Bananas for Life

Rotaract Club of Mactan Certified Wheelchair Assessor Clemen Becbec interviewing Lola Nabel. 

Meet 87 years old Lola Nabel. 

On a wheelchair assessment program in Lapu-Lapu Auditorium Lapu-Lapu City on 23th September I met her for an interview. At first glance you’d notice her extraordinary beauty and radiance at her age. The way she handled herself on a wheelchair in silence and smiles has captivated much of our attention.  She creates this spark of curiosity in me wanted to know about her health, her lifestyle and of course how she maintained herself very well. I've asked few questions about her that you might find helpful about your health. 

So here’s the conversation with Lola Nabel. 
Hey! These questions does not necessarily appear to the wheelchair assessment form. =)

Me: Lola kanus-a imong birthday ug pila nay edad nimo? (How old are you now?)

Lola Nabel:  States the correct date, month & year and said 87 nako. (I’m already 87 years old)

Me:  Unsay sekreto nimo Lola Nabel nga bisan nagwheelchair nka active ug maayo paman kaayo ka ug memory? (What are your secrets that at your age you still able to hear and speak so well even having good memory?)

Lola Nabel: Dli ko mukaon ug baboy. Bisan isda dili ko mukaon. Ug tagaan ko ako jud iuli nila kay dili man ko mukaon. Akoang kan-on ra kay SAGING nga Lakatan. (I don’t eat pork even fish. If they will give me those I will return it back to them cause I don't eat. I only eat Banana during meals)

Me:  Saging lang imong sud-an? (You only eat banana every meal daily?)

Lola Nabel: Oo, upat ka saging sa usa ka adlaw ako ipares ug kan-on. (Yes, four bananas a day with rice.)

Me: Naa ba kay history sa stroke ug diabetic? (Have you been stroked before and diagnosed as diabetic?)

Lola Nabel: Wala. Dli man pud ko diabetic. 37 raman akoang sugar level. Giingnan paman gani ko sa doctor nga pakan-on ug daghan para madugangan akoang sugar. (No, I’m not. I’m also not diabetic because my sugar level is 37. The doctors even advised me to eat more because of my low sugar level)

Me: Insisting. Lola, unsa paman sekreto nimo sa imong pagkalagsik? (Is there any secret that you’d like to share to us to be healthy and active?)

Lola Nable strikes a pose.

Lola Nabel: Gawas sa Saging nag-Ensure pud ko. Dili lang jud mukaon ug baboy ug isda.  (Aside from Banana I also take Ensure Milk. Just no pork and fish.)

I was choked by the last statement because her health mantra is a combination of one fresh fruit and milk with no pork and fish. Imagine four banana’s and a ENSURE brand of milk brought her so well at the age of 87? Isn't that disturbingly surprising? 

Now, imagine yourself reaching at the age of 87 just like Lola Nabel. Hearing so well, answering so quick over a family conversation, not the typical old man lying on a couch. See the big difference? I'm thinking this banana mantra alone is not the secret but it basically tells us that we have to go back to basics. Ignore meat, go for fruits! They are so rich in antioxidants. 

#DSWD Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu Annual Anniversary
#Latter Day Saints Mission with Rotary Club of Mactan, Banilad-Metro, Gloria Maris District 3860
#Rotaract Mactan Certified Wheelchair Assessors

State of Mind

Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. My friend Albert Einstein reminded me of his quote this morning over the internet.

I would ask you. 

Did it occur to you sometimes? Being insane and doing nothing?

A dream that is sleeping for the longest time which you let slip away? Who wouldn't dream of travelling around the world? Who wouldn't want to be in heaven?

The truth hurts. We all want to be in heaven but nobody wants to die. 

Whatever comes to your mind, WAKE-UP! It aint going anywhere if we keep ourselves in a  state of INSANITY.

We've been there every once in a while. Stuck in a rut wanting to move out.

But what’s the difference? What separates the successful over the failure? 

One thing: They do something about it.

If you ask me, I've been there too. Worst times you bet. 

It really had me when I was young and it took me more years; more PAIN to decide. 

I was 21 - I was very broke.  I have a job but I was brokenhearted.  I was devastated over a failed relationship for two years. Imagine a brokenhearted man who wants to kill a man. 

But I decided otherwise. I have decided to take REVENGE!

No, not literally what you're thinking. I've decided to do something about it. I have decided to do something for myself. I didn't know yet how but I will definitely move forward. Perhaps something that I can improve and something that would somehow make her regret. That was what I thought. Its really a big emotional why.

That day, that moment of DECISION was the time my sun started shining. I have opened myself to unlimited possibilities of opportunities later on. 

Couple of months I exposed myself to fitness. I enrolled myself to a gym. I felt good. I gained more confidence. I gained new friends. The usual skinny and pimpled faced is now less than superman himself. If not, even better.

After a year I got myself an opportunity to LEAD. I revived the club I joined in college and gathered pioneering members of the Rotaract Mactan Community –Based. It's basically a nonprofit organization who helps and makes a difference. There I had the chance to improve myself.  Later on I meet abnormal people. Abnormal because of their income and yet you will be amazed because they have the luxury of time to be at SERVICE. I was exposed to charity works; humanitarian and social programs.

All in all I really had a great time. I've learned more interesting things than usual. I explored, traveled and diversified myself in different aspects. I met new faces. I became happier and much healthier person.

What's my point and what's in it for you?

Simple. 

We all have our own unique insanity every once or more in our lives. It might occur in a different time zone but let it not stop all our dreams. Instead make it as a compelling reason to move forward. To chase those sleeping dreams and improve. To go beyond the past and to make yourself even better in the future.

Everything including our brokenness and failure is just a state of mind. And if you don't get this then you are probably INSANE. 

Note: This piece is my Basic Speech 4 at Pueblo Verde Toastmasters Club. I don't mind for comments and suggestions for improvement. =)