At 55, Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez hardly seems like a poster boy for hypertension. But he is - literally.

Gomez, husband of Cong Lucy Torres, revealed that he started taking medicine for hypertension during the pandemic.

"You ask if I take maintenance, yes, I am taking medicine for hypertension just during the pandemic," said Gomez during a recent Zoom event entitled "Usapang Puso sa Puso: Father's Day Special, Puso ni Daddy Sinlakas pa ba ng Haligi?" sponsored by the Philippine Heart Association Inc. and Philippine College of Cardiology.

He added: "My doctor is Dr. Rhodette Arevalo, president of the PHA Eastern Visayas Chapter. Siguro because of the pandemic nag high blood ako."

The politician-actor said that everything is okay now as he maintains a healthy lifestyle.

"I take my medicine and I try to eat a balanced diet. I fence, do exercise three times a week or walking and sometimes, I do yoga," he said.

Asked how the pandemic influenced his diet and eating, Gomez said: "The pandemic has brought time to a lot of meetings and eating. But I try to limit my food intake. I eat healthy. Try lang. But you know, bantay talaga. I want to live a long, quality life so that I can enjoy my time with Lucy and daughter Juliana. It is really a balance of diet and activity which is very important."

Gomez also said that the pandemic changed his schedules. He goes to the office early because there are many things to do. "I used to do my extracurricular activities after office, but now I get to do it on weekends."

On being a dad to his only child, Juliana, Gomez said: "I am a very relaxed person, especially with Juliana. I always tell her I am very fortunate because at 55, I am able to do fencing with her, and do a lot of activities with her. I tell her I keep myself healthy. That way, I can enjoy more quality time with your loved ones. I have to be healthy kaya everything is in moderation for my loved ones. You can eat good food, a little alcohol. I do it that way again in moderation.

Gomez also said that aside from cooking and fencing, he and his daughter exercise a lot together, fencing and yoga together. "When it comes to cooking, we complement each other. I cook. She's into baking and does the dessert."

Goma said he is also busy with his vlog for more than one year now."I started that actually, pre-pandemic, January 2020. While I was doing my first three vlogs. The pandemic came and then I still continued. I have done more than a year of cooking on YouTube. I try to prepare simple dishes. It's my language of love. It's fun, my recipes are easy to follow," he said.Gomez is a staunch frontliner of the CPR-Ready PH Campaign with the PHA. He shot the infomercial free of charge, and his only request was to d the shoot in Ormoc.

The city mayor encouraged all fathers to take good care of themselves "so that you can give quality time and be present during meal time."

"It's best to have a healthy heart, body. Give time to your wife and kids," Gomez added.