Institute of Languages, Davao City.

“If there would be a God, there wouldn’t be so much misery, poverty, and war on earth!”

Well, if that’s the way it’s got to be…? If there is no other way?

Maybe, you still remember Elton John’s song from 1976: “Sorry (in the right moments!) seems to be the hardest word…”

That depends!

When boredom strikes

TUE, FEBRUARY 14, 2017 BY THE MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR LEAVE A COMMENT

IN MY OPINIONKlaus Doring

While being a columnist of “Tinig ng Bayan” (published in Abra) during the 1980s, I remember our Taiwanese coordinator Cristina Lising-Geronga, who expressed herself in innumerable write-ups about the topic loneliness. Sure, “Tinig ng Bayan” has been a publication for Filipinos abroad. Loneliness, borne by Filipinos living abroad while missing their families in the Philippines became a very “normal” expression.

During that time, my Philippine mentor, the late Monsignor Professor  Dr. Hermogenes E. Bacareza, Chaplain of the Philippine Community in Berlin, started together with me publishing “Ang Mabuhay”. Believe me, “loneliness” became a main topic in many write-ups.

Nowadays, loneliness and boredom seem to be the splitting image of each other – so to speak being as like as two peas in a pod. While browsing in social networks like Facebook, one can find more and more comments as in “When Boredom Strikes” or so. Boredom, ending up in loneliness – or vice versus?

How comes that loneliness and/or boredom are still a general topics in our today’s society?

Loneliness has been called one of the main diseases even during the last century. It really doesn’t strike not only the Filipinos abroad and their love ones back home. Too often loneliness is being followed by alcoholism, drug abuse and even suicide. Yes, loneliness becomes a modern day plague.  I observed several people trying to surround themselves with so-called “friends” only to find that such relationships are often shallow and unsatisfying.

Loneliness can be painful but being lonely or alone at that is not always a bad thing. Ask yourself, how do  you use your time, if you are really alone? Do you simply let the time pass without doing any-thing  at all? Why not use such time productively? There are many worthwhile activities to engage in, even if you are alone, such as reading, writing, listen to good (light) music, play an (forgotten?) instrument, gardening….

Reading the bible can be also very particularly beneficial.  The Word of God is “alive and exerts power” and can take our minds off ourselves.

To break the cycle of loneliness, one must be a giver. Let’s keep an eye, not only and always on our personal interests but also on the interests others. Look around and watch out who needs help, or who needs a real friend or good listener. Once you have spotted such a person, act! Thus, in order to have friends, you must act like a friend. Luke 6:38 says, “Give to others, and God will give to you!” Besides, “There is more happiness (and less loneliness) in giving then receiving,” says Acts 20:35.

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Suggestions, com-ments, questions? You can email me: doringklaus @gmail.com or follow me in Facebook, Linkedin or Twitter or visit www.germanexpatinthe philippines.blogspot.com or www.klausdoring sclassicalmusic.blogspot.com.

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Would you believe it?

THU, AUGUST 25, 2016 BY THE MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR LEAVE A COMMENT

IN MY OPINIONKlaus Doring

No doubts, there is no mistake about it: something is wrong. International media’s  negative headlines about the Philippines is no joke anymore. The word-war between our President and Senator De Lima will even add more. Sure, a mistaken belief accompanies each and every one of us daily. Incorrect decisions and wrong doings are part of our daily life.

It is almost a ridiculous fact that man wants to know certain truths about mundane things. But really he seems least interested in even mundane truths as can be read many times in newspapers for example. There seem to be too much rash judgments, and the readers absorb these and make these their own. A fatal attraction!

This is sometimes referred to as journalistic mentality and social media comments wherein accusations are generously made without proof. Evolution started this trend, when scientists stated for example that man evolved from the apes, without proof. The only proof they had was the missing link, and if I am not mistaken, it’s still a missing proof until now.

