Robin thinks green

MANILA, Philippines - When your husband says he feels his time on Earth is short, you just don’t knock on wood. You do something about it.

Mariel Rodriguez did just that. When Robin Padilla told her he thinks he won’t live a long life because he feels old, she came up a solution. 

The TV host promised Robin she’ll prolong his life by embracing everything organic.

“Kaya niya ako dinala sa ganito,” Robin told the press who joined him on a trip to LAC Farms, a sprawling property devoted to organic plants in Sta. Rosa, Nueva Ecija.

The action star and Mariel were there to check out the source of materials for Robin’s latest endorsement, ASCOF Lagundi. The couple shared an all-organic lunch of rice, free-range chicken, eggplant and others. With them was Robin’s older brother Rommel, who himself owns a big tract of land planted to organic rice, eggplant, malunggay and others.

“Si Kuya Omeng (Rommel), ang iniinom ng anak niya, Ascof,” Robin said.

He himself can speak on and on about the organic lifestyle. Robin has a whole arsenal of organic tools to make his life all-natural and prolong it.

Organic deodorant, shampoo, toothpaste, plants and of course, food- — you name it, Robin and Mariel have it. 

When they’re abroad, the couple goes out of their way to look for restaurants serving organic food.

At home, the Padilla backyard is lined with calamansi, okra (lady’s finger), pechay (Chinese cabbage), carrots and kale.

Robin loves taking photos of Mariel’s organic plants as proof that he and his wife walk the talk.

“You sleep better if you have an organic way of life. Mawawala ang discomfort sa katawan. Magaan ang paggising. Kami ni Mariel, asaran lang kami buong araw. Wala kaming problems sa energy.”

Robin could no longer recall the last time he and Mariel had an argument because the organic lifestyle keeps his blood pressure in the normal level.

“Hindi tayo kumakain ng pampa-high blood,” related Robin.

Mariel added, “People who are into organic things are happy people.”

She herself has her own feel-good story to tell.

Mariel admitted she used to hate okra because it looks slimy and yucky to her. But since the humble vegetable made her daily trips to the toilet regular and comforting, Mariel has become a believer.

“I love okra! Before, super duper minsan lang ako pumunta sa toilet. Ngayon, regular at daily na. Hallelujah! Ramdam mo inside!”

Robin’s concern is more on the medicinal value of organic food and how it leaves no side effects the way synthetic drugs do. “There are medicines that treat an illness but destroy the liver.”

Organic food, he explained, is God’s gift for us to live a long and happy life.

His doctor can attest to this.

“Sabi nya sa akin, I have the body of an 18-year-old!”

And so, Robin feels duty bound as a celebrity to preach the gospel of organic living.

“Galing tayo sa lupa. So dapat lahat ng gamot natin at kinakain galing sa lupa.”

He dreams of the day when every Filipino will have even a small plot of land planted to vegetables and organic produce.

“Ang daming lupa na hindi napapakinabangan. Ang daming nasasayang na lupa. Sana magkaroon tayo ng honest-to-goodness green revolution.”

He cited the case of modern cities like New York, where, according to his sibling BB Gandanghari, residents are required to plant, even on rooftops.

Robin and Mariel have also gone to Spain and other parts of Europe and marveled at how the residents embrace the organic lifestyle.

Meanwhile, Mariel and Robin appeared to have grown closer and stronger than ever as a couple after Mariel suffered a miscarriage recently. Robin was quoted as saying that they were shocked over the loss of their first baby together and hoped that it will never happen again.