MANILA, Philippines — I spotted the ever-present Lolo Sisong at a recent gathering of civic leaders in Antipolo, Rizal.

The event was one of several organized by outstanding nongovernmental organization (NGO) partners of the Rizal provincial government like the United Bayanihan Foundation. This one had to do with government and private sector putting their heads together. The aim: Help senior citizens remain productive and happy.

I know no senior citizen more intellectually productive than the inimitable Lolo Sisong, Rizal province’s self-appointed official sage. So, in that meeting where those who are superior in wisdom and years were the subject matter, the Lolo ng Lalawigan’s presence was a welcome one.

Since the word “matanda” (old) kept ringing throughout the event, I decided to signal Lolo Sisong to join my huddle with NGO leaders and ask him a question I had secretly asked myself for years.

The question: Why are those who are advanced in years called “matanda”?

“Why ask me, I am not old enough to answer the question,” Lolo Sisong said with his serious humor glowing in his face.

“It takes a young person to answer the question,” I answered, smiling, knowing he would bite the bait.

“Okay, then, I will answer the question,” Lolo Sisong said, pretending to capitulate.

“You see, Junjun, ‘matanda’ comes from the word ‘tanda’,” he began.

“So, therefore?” I egged him to make it quick.

“Well, ‘Tanda’ has three meanings,” he seemed naughtily dragging the conversation.

“Go ahead, what are they?” I asked, impatient.

“One, ‘tanda’ means ‘mark’,” he started the long process of sagely enumeration.

“Two, ‘tanda’ means ‘sign’,” Lolo Sisong continued.

“Three, ‘tanda’ means ‘recall’ or ‘remember’, or ‘reminisce’,” he ended.

“Care to explain?” I asked again, impatience growing.

“That’s where I’m going,” he answered, seemingly irked by my nagging.

“You see, a senior person has a lot of ‘tanda’ in his body and in his character – the marks of what he has gone through in life,” Lolo Sisong said. “His body and his personality shows the many marks of the happy and painful experiences that the senior person has gone through,” he added.

“Now, the quality of his body, his mind and his character as shaped by those experiences shows whether or not they made him into a better person... or a bitter one,” Lolo Sisong explained.

“So, when you see a senior person, you look at the ‘marks’ to determine what kind of person he is,” he essayed.

Impressed by the wisdom, I said, “Move on to number two – ‘tanda’ meaning ‘sign’.”

“Be patient, I am old, remember?” he answered, even more irked.

“Okay, ‘tanda’ also means ‘sign’,” he moved on. “Senior people are either ‘warning signs’ or signs similar to the beacon light of a lighthouse,” Lolo Sisong said, choosing his words carefully.

“When you find a bitter old person, he is a warning sign to you – don’t go where he went, such as his vices and his scheming ways,” he explained. “But when you find a ‘better’ senior person, ask him which path he chose and follow it – he is showing you a beacon light,” Lolo Sisong added.

I was silent, reflecting.

“May I go to point number three,” Lolo Sisong said, obviously trying to irk me reciprocally.

“Please go ahead,” I answered serious this time.

“Well, ‘tanda’ also refers to that big vault of memories of the many years we have gone through in life,” he began his final point.

“That is the gold mine of our advanced years – the definite advantage of being senior over being young,” Lolo Sisong moved on.

“We can open that vault anytime to retrieve the things that matter a lot to people – memories of love and joy, of friends and loved ones, of the many valuable experiences which prove to us that we did spend our years wisely,” he said, his aging eyes all of a sudden looking young.

“And if a senior person is generous, he lets young people into that vault and lets them frolic in the gold mine of precious memories,” he said, using his poetic abilities.

I was still silent, awed by the obvious advantage in wisdom that senior people have.

“That’s also what we mean by ‘growing old gracefully’, Junjun”, Lolo Sisong attempted to conclude.

“One ages well by being conscious of his role as ‘mark’, ‘sign’ and ‘treasure trove of memories,” he said.

“So, be careful about how experiences make their mark on you,” he continued.

“Be conscious about your role – are you a danger sign or a beacon light to the younger generation,” he moved closer to his closing.

“And consciously build the kind of memories that you bring into your vault,” he, at last, ended.

“Gotta go,” Lolo Sisong said, acting like a busy young person.

“Thanks much,” I said, trying to memorize his key points.

“By the way, those three things are also a technique on how one stays young despite advancing years,” Lolo Sisong post-scripted.

“Will remember that,” I answered.

“Only if your mind can stay young like mine,” Lolo Sisong said, underscoring that the last word is always his.

I kept my mouth shut, impressed by how he has, indeed, made great use of his years.

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