Advice from Lolo Benny Tantoco: ‘When it’s good, just do it!’
Lolo Benny — Tito Benny — Amba — but “Dad” to me — at 95 years old is very healthy and strong. He has neither major ailments nor has he had any major surgeries in his life. And the secret to his health? It’s his zest for life and his humor. Dad is never alone because my siblings — the grandchildren and great-grandchildren, his brother and sister-in-law and friends — shower him with love.
From breakfast time and morning walks to lunchtime, afternoon pasyal and dinnertime, someone always keeps him company.
Visiting Dad and spending time with him is not a duty. It is a moment I treasure as I look forward to his witty remarks. He makes us laugh all the time and most times he’s serious in his comments — but it is how he says these things that makes us laugh.
Some of them being:
Dad: Bakit ang traffic?
Me: It’s peak hour, Dad. Patience.
Dad: Patience is not my virtue.
* * *
Me: Dad, sit there.
Dad: Bakit?
Me: Because it’s an armchair and at the head of the table.
Dad: Ayoko para akong hari.
Me: But Dad, ikaw ang hari namin.
Dad: Ayoko, maghanap ka ng ibang hari.
* * *
(From Donnie Tantoco):
Dad: If it’s good for you, just do it. No excuses, over-thinking and talking. If it’s bad for you, stop it.
* * *
(Dr. Randy Francisco comes to give Dad and the staff a flu shot):
Randy: Tito Benny, it’s your turn.
Dad: Ano? Akala ko disposable na ako.
* * *
Dad: Saan tayo papasyal?
Tito Ricio (his brother): Kung mayroon lang Sta. Ana Cabaret Pwede tayong sumayaw doon.
Dad: Pati Bayside sarado na rin.
* * *
Dad’s favorite quote: “A meal without dessert is like a date without a kiss.”
* * *
(At Tuan Tuan Restaurant with Jun Valenton):
JV: Tito Benny, it’s my treat tonight.
Me: Jun, we are seven and you are two.
JV: It’s okay, I still want to treat all of you.
Dad: Pag gusto mong di mawalan ng kaibigan, pagbabayarin mo na ako.
JV: Naku, sige po, sige po, another time na lang po.
(As we were leaving):
Dad: Thank you.
JV: Bakit kayo ang nag “Thank you” kayo ang nag treat?
Dad: Thank you for anything.
* * *
Me: Dad, do you remember General Antonio Rustia? I met the daughter-in-law last night and she told me he might be Papa Rustia’s brother.
Dad: I don’t remember, but naalala ko na hinabol ako ni Papa na may dalang .45 caliber kasi tinanan ko Mommy mo.
* * *
Paolo Lobregat: Lolo, how many times do you see your doctors for therapy?
Dad: Three times a week; like church, I never miss it. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.
* * *
Dad: Hindi ako makahinga.
Nurse: Sir, mag-nebulize tayo?
Dad: Hindi, kailangan lumabas ako, at magpasyal, para makahinga ako.
* * *
(One afternoon at St. Luke’s Hospital — he’s allowed to leave between medication times):
Dr. Ruth Divinagracia: Saan ka pumunta?
Dad: Sa Sta. Elena.
Dr. Ruth: Bakit, nag golf ka?
Dad: Nag lunch ako doon.
Dr. Ruth: ’Di ka kumain ng sashimi?
Dad: Sabi mo kasi ’wag.
Dr. Ruth: Ngayong hapon, saan ka pupunta? Sa Starbucks?
Dad: Hindi na, naka bulakbol na ako kaninang umaga.
Dr. Ruth: Maganda na ang lungs mo. One more night na lang. Para sigurado.
Dad: Oo, sige.
Dr. Ruth: Masunurin ka na pasyente.
(From Donnie, during breakfast with his Lolo in the hospital):
Donnie: How are you?
Lolo: (Shouts) I am fine! I am A-OK!
Donnie: You don’t look like a patient; you look like someone who wants to go out on a date. You are so stylish.
Lolo (Looks at how he’s dressed and says): That’s a good idea; I want to go out on a date! (Gestures at the nurse.) Sabihin mo sa doctor bigyan ako ng pass! Gusto kong lumabas.
Donnie: Where are we going?
Lolo: Sta. Elena! But not with you! I want a girl — it’s the women who make me get well! And make me alive!
Donnie: Are you going to eat there?
Lolo: I don’t care about eating! I don’t think about food anymore. I am 95!
Donnie: It’s a good thing you still think about girls.
Lolo (Shouts the obvious): I will never stop thinking about girls!
Donnie (thinking to himself): Lolo will surely live to 100.
* * *
Donnie: Lolo, I noticed that you don’t drink and smoke. Did you ever have those kinds of vices?
Lolo: I don’t drink; our family cannot really drink. I think we are allergic. But I used to smoke a lot!
Donnie: Like, how much is a lot?
Lolo: A lot, I think I smoked two packs a day.
Donnie: Two packs a day? Whoa! For how long and when did you quit?
Lolo (sweeps the air with his hand and says): LONG! I did not know it was a bad thing. I quit when I was about 40 years old. I read somewhere that it was bad pala. I had no idea. But I should have known. Something that good is probably bad for you.
Donnie: How did you quit? That must have been hard…
Lolo: I just quit! I heard it was bad — so I quit!
Donnie: Just like that? They say cigarettes are more addictive than almost anything else.
Lolo: Donnie! No less than the US Surgeon General said that it’s bad! So it’s bad and I have to quit! No excuses! Who am I to argue with the Surgeon General?
Donnie: I see there is another Lolo life lesson here…
Lolo: What? (Wearing an expression that says, “Why do you always turn what I tell you into a life lesson?”)
Donnie: When it is bad, you just stop it!
Lolo: Yes!! And when it’s good, you keep doing it!
* * *
I really don’t know what it means, but he always says, “Don’t talk, sabi ng manok.” Maritess Tantoco-Enriquez
