MANILA, Philippines — Lolo Sisong, the almost-90-year-old sage of Rizal, visited me last week – the first time for 2012.

“I was worried that you may have gotten sick,” I told Lolo Sisong as he sat down on his favorite couch in my office.

“Still hale and healthy as a carabao,” Lolo Sisong said in the vernacular, the tone and volume of his voice proving his claim.

I finally succumbed to the temptation to ask him the secret of his excellent state of health despite his advanced age. “How do you manage to keep your carabao-like health?” I popped the question.

“Simple,” Lolo Sisong answered, “I take care of my heart well.”

“Is that in the literal or figurative sense of the word ‘heart’?” I asked again, smiling and suspecting that another mini-lecture was about to begin.

“Both,” he answered.

“Explain,” I said, opening the door for another learning session.

“Well, I make sure that my heart remains healthy by exercising and eating right,” he said.

“Tell me what your diet consists of,” I asked again.

“Mostly fish caught from Laguna de Bai, and vegetables harvested from my little farm in Tanay,” Lolo Sisong said. “I stay away from meat but indulge in a little poultry on special occasions,” he continued.

“And exercise?” I continued probing into his secret.

“Long pleasant walks where the air is clean,” Lolo Sisong said, exuding pride for what he loves doing. “Then, I make sure I get the early morning and the late afternoon sun – my daily dose of vitamin D,” he added, sounding like a health expert.

“But the real secret to a healthy heart is not just the diet and exercise,” Lolo Sisong said, proud that he knew something I probably did not.

“What’s that secret?” I asked, feeling awkward that there I was, a doctor, listening to the folk wisdom of an elderly gentleman-farmer.

“Three things,” Lolo Sisong said. “I make sure that I am…

“Walang atraso.” Never putting one over one’s fellow man.

“Walang kaaway.” No enemies.

“Walang utang.” Debt-free.

“How does that work?” I asked, even if I understood what Lolo Sisong meant.

“Those three things make sure I get a good night’s sleep and that I enjoy the day – every day,” he said, beaming.

“But there’s one more thing,” Lolo Sisong quickly followed up.

“What is that?” I was, of course, obliged to ask.

“I stay ‘in love’,” he said with a smile and a wink.

“You mean you maintain romantic relationships?” I probed again.

“Love need not always mean romance,” Lolo Sisong said. “There’s a deeper meaning to ‘love’,” the old man continued.

“And what is that?” I asked again.

“It means committing one’s life to something of value to others and to the service of others,” he said, slowly, solemnly.

“What did you commit your life to?” I asked the old man with real interest.

“To making sure that the soil in my little farm would be productive and that my little community would partake of the harvest from that farm,” he said, proudly but without arrogance.

“At my age, one realizes that love is not just an emotion – it is a commitment and a decision to serve,” Lolo Sisong said, trying to fill the void left by my silence.

I simply nodded.

Then, Lolo Sisong stood up and walked towards the door, his late-80s frame still straight.

“Stay in love, Doc Junjun,” he said as he closed the door and left.

Happy birthday, PNOY

I join my fellow Rizaleños in conveying their warmest birthday greetings to the illustrious son of a distinguished Rizaleña – President Noynoy Aquino who marked his natal day last February 8.

Here’s wishing the Nation’s Chief Executive a Healthy Heart that, as Lolo Sisong advised, “Will stay in love.”

And to all our faithful readers, happy heart’s day in advance.

The same goes to the three beautiful women in my life who keep my heart healthy: my beloved wife and two daughters.

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