ESPRESSO MORNINGS
By Joe Zaldarriaga
He was the architect behind Meralco’s most celebrated milestones in the field of communications— steering the company to five-time Company of the Year honors at the Philippine Quill Awards and leading the only PR team ever named Team of the Year in the history of the Anvil Awards.
Manong Joe’s leadership also extends as a respected member of the Board of Trustees for the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP), concurrent with his role as Chairman of the International Association of Business Communicators Philippines (IABC Philippines) where he also served as its President.
Manong Joe is a distinguished awardee of the medallion of honor and scroll of commendation from the University of Manila, owing to his years in public service as a communications professional. He shares his insights through columns in renowned publications, including The Philippine Star’s The Z Factor, and Philippine News Agency’s ESPRESSO MORNINGS.
Last week, I found myself being prepared by doctors and nurses for an angioplasty after what was supposed to be a routine checkup quickly escalated into something far more serious: a stent had to be installed in my vein—the one ominously nicknamed the “widowmaker.”
The procedure thankfully went well due to the expertise of Dr. Ariel Miranda and Dra. Lourdes Santos, and I am now in the process of recovery. The top-notch, world-class service of Cardinal Santos Medical Center (CSMC) also made my situation bearable. I highly recommend this hospital for those with heart issues.
When my high school classmate Jake Peralta checked on me after my procedure, it suddenly dawned on me—we have all hit our senior years. Our reunions, once filled with laughter about careers and family milestones, now circle back to one recurring theme: health. This time, I became the topic.
The experience was sobering. It reminded me that while hospitals in Metro Manila can immediately handle emergencies like mine, across the country, many medical centers still lack specialists and specialized facilities that cater to the unique needs of the elderly.
While many innovations have been made in the medical field to prolong human life, the reality is that we are not necessarily living healthier lives. And the truth is, our government health system is not designed for the demands of an aging population.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, as of 2025, senior citizens or Filipinos aged 60 and above, numbered close to 11 million. This is equivalent to 9.6 percent of the country’s 113.7 million population. At this pace, the Philippines is expected to cross the mark to an aging population by 2030, with the elderly projected to comprise around 11 percent by 2030. That’s millions of people who will need care tailored to the realities of aging—mobility issues, chronic conditions like arthritis and diabetes, memory issues, and the need for emotional support to address concerns such as isolation.
Earlier this year, the Commission on Population and Development called for an assessment of current policies on aging to address gaps so that necessary adjustments can be made, which I hope would include government funding and support for geriatric care.
Most seniors are left to navigate a fragmented system here in the country: general hospitals that treat them like any other patient, barangay health centers that lack geriatric specialists, and families who are left to care for aging loved ones without professional guidance and support. It is a patchwork approach that leaves too many vulnerable.
Geriatric care is not just about treating disease—it is about managing the complex interplay of conditions that come with age. A senior recovering from a heart procedure, for instance, may also struggle with diabetes, arthritis, or memory loss. Each condition affects the other, and without coordinated care, recovery becomes harder.
Specialized facilities would provide integrated services: cardiology, neurology, physical therapy, nutrition, and mental health support, all under one roof. Most importantly, they would give seniors a space where their dignity is preserved, where aging is not seen as a burden but as a natural stage of life deserving respect and care.
The government cannot afford to treat geriatric care as an afterthought. Just as it invests in maternal health and child welfare, it must now recognize elder care as a pillar of public health. Of course, this is easier said than done, but the country can start by allocating budget for infrastructure and social support—establishing geriatric wards in public hospitals and eventually, stand-alone geriatric hospitals or centers.
Beyond infrastructure, the government should also expand PhilHealth coverage for long-term elderly care given the complexity of health concerns arising in old age.
It goes without saying that not everyone has access to private hospitals or the financial means to shoulder expensive procedures, especially in old age.
My angioplasty was a wake-up call. It reminded me that time is catching up with all of us, and that the health system for all elderly Filipinos must catch up too. Specialized geriatric care facilities are not just a policy option; they should be treated as a pillar of public health to allow Filipinos to age with dignity.
