Turning 90 is less about counting years than about counting blessings.

Last Dec. 26, 2025, we marked our 90th birthday surrounded by family, relatives, and close friends — people who have shared not only moments of joy but also seasons of trial, sacrifice, and perseverance. Joining them were former and current staff members who walked with us through decades of public service, political leaders and local officials, and loyal supporters from the Fourth District of Pangasinan, whose trust and faith we have carried with us all these years. It was a celebration not of one life alone, but of many lives intertwined through time.

That our birthday coincided with the fiesta of Dagupan City lent the occasion a deeper meaning. Dec. 26 is celebrated in honor of Saint John the Evangelist, the beloved disciple and faithful witness of Christ’s life and teachings. Known as the apostle of love, Saint John reminds us that leadership is not about self-glorification, but about service — about pointing beyond oneself to a greater good. It is a fitting symbol for any public servant reflecting on a long journey.

As we looked around that day, we were reminded that whatever contributions we may have made were never accomplished alone. From our early years as a young journalist in the 1950s, to diplomatic service in a war-torn Vietnam, to work in entrepreneurship across the Middle East and North Africa, and later in the halls of Congress and the demanding realm of parliamentary and peace diplomacy, every step was shaped by colleagues, supporters, and critics alike. Their presence, support, and even their disagreements sharpened purpose and sustained resolve.

Public service is a demanding calling. It requires difficult choices, resilience in the face of defeat, and the courage to stand by one’s convictions. Over the years, we have known both victory and loss, affirmation and disappointment. Experience teaches that neither triumph nor failure is permanent, and that perspective is often gained only with time.

At 90, one becomes acutely aware that life is lived on borrowed time. The pace slows, the “batteries,” as we sometimes say, are no longer what they used to be, but the sense of gratitude deepens. We remain thankful to God, to the Filipino people, and most especially to the people of Pangasinan’s Fourth District, for the privilege of participating in moments that helped shape our nation’s political, economic, and social life.

If there is one lesson this milestone reinforces, it is that a life finds its meaning not in titles held or years accumulated, but in service rendered, relationships nurtured, and the quiet hope that one’s efforts, however modest, helped leave the world a little better than it was found.

For that gift — of life, of service, and of companionship on this long journey — we remain profoundly grateful.