Senescence or the last half of life; changing approach to Spratlys dispute

It may sound morbid but birthdays are a good time to think about death. G. Stanley Hall wrote Senescence: The Last Half of Life in 1922. It has since been acclaimed as one of the more perceptive books on aging. I agree with those who have praised it. It is the only book I have read on old age that is optimistic and positive. It was reviewed by Jill Lepore in the New Yorker and I had wanted a copy of the book so I asked a son to look for it in bookstores. One bookstore said, “no way.” The book is out of print. Of course, it would be. It was published in 1922. But the friendly bookstore said he would arrange to get him a reprint of a single copy. It was a good copy and every night I get to read a page or two.

G. Stanley Hall is also known for coining the word adolescence. But what interests me is his study of old age and how he has put it under scientific light. Hall thought of himself as “the Darwin of the mind.” He wrote that over the course of our lives, we — our minds, our souls — recapitulate the evolution of the species.

We should not worry about getting old. He cites men and women have been living longer through the years, extending their lives beyond what is expected more and more. How often have we heard that the new 60 is 70 and the new 50 is 60 and so on. The life expectancy of men and women for him is a sign that we are prolonging life as a matter of course therefore we should not think of growing old as moving towards death or dementia. He adds that the scientific revolt against death has deprived us of our humanity. We can accept death without succumbing to its dread. The young also die. Bu their deaths are exceptions and not the subject of this study. What we are talking about here is the normal span of life and what we can do to enhance its second half to change our attitudes about aging.

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There are interesting developments on the Spratlys issue on the Vietnam front that we should not miss. Vietnam has changed its approach to the territorial dispute with China by cracking down on anti-Chinese protesters. It is a wise move.

After tolerating weekly protests in front of the Chinese Embassy in Hanoi for more than a month, the Vietnamese government has moved to stop these, presumably, to create a better atmosphere for negotiations. They understand the realpolitik of give and take and therefore would be in a better position to negotiate. It understands that precipitate statements and protests can make all the difference in finding or not finding a peaceful solution. According to a recent report protesters against China were detained for several hours.

In the Philippines, discussion on the issue has been exacerbated by antagonistic headlines designed to tilt public opinion in favor of an agenda that is not even ours. This limits the space for other approaches in solving the problem.

Therefore a more discriminate and informed media is to be desired. We need a wide latitude for information that would ensure good relations with the region’s new superpower. There are other ways to manage our claim to the Spratlys other than sensational headlines. And it is not true that bringing it to the UN is the only choice we have to push for our claim. I would be grateful for information that would corroborate such optimism.

Happily the South China Sea issue will be taken up in the Asean conference in Bali. This is the opportunity for the different claimants to talk with China and with each other.

The interest of the US on free navigation in the region is a matter that should be taken up by the rival powers themselves and should be separated from the claimants’ issue.

Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alberto del Rosario spoke about abstracting the Spratlys issue from our bilateral agenda. That bilateral agenda is not helped by speaking on behalf of other countries’ interests.

Raul Hernandez, the new spokesman for foreign affairs says both China and the Philippines are committed “to fully implement their joint Action Plan and to focus on advancing practical cooperation in all areas of our relations, including trade, investment, agriculture and food safety, tourism, education, defense, and addressing transnational crimes.”

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MISCELLANY: In the Philippines the FVR-RP Dev should help to have a more informed public opinion and a balanced reaction to conflicts like the Spratlys dispute with China. The foundation of the former president is holding its 11th FVR-RPDEV lecture on July 21 at 1.30 pm at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium of the RCBC Plaza. The former president would be a good point person to find ways for a peaceful settlement of the Philippine Spratlys claim. He is a friend to both the Americans and the Chinese. Although the topic of the lecture is “Competition and a Level Playing Field”, I hope someone will bring up the suggestion that he play a more active role in negotiating for a peaceful settlement.

After all the remit of RP Dev lectures is to raise awareness and promote discussion on issues affecting regional and local development. Because of his experience and wide contacts in Chinese government and business, he is well respected and can make a difference. On July 18, there will be a launch of his book FVR Sermons at 3 pm in the Champagne Salon in Manila Hotel.   

The BOAO Forum could be one of his vehicles to communicate to Filipinos and Chinese alike.

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With the Azkals’ splendid victory 4-0 against Sri Lanka, the interest in football as the country’s national sport is at fever pitch. In my email is an invitation from Mitch Moreno, producer of Happyland, the story of how poor boys in Tondo are learning to be football champions despite the squalor and misery of their lives. There’ll be a special screening of Happyland at Fully Booked in Bonifacio on July 23. For only P300 you can help these poor boys become football champions. The movie is the first Filipino football film written and directed by the internationally acclaimed Kim Libiran. Screening hours are every hour from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. For more information call or text 0917-8915477.