To look for proofs is a mental activity, which is no longer a common thing nowadays, because it takes really time, effort and is too serious to think about. Yet, in Christian education, thinking right is very important.That’s why Philosophy is important in Christian life. To avoid error in thinking, the rules of right reasoning must be studied and mastered. It is really totally neglected in today’s modern education?

Thinking is actually an enjoyable activity but when one is pressured to get a good job for one’s sustenance, then the other more mundane become attractive. After all, great thinkers many time do not get (good?) jobs….

Spiritual writers like the British Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834) noticed that mankind had stopped thinking even two centuries ago. That was during his age. Man probably stopped thinking even earlier. He has ceased many times to search for the truth. It’s easier to listen to gossip and believe in it. What a sign of weak minds!

Too often are we blind to the truth and as a consequence we easily believe in lies we only have to like it. Too bad, if people always like to close their eyes and ears especially while experiencing the delusion of error.

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Email: doringklaus @gmail.com or follow me in Facebook or Twitter or visit www.germanex patinthephilippines.blogspot. com or www.klaus doringsclassicalmusic.

Broken relationships

TUE, JUNE 14, 2016 BY THE MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR LEAVE A COMMENT

IN MY OPINION

“Relationship” comes from the Latin “referre” or “relatum”, which means “to bring back”.

In one of my penultimate columns, I tried to explain, “when to keep our mouth shut”! Silence is also an answer – sure! But some of my readers posed the question, if also broken relationships can be only restored by silence or waiting. My answer is YES and/or NO!

Sometimes, it’s a miracle what a small dose of determined silence can do. Relationships are ALWAYS worth restoring, because life is all about learning how to love and how to value relationships and make the effort to maintain them instead of discarding them whenever there is a rift, a hurt, or a conflict. The bible told us that all of us have been given the ministry of restoring broken relationships.

Broken or cooled down relationships can be noticed at any corner. Restoring them is equal to peacemaking or peacekeeping but also not avoiding facing conflicts. Running away from a problem (and then keep the mouth shut!), pretending that the problem doesn’t exist or being to afraid to talk about it, that’s how the hypocritical coward acts.

I always love to talk to God before I talk to a person. Later, I can find the right moment and take the initiative to restore broken relationships or face the problem. I can even look out for others’ interests first. I can use “my telescope of life” (from the Greek word “skopos”) and play close attention. I can start with sympathy but not with great solutions right away. I can confess my part of a possible conflict.

Paul said in Romans 12:18: “Do everything possible on your part to live in peace with everybody!” In resolving conflicts, a word not be spoken may be the choicest word of all, or IF WE TALK, HOW we say it, is important.

The US-author Rick Warren confessed in one of his books; “We can establish a relationship even when we are unable to resolve our differences. Christians often have legitimate, honest disagreements and differing opinions ( as I wrote in my last Friday’s column here!). But, we can disagree without being disagreeable. The same diamond looks different from different angles. God expects unity, not uniformity, and, we can walk arm-in-arm without seeing eye-to-eye on every issue!”

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Email: doringklaus@gmail.com or follow me in Facebook or Twitter or visit www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www.klausdoringsclassicalmausic.blogspot.com

Never trust someone above 30?

TUE, JUNE 7, 2016 BY THE MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR LEAVE A COMMENT

IN MY OPINIONKlaus Doring

Above 30? Above 40? I really don’t know.

Born in 1953, I started my life at a period, when more babies have been entering the German population than never before. World War II, more or less, the end of the world (!) – as my late grandmother mostly describes that time – has ended eight years ago. It was not the end of everything. Really not! The world economic crises changed into another economical world wonder.

During the Sixties, we looked upon the youth culture of Woodstock as a symbol – of the power of music, the pursuit of self expression, the values of peace, love and community, and the rejection of “the establishment” – even in the midst of torrential rain and an aftermath of foot-deep mud.

I enjoyed our flower power peace generation with long hair. Yes, I confess, many times I was really very cynical about my parent’s values, and rejected anything that suggested tradition. Please explain: what is the meaning of tradition?

