Hail, nonagenarians!
Published Jun 30, 2023 07:51 pm
MEDIUM RARE
A nonagenarian is someone who’s between 90 and 100 years old. As this is the first day of the second half of the year, it’s a good time to pay tribute to their achievements, good health and good cheer! On her birthday tomorrow, July 2, Imelda R. Marcos will turn 94. The former First Lady is the only person with such a title who is responsible for landmarks such as Heart Center, Kidney Center, Lung Center, and Cul-tural Center. A patient who underwent a procedure recently at Heart Center was all praises for its “young and highly competent” staff of doctors and nurses, especially after he learned that the same type of surgery would’ve cost him two times more at a private hospital. According to a source in Mrs. Marcos’ inner circle, her contemporaries include nonagenarians Lulu Tinio and Ofie Recto, and Nenuca Blardony, 87. Will they be at her “asalto” tonight? Meanwhile, Estelito Mendoza is 93, Juan Ponce Enrile, former President Duterte’s “most intelligent mind in the room,” is hale and hearty at 99. At 92, Letty Hahn doesn’t look her age! Tony Pastor, 2023 Papal Awardee, will be 95 on Nov. 5. He’ll likely celebrate with one of his signature “ter-tulias,” at which he will entertain friends with his piano music and songs. Without fail, Tony begins the day by singing in church and jogging around the block. Dr. Atty. Tony’s style of philanthropy is well-known: directly and personally to those in need. Onofre Pagsanghan, 96, better known as Mr. Pagsi, is the most famous living teacher of Ateneo de Manila in Quezon City. A “brilliant teacher” who handled English and Pilipino with equal ease, he has scored more than 69 years of teaching. When he retired in 2020, he was 93 – a record. According to legend, when he hit the mandato-ry retirement age of 60, school officials were at their wits’ end figuring out how to compensate him properly. After some pencil pushing, the alumni association was called in to flesh out the budget. On his birthday last June 12, Ateneo University Press launched “Pagsibol,” a “nontraditional biography” in speeches, songs, and other writings by Mr. Pagsi. No one has figured out how many students came under his tutelage.