60 is the new 40.
What a changing world we live in. These days, people in their 60s are living healthier, more active, and more engaged lives than previous generations, often functioning with the energy and vitality once associated with a younger age.
In recent years, scientists have claimed that '60 is the new 40' in response to our ageing population and research into changing attitude on what it means to be 'old.' In the 1960s, the Philippines average life expentancy was 59 to 60 years, but by 2024, it had risen to 74 for women and 70 for men, according to United Nations data. With people living longer, healthier lives than ever before, there's been a natural shift in the milestones and lifestyles. People are working longer and pursuing new challenges and adventures well beyond into their 60s and beyond. Many Filipinos in their 60s and beyond are bucking the stereotype of being sedentary. Reports highlight seniors engaging in adventurous activities like running ultramarathons, traveling to new places, and engaging in physical, social and digital activities to remain productive and purposeful.
Born in 1966, the year of the Fire Horse, the Mangrove Loving Penguin (MLP) and many of his grade school classmates at La Consolacion College Iriga City and high school classmates at Ateneo de Naga are now entering our senior citizenship this year 2026. Being born in the Year of the Fire Horse signifies a high-energy and transformative personality. This combination of the horse sign and fire element creates a passionate and often restless nature that thrives on freedom and a strong sense of purpose.
Speaking of purposeful, the MLP, together with batchmates, undertook a mangrove appreciation and planting activity this Mar 28, 2026. Actively engaging in environmental activities like mangrove planting is a prime example of the '60 is the new 40', representing a proactive and community-oriented lifestyle. It reflects a desire to move beyond personal pursuits to create a positive impact on coastal ecosystems and community safety. Joining me the Mar 28 mangrove activity are my high school classmates from the Ateneo de Naga HS Batch 1983 namely Bobo Castilla, Rene Notorio, Ruel Tolosa and Ildefonso Vega. In addition, my grade school batchmate from LCA 8379, Ruvill Villagomez decided to accompany us. My son Marcel was there as well.
The venue of the Mar 28 mangrove activity is the mangrove forest located between Brgy. Bagacay, of the municipality of Tinambac and Brgy Cagsao of the municipality of Calabanga . This mangrove forest nestled in the mouth of the Tigman River is a vital ecological site due to the presence of Kandelia candel, an extremely rare mangrove species in the Philippines. Often referred to locally as Bakawan Baler, this mangrove species was previously thought to exist only in Aurora province but has been confimed in Bagacay, making it a critical area of conservation.
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| The group in front of Bagacay Outfit Mangrove Site 4. |
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| Bagacay Outfit Mangrove Site 4 is home to the Kandelia candel, an extremely rare mangrove species in the Philippines. |
Our host for the Mar 28 mangrove planting activity is Bagacay Outfit 723. It is a highly-decorated scouting group composed of students from the Bagacay National High School. It is affiliated with the Eagle Scouts Association of Camarines Sur. Led by its mentor/teacher Caloy Ubaldo, Bagacay Outfit 723 is known for its intensive, community mangrove rehabilitation. Working in partnership with local barangays (including Old Caaluan, Bagacay and Cagsao) and the DENR, the outfit has initiated reforestation efforts, planting thousands of mangrove propagules and seedlings to create a natural barrier against storm surges and combat erosion.
Their substantal experience in mangrove planting and rehabilitation has led them to acquire knowledge, both experiential and science-based, on the mangrove ecosytems. Knowledge such as the right mangrove species to plant on the different intertidal zones as well as the timing of mangrove planting. These knowledge the Bagacay Outfit 723 generously shared with us, senior citizens-to-be.
On the matter of timing, the right time to plant mangroves is during low tide to ensure the seedlings are planted in exposed, unflooded areas. Based on the lunar cycle, Mar 28 falls near a full moon indicating that it is a spring tide. Spring tides have a larger tidal range - the difference between the highest high water and lowest low water.
We arrived in Brgy Bagacay at 1pm. According to Caloy, the low tide was expected at past 4pm. So we had time to do other stuff while waiting for the best time to plant mangroves.
And that other stuff was kayaking which is ideal for us seniors-to-be. The MLP and Ruvill brought each a kayak, so we had two kayaks to enjoy with while waiting for the low tide.
Kayaking is an excellent low-impact, therapeutic activity for those turning 60. offering a combination of physical conditioning, mental relaxation, and social engagement that supports healthy aging. It allows older adults to stay active without putting strain on joints, providing a full-body workout that improves cardiovascular health, strengthens the core, and boosts endurance.
