WORDS AND OLD AGE

Words, meaning, and languages mark Man as the highest form of God’s creations.  In the beginning was The Word, and The Word was with God, and the Word was God – is attributed and contained in the Bible.

These are some of my musings, being near the ripe age of 80 in a few months, due to more and more alone-times that bring quiet reflection away from the noise of the city and and its many diversions. Panahon ng pagmumuni-muni, wika nga sa Tagalog.

The times have gone so fast, and it is not hard to believe. Parang kahapon lamang ay nasa escuelahan, ngayon ay nagdadala na ng apo sa escuelahan. Only the young feel time to be too slow, wanting to get older faster than necessary, unknowing of the fact that the old envy the youth for being young.

While some denigrate the old for being old, due to the Western philosophy of thinking that economic contribution to society is the measurement of a life well-lived; our Oriental mind focuses instead on the wisdom of the old still sharing their views and opinions in the comfort of the ancestral home, or during meals together. This is a more humane way of waiting for the call of St. Peter for the soul’s  trip to extra-terrestial experience, rather than playing mahjong with fellow oldies surrounded by concrete walls not unlike a prison for the useless and unproductive — as what developed countries provide.

Asian societies have a better view about getting old.  The Senior Citizen’s Card here in the Philippines is not a tag to be ashamed of, and as a matter of fact, some youthful non-seniors affect an old aura and a fake SC i.d. card, just to benefit from the 20% discount in restaurants and some groceries. Only in the Philippines, as they say, that the olds are not ashamed of being old; where the young pretend to be old or disabled, only for the much needed discount. Haha. It’s really more funds in the Philippines!