By the way, that’s one thing, which can be observed also in the Philippines since a couple of years. I observed such changes since my first visit in the Philippines in 1976.

The slogan “Never trust someone above 30” had to be abandoned since I crossed that divide myself. Now, hopefully at the second half of my present life “40” looks impossible young. And let’s be honest to ourselves: Are we not facing the same realities our parents did: Raising families, needs to pay for school et cetera, et cetera? We have held fiercely to freethinking and the untraditional ways our parents – shaped by the “Depression”, World War II and much more – never had the luxury to feel.

Those of us who have made good money hold fewer illusions that a big house and a Mercedes (or any other brand!) in the garage are likely to bring happiness. But guys, what seems most precious to us nowadays is not career or success, but time and the freedom to do the things we love to do that hold meaning. Earnings through a job we don’t like might be painful; but isn’t it much more painful to wait for nothing while being fed by a friend?

Failed marriages, difficult mid-life attempts, something that might pass away a family – yes, I think, we know the rarity of solid and long living relationships with a partner, with children or with a hard to find friend.

We may even dare to speak the language that 30 or 40 years ago would have seemed uncool. Describe it calling to God or spiritually, but it would probably be the quest for the sense of life,  the hope and faith, that one exists.

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Email me: doringklaus@gmail.com or follow me in Facebook or Twitter or visit www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www.klausdorings classicalmusic.blogspot.com.

MEN DON'T CRY?

This is a re-post of my column IN MY OPINION from September 7, 2012 in MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR with friendly permission of my publisher Miss Marietta Siongco.

Since I was a little boy, my whole family and our neighbors liked to hammer into my mind and heart the slogan:"Boys (men) don't cry!" Many incidents happened in my life as a young boy. Later too. Up to now - after reaching the second half of my life. Incidents with oppressed and held back tears and emotions... .

I made a complete fool, when, when I tried to satisfy my inquotable thirst and insatiable hunger as a young boy by penetrating the closed kitchen of our neighbour. A terrible good hiding followed together with the comment: "Don't cry or you'll never become a real man!" Bursting into tears (BAHALA NA - SO WHAT!), I didn't understand, why a boy should bear the pain of trashing but knowing during the same time that he might never become a real man! What an untenbale mug's game!

I never became a whipping boy or fan of brawl and fight because I always tried  to search for ways, not to cry. "You'll never become a real man, because a real man knows how to fight without bursting into tears." Longing I did watch the girls in our neighborhood, who always had been allowed to cry because of any non-important thing or trifling matter.

My thirst of knowledge let me start travelling around the world (and, also to the Philippines!), when I became 18. I learned that this silly custom seemed to exist more or less world-wide. In different Asian countries I learned the nonsense (sorry!) parents explaining their sons, "If you'll not stop crying, you might become a gay!"

Step by step I experienced myself many examples, incidents or reasons when I didn't care any more fortunately about my tears and emotions. A special place with a good or bad remembrance can make me cry. Salt dissolves in water like emotions in tears:  an unjustified treatment, arrogance and ignorance from people around me, a heartfelt condolence, a rejected or non-returned love or friendship, a very special song, a very touching situation or speech, being choked with emotions - but ALSO crying because of happiness or never expected gratitude... .

Are all these privileges only allowed for females? Are males only robots with hearts of stone? Objection my dear fellow creatures!

When I stayed in Israel long time ago: An Israelian solder lost his his right arm during a (nonsensical!) battle at the Golan Heights - and, this wounded soldier started crying! Of course, why not? After my stay in Japan (YMCA family exchange), the other of one of my families in Kyoto couldn't hold his tears, when time came to say "Sayonara". Sure, why not? In South Africa I became a sudden witness of a burial, because an original inhabitant family lost a child because of starving to death. The mother cried much.

Allow me to cry what ever the reason might be. Even, if it is because I help cutting onions and garlic for lunch... .