At 103 years old, war veteran and retired police officer Esteban M. Merano remains a survivor. He has survived several wars, catastrophes, and at least three major medical operations.

But despite his age, Lolo Steve can still climb stairs with ease, and can still read newspapers without the need for eyeglasses.

His memory is still sharp, always recalling his war exploits like how he escaped from his Japanese captors, or how he survived a boat accident that left him and fellow guerrillas starved for three days as they floated off the waters of Romblon.

It also remains fresh in his mind how American General Douglas MacArthur said “thank you” to all Filipino soldiers after the World War II ended.

And he still remembers the names of his five children—Wilma, Elizabeth, Aurora, Ruben and Noel, two of whom are also in their senior years.

"September first, 1917,” Lolo Steve said in a Facebook video call with the Manila Bulletin, vividly remembering his birthdate.

And he was able to share what his secrets were in reaching 103 years old.

Life of prayer, gratitude

While wearing his blue war veteran’s cap, he shared that he begins and ends his day with a prayer.

“Sa gabi bago matulog , magdasal ka, pagkagising, magdasal ka rin, pasasalamat. Magpasalamat ka sa Panginoon na gumising ka na malakas ang katawan mo. (Before you sleep at night, you pray, when you wake up, you also pray to say thank you. You thank the Lord that you wake up in pink of health),” said the retired police officer who hailed from Romblon.

He usually wakes up around 7 a.m., and says his morning prayer in his room located at the second floor. Before he goes down to the dining room for breakfast, he makes the sign of the cross ,and brings along with him his chamber pot or arinola.

To him, living in gratitude and a prayerful life is one of the secrets to a long life.

“Syempre, nagdadasal ka at nagpapasalamat sa Panginoon (Of course, you pray and thank God),” he said.

Healthy diet

A healthy diet for Lolo Steve consists of malunggay tea and pandesal, vitamins.

Lolo Steve never misses his meals, especially his breakfast.

His usual favorite for breakfast is home-made malunggay tea with milk, coupled with a fried egg and a hotdog, and six pieces of pandesal. After breakfast, he drinks a glass of water, and takes his multi-vitamin.

He then goes for a short walk to get some sunshine, and proceeds to his rocking chair, conveniently placed in front of their house so that he could see passers-by, which he regularly engages in chats.

Cat nap and ‘coffee break'

He usually takes a morning nap, and at exactly 10 a.m.,, he would shout, “Coffee break!” Instantly, his two daughters- Wilma, 69, and Elizabeth, 66, would give him a cup of hot malunggay drink with two pieces of pandesal and a glass of water.

In his spare time in the morning, he would watch news programs on television, or read a newspaper.

Between 11:30 to 12 noon, Lolo Steve takes his lunch. He usually eats a piece of fried chicken wing and half-cup of rice. His lunch will not be complete without his favorite malunggay tea with milk and pandesal for his dessert. He then drinks a cup of water, and takes his maintenance medicine for his prostate ailment.

His spare time in the afternoon is devoted to TV watching, and for another nap.

At 2 p.m., he usually eats his snacks of his favourite malunggay tea and pandesal, as well as fried banana or sweet potato, pandit, dirty ice cream, and buko or the coconut meat.

Before 7 p.m., he eats dinner, preferring chicken wings with rice and – again – malunggay tea and pandesal. Sometime, he would ask his daughters to serve him chicken liver or gizzard.

Aside from having healthy food choices, ,Lolo Merano said he has never smoked, and or drank alcohol.

He said the only indulgence he could consider was playing cards with his buddies, something which made his wife angry.

Walking is life

Merano’s youngest son Noel said the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has affected their father’s healthy habits and lifestyle.

“Determinado syang maglakad lakad at makipagkwentuhan. Ang pinakamasakit ay ngayong panahon ng pandemya, stay at home na sya, super bantay kami na hindi sya makalabas ng bahay o compound. Nagtatanong din, bakit hindi sya palabasin kasi manghihina daw sya pag lagi sa bahay at pahiga higa o paupo upo lang (He is fond of walking and chatting.The most painful is during this time of pandemic, he has to stay at home, we’re keeping an eye on him that he could not get out of the house or compound. He asked, why he cannot go out because it will make him weak if he stays at home and habitually does little.),” he said.

Before the pandemic, Noel said his father used to go to his favorite barber shop in Calapan City, and attend mass alone, especially on Sundays.

Noel added his father used to enjoy walking around, sharing banter with neighbors and even strangers he crosses path with.

And he said Lolo Steve would always visit a grotto of the Lady of Lourdes, which was about a 100-meter walk from their home in Calero, Calapan City.

Noel said their father never misses to check on his children and grandchildren before he proceeds to his bedroom to sleep.

“He always inspects the main gate if it is already locked, as well as the doors of our house,” he said.

He said that, during the family rosary which they recite every night, their father always reminds them to "sleep early to have a strong body and maintain a healthy body in the morning.”

When asked about his last secret to longevity, Lolo Steve said: "Dapat mahal mo ang pamilya mo para maayos at mahaba at mahaba ang buhay mo.( You should love your family so that you will have a well-lived, much longer life.”