Pancit chronicles: The road to 100

Have you ever wondered if the pancit you eat on your birthdays will help you live a long life?

Last week, the House of Representatives passed House Bill No. 7535 on its third and final reading, increasing cash benefits for Filipino centenarians who reach 101 years old from P100,000 to P1 million. This bill was approved by 257 members of Congress in an effort to honor and support them. Considering that the average life expectancy in the Philippines is 71 years old, reaching this age is already a remarkable achievement. According to Lottie, a UK-based care home marketplace, there are two centenarians for every 100,000 Filipinos in the Philippines as of 2020. According to another recent World Bank study, the Philippines ranked 132-144 out of 200 countries and territories with the highest average life expectancy. So, when you reach the age of 80 (octogenarian), you may be one of the few Filipinos who have lived a long life – and you may be able to assume that the pancit’s magic worked.

The vision of active centenarian living can be a powerful motivator. Sharing inspiring stories of active centenarians and demonstrating the direct relationship between their lifestyle choices, preventive health care and exceptional vitality can provide compelling motivation for change. To be realistic, there is a lot to unpack in order to raise the average lifespan in the country.

The desire to live to the age of 100 in good health and activity may appear audacious, but it is far from impossible. According to my observations, there is a disparity that is significantly influenced by the prevalent attitude toward health testing. The culture of seeking medical attention only when symptoms become severe impedes early disease detection, resulting in a lower life expectancy. A paradigm shift toward preventive health care is required to bridge this gap and bring the vision of active centenarian living closer to reality. Regular health testing is at the heart of preventive health care, allowing for the early detection of conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and various types of cancer. This early detection improves prognosis and survival rates significantly, paving the way for longer, healthier lives.

The prevalent health care mindset in the Philippines is largely reactive, often due to financial constraints, a lack of awareness and mistrust of medical procedures. This attitude toward health testing leads to late-stage diagnoses and lower treatment success rates. Education and advocacy campaigns will be critical in achieving the significant jump from the current average life expectancy of 71 to an active centenarian life. Filipinos must understand the significance of preventive care and early detection, as well as practical ways to incorporate these into their daily lives. Government agencies, health care providers and community leaders should work together to make health testing more accessible, affordable and reliable.

Poverty contributes significantly to the failure to treat many illnesses and diseases at an early stage. The majority of Filipinos are one hospitalization away from poverty. A single treatment or admission to a private hospital can result in a bill ranging in the hundreds of thousands to millions of pesos. While public hospitals are also an option, state-funded medical facilities have limitations. Most Filipinos lack access to basic public health care and cannot afford to have their health conditions checked for fear of emptying their wallets to purchase the prescribed medication or receive the necessary treatment. Many of our kababayans are paralyzed by the fear of becoming a financial burden, causing them to forego treatment, eventually leading to death.

I support preventive health care because it is a proactive approach that focuses on preventing illnesses or catching them early when they are most treatable. But in this country, I fully understand that not everyone has the potential to be proactive in their health as much as they want to because of economic and social constraints. Keeping this in mind, the government health sector and its partner agencies should make certain that the public can benefit from universal health care. Health programs that cater to this should be a staple in every barangay to ensure that everyone has a chance to live a healthy life from the moment they are born until they take their last breath.

As a country with internationally renowned health care professionals, we should be able to capitalize on Filipino health care talent. This pool of talent has the potential to be a game changer in the transition to a preventive health care culture. With their experience, training and compassion, these professionals can play a critical role in raising awareness, dispelling myths and encouraging Filipinos to embrace regular health testing.

Startups can also be disruptive in the health care industry. They can help to improve the average lifespan not only in the Philippines, but globally, because of their inherent innovative mindset. Startups can create solutions that make preventive health care and regular health testing more accessible, affordable and efficient by leveraging cutting-edge technology, artificial intelligence and data analytics. We can capitalize on this potential, particularly in rural areas, which are home to the majority of health care issues. Telemedicine platforms, for example, can make health care professionals more accessible, allowing for earlier consultation and diagnosis. AI-powered applications can help users monitor health parameters and detect potential health issues. Wearable technology-focused health-tech startups can continuously monitor vital signs, encouraging users to maintain a healthy lifestyle and alerting them to potential health risks.

These innovations, when combined with the proactive participation of Filipino health care professionals, have the potential to result in a significant shift in health outcomes. Furthermore, these solutions have the potential to push the global average lifespan further, bringing us closer to the goal of active centenarian living.

On their birthdays, Filipinos traditionally eat pancit to symbolize a long and prosperous life. However, its claimed “magic” is insufficient to extend lifespan and maintain quality of life into the later years, ensuring active mobility and vitality even at the age of 100. Improving the average life expectancy in the Philippines requires a shift in attitude toward health testing. Filipinos can aspire to live active, fulfilling lives by embracing preventive health care with the help of technological advancement. This vision can become a reality with the combined efforts of all sectors of society, advancing the nation toward improved health equity and longevity.