For Edu, age does matter

Take it from Edu Manzano who, at 59, looks 10 (make it 20) years younger.

“Age does matter,” said Edu (and he’s not joking), “that’s why all of us should be conscious of our health as we get older.”

Like wine, as the cliché goes, Edu mellows with the years and it helps a lot if you have a sense of humor and you look at the bright side of life. With Sexy 60 looming at the bend, Edu will start taping for Bridges, a drama series on ABS-CBN (where he used to have a late-night show) “just testing the waters if I am up to three-times-a-week taping,” adding still in jest that he’s playing the young Xian Lim, one of his co-stars.  

“I will be a senior-citizen card holder next year and I am proud of it,” Edu admitted without blinking. The card entitles holders to 20 percent discount and that means a lot these days, doesn’t it?

It helps, too, that he has just been enlisted as endorser (along with Lorna Tolentino) of Watsons Generics, the newest entrant to the growing uni-branded medicine market.

I’m sure you inspire a lot of people by aging gracefully…and joyfully.

“Actually, the reason why I’m trying to stay healthy is because I want to fully enjoy the benefits of being a senior citizen. But seriously, I want to be healthier so I could spend more quality time with my family, with Luis, Adi and Enzo. I want to be able to do everything with my children, like last year when we went to Istanbul together. Now we plan on going to New Zealand, Australia maybe the Great Wall of China, Cambodia or Laos. Dati-dati hindi ko sila nasasabayan but now with my lifestyle change, I feel more fit. I don’t want them to make compromises, na hindi nila magagawa yung gusto nila because of me.”

No more unhealthy habits?

“It’s been a year since I’ve quit smoking and drinking. I’ve been staying away from social drinking as much as I can. I’m not getting any younger, so I’ve become more careful with what I do, with what I eat, something which can be quite difficult sometimes, because I have several restaurants.” (Edu co-owns Lucky Rainbow in Pasong Tamo, Makati City; Blacksheep at Bonifacio Global City; and Erwin’s Gastropub soon to open at the City of Dreams.)

Is it true that you can “talk” to your body?

“You have to listen to your body, because it sends out signals. There are times na if you walk and you have pain in your knees, for example, maybe that is the time you have to lose some weight na.”

It’s good that your job is not sedentary and requires you to move a lot. You know, a rolling stone gathers no moss. How do you keep fit (and fabulous)?

“I do TRX exercises and treadmill; I also love to bike. I like to be active, ayoko nang nasa bahay lang. Or if I stay home, I keep on walking, I rearrange the house. Instead of going to the gym I have someone who comes to the house for stretching, mga 45 minutes ‘yon. Grabe ang pawis mo after that, para ka na rin nag-yoga.”

Are you taking any maintenance medicine?

“Ako, I often joke about taking maintenance medicine, but it really depends on what kind of lifestyle you have. Ageing men who think they don’t need vitamins and supplements are wrong, because there is no such thing as being ‘forever young’ without doing anything about it. It’s not just about looking good but also feeling good.”

Do you go generics?

“Oh yes, Watsons Generics. I’ve been a regular customer even before the brand came to the Philippines, kaya nga napaka-timely when Watsons got me as an endorser for their new generics line. When I’m abroad, I drop by Watsons to stock up on medicine, kaya laging puno ‘yung cabinet ko just in case any of my family members need it. Sometimes nga, napapasobra at inaabot na ng expiration. But since Watsons Generics is here na, I don’t have to stock a lot because there will always be a Watsons nearby.”

What do you look for in  generic medicine?

“Three things: Expertise, quality and affordability. I switched to Watsons Generics because I believe in their cause. Watsons has been in the business for over 170 years and they have been consistently the No. 1 pharmacy brand in Asia for six years now.”

And what vitamins and/or minerals are you taking?

“Multivitamins + Iron, and Vitamin B complex to keep myself fit and energized. I have a new discovery --- the Calamansi-flavored Psyllium Fiber drink that has become my favorite.”

(The generic medicines carried by Watsons Generics are manufactured by trusted pharmaceutical partners which include local manufacturers such as United Laboratories Inc., Pharex HealthCorp, and Innogen Pharmaceuticals Inc., as well as international companies such as Now Foods [USA], Sandoz [Slovenia, Germany, Austria, Turkey, and Indonesia], and Steinbach Products, Inc. [India and China].)

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