MANILA, Philippines — One of my interesting encounters during my 2-week stay in Bicol (I am still in Bicol) is with Antonio (Tony to his friends) Anson Hernandez, a 71-year old bamboo specialist and organic farming specialist from Sagrada, Pili in Camarines Sur.

He is also a practicing herbalist who has consistently been giving his nine children (five daughters and four sons) as part of their daily diet when they were young the local vegetable known as alugbati (basella rubra).

Today, Tony’s nine children are all professionals. Two are teachers; one an agronomist; one is a computer science graduate; two are graduates of animal science; and 3 engineers (mechanical, civil, and electrical).

I asked Tony: What’s your secret in life?” Tony’s spontaneous reply: “To be healthy and wise… and to be faithful to my wife.” The ages of Tony and his 67-year-old wife’s nine children range from 23 to 45 years.

“When my children were in Naga City for their high school education, I checked twice a month their boarding houses between 11-12 midnight riding in a motorcycle, to make sure my children are home. To protect my children from being influenced by drug-addicted students.”

Tony Anson Hernandez feels very much fulfilled. To him, his greatest achievement was being able to send to school his 9 children despite his meager income. “Proper budgeting by my wife and frugal lifestyle of our family is the secret of being able to finance the schooling of my children.”

Tony used to be a Plant Pest Control Worker in the Bureau of Plant Industry of the Department of Agriculture in Camarines Sur. Tony availed of the early retirement plan of the government at age 46 after working for about 23 years. At age 70, Tony got his Bachelor of Science degree, major in Agriculture on March 26, 2010 at the Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (formerly CSSAC) – through the CHEd’s program known as Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency Accredited Program (ETEEAP).

Unbelievably, today at age 71, Tony is also pursuing (since 2011) his masteral degree on plant protection at the Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (formerly CSSAC). Tony’s ongoing paper for his thesis is on the subject of virus plant diseases.

What persistence… what passion… and what commitment for higher learning! Confirming once again the saying that the thirst for learning and education is a continuing pursuit… and age should not be a hindrance.

Tony is a popular lecturer within the Bicol Region on bamboo and on other plants like fruit trees like pili, mango, cacao, and citrus fruits. The lectures are focused and centered on plant protection and cultural management.

I asked Tony what is his daily diet and he said: “Eighty (80%) percent vegetable; eighteen (18%) percent fish; and two (2%) percent assorted food.”

Again, I asked: “Of all the herbal plants, why did you choose alugbati to be regularly included in your children’s diet?” His answer: “We have plenty of this healthy herbal leafy vegetable in our backyard.”

Tony’s life is duplicated in other rural areas in our country. The humble, unrecognized “Tony’s” in the Philippines who are able to send their children to school through simple and frugal living without government assistance and who have helped our economy are unsung heroes deserving of our recognition and applause.

Kudos to the “Tony’s” of our country.

Have a joyful day!