Juan Ponce Enrile attributes long, healthy life to ‘saluyot’

MANILA, Philippines — Former senator Juan Ponce Enrile, who will be celebrating his 95th birthday on Feb. 14, said his secret to longevity is eating saluyot or jute, apart from regular sleep and exercise.

“My secret in fighting ageing is saluyot. My foods are dinengdeng. Every Sunday, that is what I’m eating,” Enrile said in an interview on 92.3 News FM.

Enrile was referring to a bagoong (fish sauce)-based soup dish from the Ilocos region made from vegetables such as saluyot and topped with grilled or fried fish.

Enrile, however, also mentioned he has no strict diet.

“I eat lechon, chicharon, adobo, pork chop and bagnet,” Enrile said.

“I’m just avoiding food rich in uric. I am not diabetic, but I’m prone to uric acid (yet still) I eat monggo with ampalaya leaves and chicharon.”

In another interview, Enrile also mentioned he controls the amount of rice he eats.

“I don’t eat rice in the evening when I already ate rice in the morning and at noon. I eat not more than a cup (per meal),” Enrile said.

Apart from a healthy diet, the veteran lawmaker, who is seeking a comeback in for this year’s elections, added he sleeps eight hours and maintains a regular exercise routine, stressing he has to exercise every day to maintain his balance.

In response to questions on his longevity, Enrile posted on his Facebook page that he continues to drink alcohol but has quit smoking.

“I began smoking cigarettes when I was 10 years old. I stopped when I was 60 years old. I used to consume between two to three packs of cigarettes a day,” Enrile shared.

“I drink alcohol moderately – half a glass of wine or half a bottle of beer. I seldom drink whiskey or brandy,” he said.

As he gears up for the campaign, the former senator allayed doubts on his capacity to campaign for the upcoming elections, saying, “How I feel today is the same way that I felt when I was 70, the same way that I felt when I was 60.”

To keep his mind sharp, Enrile reads books covering the economy, foreign policy, history and geography as well as using the internet to research on trending issues.

The soon-to-be-95 former statesman also admitted that he personally responds to questions and comments on his Facebook page, citing that he is “self-taught” in using the computer.

“I think man can adapt to its environment, for one thing. If you are not lazy to learn, even an old man like me can learn the things that are known and familiar to the young,” Enrile said. 

“Your brain can be as young or as old as you want it. If you want to have a young brain, just don’t use it. If you want an old brain, fill it with ideas and information,” he added.

“I’m not going to use my brawn, my legs or my arms. I will not wrestle with anybody in the Senate. I’m going to think and decide for a country,” he earlier said, adding that he is “ready” for another six years if elected again to the Senate.