The past two weeks have seen two persons close to me depart this earth. One was my 96-year-old eldest sister who stumbled and fell breaking her arm in the process, then suffered two heart attacks due to the stress. The second was my youngest sister’s mother-in-law who was 106. Yes, that’s correct. She was a centenarian, and so was my mother who lived to 103.

We are all in awe of these persons’ longevity. Certainly, good genes run in certain families, and these persons are blessed. Research shows that both father and mother contribute good genes, though maternal influence tends to be stronger due to their extra genetic contribution through mitochondrial DNA, which are only passed on by mothers.

But while heredity plays a big role in longevity, it accounts for only 20-30 percent of lifespan. So, for those who aren’t “blessed,” there is still room for a longer life beyond what is considered a normal lifespan for Filipinos, which are 67 years for males and 73 years for women. The Philippines rank 24th among Asian countries and 119th in the world for life expectancy, a crying shame.

The big difference is the lack of access to health care and poor health education. Many Filipinos still die without seeing a doctor. No amount of good genetics will help if people can’t get good medical care when they’re ill. That says a lot about our health care system.

The above persons were given the best of health care that money can buy. So, it is not surprising that they lived long. Maximizing lifespan is still a societal function, both by government in terms of access to health care and individually, through lifestyle choices.

It is a good thing that PhilHealth is now stepping up its outpatient care game with the establishment of Yakap (Yaman ng Kalusugan Program) Centers which offer free consultations, lab tests, cancer screening and up to P20,000 in free medicines. This is a big shift from its former emphasis on just in-patient benefits, which to begin with was, and still is limited to the more common ailments. And get this, until recently, you were not covered if you were re-admitted for the same diagnosis within 90 days.

With free medicines being offered, there should be no excuse to have your hypertension or diabetes controlled. But here, the self-care aspect becomes more important. I often hear, even from close friends and relatives, that they stop their maintenance medications because they feel good.

I try to explain that just because you don’t feel anything, it doesn’t mean the condition is not already causing damage to your internal organs. You may be asymptomatic yet hypertension is already causing havoc on the blood vessels supplying the heart, brain and kidneys, three major organs that will fail in time causing heart attacks, strokes and kidney failure, all of which may be fatal. But many just shrug it off, with a “bahala na” attitude. In that case, you can’t aspire to live as long as your genetic potential will allow you.

Personal habits also play a big role in maintaining good health, both good and bad. Good habits include maintaining your ideal weight, eating nutritious food in the right quantities, exercising regularly, sleeping seven to eight hours a day, keeping in touch with friends and family and just being happy to be alive at this point in time.

Bad habits are smoking and drinking too much, eating way beyond your basal metabolic rate, poor sleeping patterns, lack of exercise and being isolated from friends, family and society in general.

Those who have chronic illnesses are more likely to suffer more and have shorter lives. Certainly, their lives will be much better if they practice good habits and let go of the bad ones. It is never too late to change for the better in terms of health.

Another finding is that the more the elderly interact with younger generations, the better their lives are. Guess the youthful vibes and enthusiasm are invigorating to us elders. I certainly enjoy my relationships with our pathology residents who update me on the latest trends in exchange for the training I give them.

Living longer should not be just the goal. Living better should be, with quality of life more important than quantity. What good is a long life if you are confined to a wheelchair and can’t do the ordinary things we take for granted, like a stroll in the garden to smell the flowers or rising early to see the sunrise? The 105-year-old Pilar was still singing and dancing on her own two feet at her last birthday celebration, much to the delight of family and friends.

Longevity is a blessing, only if you can still enjoy life.