The Golden Rule has taught me to put myself in other people’s shoes and to consider their feelings and perspectives and help me build stronger relationships
The bemedaled military and police officer, a Thomasian law alumnus with Latin honors after his name, retired a two-star general 10 years ago as Director of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.
He immediately ran for Congress as Representative of the Anti-Crime and Terrorism through Community Involvement and Support (ACT-CIS) Partylist and won a seat in the then16th Congress where he authored 38 House bills and resolutions and co-sponsored 114 measures.
In 2015, he was voted as Outstanding Congressman.
This is the face seen by the public of the man, a masteral degree holder from the Manuel L. Quezon University, who has five children and four grandchildren, who was born in Cotabato City on February 13, 1957 to Ilocano parents from Ilocos Norte: Army Colonel Samuel Pagdilao, Sr., and Anunciacion Duldulao-Pagdilao.
His parents later served as mayors in separate years of Pinili, the 17th municipality of Ilocos Norte, where warriors walked at the turn of the 20th century and during the Japanese occupation in the 1940s.
Not many are aware that the 66-year-old erstwhile public servant plays the B-flat trumpet, as he did in public when his father, then mayor of Pinili, celebrated his 70th milestone at the Manila Polo Club on November 8, 2002.
At dinner, attended by friends and kin from Mindanao and Ilocos Norte, the adoring 45-year-old Samuel Jr. played the Nat King Cole classic version of The Nearness of You and Glenn Miller’s 1940 recorded When I Fall In Love for his father, himself a minted music lover.
Musing about the elderly zone, the 2012 Ulirang Ama Awardee, who was also that year chosen as among The Outstanding Filipino, says “As people age, there are situations that may cause an elderly person to feel isolated such as when he has nothing to do or nobody to fellowship with or talk to.”
He admits retirement “can be a major life change for many seniors (and) can be challenging to adjust to a new routine and find meaningful activities to fill the day.”
But he admits “I am blessed to be still active in volunteer work as head of the CIS—a nationwide community-based volunteer organization as well as a civic leader in Rotary which keeps me mentally, socially and physically active that I don’t feel isolated at all.
“Most of all, I maintain regular bonding with my children and grand children.”
We had the opportunity for some exchange of thoughts, against his rather tight schedule despite as now a private citizen, his phrasal verbs reflecting his upbringing by both God-fearing parents.
GG: Any changes in lifestyle, diet after retirement; at what age did you start feeling the biological aging process?
SP: I have not changed my lifestyle. Same humble, frugal and simple lifestyle nurtured by Ilocano parents minus the regimented, stressful and pressure pack life and 24/7 alert duty of a uniformed personnel who is charged with maintaining peace and security.
At my age, DIET is now heavy on fruit, vegetable and fish and light on meat.
Biological aging started to manifest when my hair started to gray at the age of 60.
GG:Any maintenance medicines? How long have you been taking these?
SP: I take medicines to hold bad cholesterol at bay and stabilize my BP. I started taking these at the age of 55.
GG: What do you do now that you are retired? Or as an elderly.
SP: To keep my mind and body active, I’m very much involved in Rotary International activities as a district leader and in community work through my volunteer organization that I helped organized called Community Investigative Support.
We advocate citizen involvement in promoting peace, order and safety in the community.
I play regular golf with my former PMA Classmates and fellow Rotarians and indulge in other physical activities like biking and jogging. I travel to places and other countries yearly.
And most of all, I visit and play with my grandchildren who give me the natural highs.
GG: Have you had any surgeries pre- or during retirement?
SP: Once, when i fractured my left fibula from a helicopter fall back in 1983.
GG: How do you handle physical and psychological stress now? Was there more stress when you were still working or what?
SP: I exercise, listen to music, play the trumpet, read, watch Netflix/movies, meditate, participate in a regular Bible Study, play golf, chat with fellow retirees and colleagues and travel.
Life in the active police service was more stressful. Work was almost always a 24/7 thing minding other people’s problems more than your own or your family.
Your physical and psychological needs were relegated to the back burner and added to the stress when they were not given due course.
GG: What time do you retire to bed? What time do you wake up now that you are retired or as an elderly. What’s your meal for breakfast, lunch, dinner now as an elderly?
SP: I usually retire to bed between 11:30 and midnight. I wake up at 6 am. My body clock has remained the same when I was in the service.
So I wake up at 6 am no matter how late I sleep. At my age now, I still don’t follow a fixed food regimen or diet except that I eat a balanced diet and in moderation.
GG: Are you active in any community activities, including those in religious organizations?
SP: Yes, I’m very active in Rotary activities, CIS community work and in a Bible Study Group.
GG: How many glasses of water do you take every day? Do you drink sodas? Wine, etcetera.
SP: At least 5 to 6 glasses of water. I seldom drink soda and occasionally drink wine and hard drinks.
GG: At what age did you start feeling you are physically weaker than previously.
SP: At the age of 66.
GG: What is your secret, if any, for biologically aging gracefully?
SP: Exercise, right food, vitamins, enough sleep, relaxation and having fun.
GG: Are there things you now remember as an elderly that you should have done when you were younger?
SP: Travel and explore the many beautiful and pristine places in the country and in other countries.
GG: How do you address the fact of getting old?
SP: Accept it as a matter of fact and reality.
While we look older as time goes by, and there’s nothing we can do to prevent or reverse it, yet we can delay aging by not abusing our body with alcohol, unhealthy food and sleep deprivation.
Feeling and thinking young will always have their positive effect.
GG: Would you hide your true age? If so, any reason, if not, why not?
SP: I don’t have a reason to hide or lie about my age.
Aging is visible. It can be seen from one’s face, body and activity. Thank God, I am blessed with youthful body and energy . I am thankful for God’s gift of longevity.
GG: Lessons in life you would like to inculcate in the minds of your offspring?
SP: I want to teach my children the following values that will help them succeed in life:
To be kind and compassionate towards others and strive to make the world a better place.
To be productive, responsible and law abiding members of society.
To work hard and earn a living and to live within their means.
I want them to maintain close relationships and be there for each other in good times and bad. I want them to be God-fearing.
GG: Do you let your children make their decisions on their own, or do you try to influence their decisions?
SP: As a parent and an elderly, I still wish my children consult with me before making important decisions affecting their lives and fortunes.
However, when they are already emancipated from parental authority, it is best that we only give advice when solicited.
GG: Your philosophy in life, as a person, as a public servant.
SP: I always abide by the Bible’s Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
This has been a guiding principle in my life for as long as I can remember. This simple yet powerful philosophy has enriched my life in countless ways, shaping my interactions with others and shaping my understanding of the world around me.
It has taught me to put myself in other people’s shoes and to consider their feelings and perspectives and help me build stronger relationships.
In a way, the Golden Rule has given me a sense of purpose and direction in life and has inspired me to pursue a career in service of others so much so that I will continue to live my life always striving to do unto others as I would have them do unto me.