Plus it offers a way to explore quiet, scenic and natural areas that may not be accessible by land, enhancing overall well-being. But then again, don't take my word for it. Perhaps a better way to appreciate the allure of kayaking is to view the photos and videos of our kayaking last Mar 28.
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| Launching the kayaks from Brgy Bagacay |
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| Ruvill with his signature pose while kayaking the Tigman River. |
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| Arrival at the sandbar at the mouth of Tigman River |
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| The rest of the group arriving at the mouth of Tigman River |
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| Classmate Pons Vega enjoying wading in the Tigman River at high tide. |
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| Drone shot of the kayaking in Tigman River |
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| Classmate Rene Notorio enjoying the kayak experience. |
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| Classmate Ruel Tolosa enthusiastic with his kayaking |
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| Two kayaks chasing each other |
By 4pm, we had our fill of kayaking . Low tide was fast approaching. And soon sunset will be upon us and it will be dark. So we prepared for the mangrove planting activity.
Much of our kayaking was being held in the waterway in front of the area designated as "Bagacay Outfit Mangrove Site 4." Our mangrove planting site was across the Tigman River and the one facing the sea. This is the one designated as "Bagacay Outfit Mangrove Site 5." Most of the mangrove planting participants boarded a motorized banca while Ruvill and MLP rode our kayak across the Tigman River to Site 5.
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| The site of the Mar 28 mangrove planting activity is Bagacay Outfit Mangrove Site 5 |
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| The two kayaks following the motorized banca as we crossed the Tigman River from Mangrove Site 4 to Mangrove Site 5 |
Reaching the Mangrove Site 5, the team proceeded immediately to prepare for the planting. Of primary importance for us is the choice of mangrove species that we will be planting on this site. The choice of what mangrove species would primarily depend on the what zone will be be planting. Mangrove forests typically exhibit distinct horizontal zones based on tidal inundation, salinity and soil type. The most common zonation pattern includes: Seaward (Front) Zone; Intermediate (Central) Zone; and Landward (Inner) Zone.
As opposed to Mangrove Site 4 which is in the Intermediate Zone, the Mangrove Site 5 is in the Seaward Zone. It is directly facing the sea (in this case, San Miguel Bay) and it is inundated by every high tide. It is characterized by high salinity and high wave action. The most ideal mangrove species for the seaward zone include Pagatpat (Sonneratia alba) and Miapi (Avicennia marina). The S. alba possess strong, pneumatophore-producing roots that can withstand strong wave action and facilitate soil stabilization. The A. marina is highly salt-tolerant and have vertical "pencil roots" that allow them to breathe in low-oxygen, submerged conditions. Before the mangrove planting date, we contacted Caloy of Bagacay Outfit 723 to have Pagatpat and Miapi seedlings available for Mar 28.
Caloy and his Eagle Scout team delivered on the pioneering mangrove species and pretty soon seniors-to-be were all busy planting a Pagatpat or Miapi seedling. All in all, we planted 50 mangrove seedlings. Not a huge quantity by any stretch of the imagination but we were gunning for quality.
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| Drone photo of the seaward zone of Mangrove Site 5 |
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| Classmate Pons starting the digging to plant the mangrove seedlings. |
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| Thumbs up by Classmate Ruel as he plants a Miapi mangrove seedling |
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| Classmate Bob planting a Miapi mangrove seedling. Classmate Ruvill helping out. |
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| Classmate Rene all smile as he plants a Miapi mangrove seedling. |
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| Grade school and high school classmates working together |
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| Marcel planting a Pagatpat mangrove seedling |
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| Teacher Caloy planting a Pagatpat mangrove seedling |
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| Group photo at Mangrove Site 5 |
Quality in the sense we prioritized the choice of the ideal mangrove species over that of sheer number. That is an excellent approach. In mangrove restoration, quality and species-site matching are far more crucial for long-term survival than the sheer quantity of seedlings planted. For the planting in Mangrove Site 5 which was a seaward zone, we insisted on planting only the pioneer species like the Pagatpat and Miapi.
But the sad reality in the Philippine setting is that more often than not, it is "planting by convenience" rather than ecological suitability. Rhizophora mucronata (known locally as Bakawan Babae) is the most commonly planted mangrove species in the Philippines but it is frequently the wrong choice for the seaward zone. It is the most commonly planted mangrove species because of the ease of its propagation. Rhizopora produces large and abundant propagule seedlings that are easy to collect, transport and directly plant into the mud. But the Bakawan Babae is the wrong species for the seaward zone. When planted on the seaward frontline, they often fail due to low tolerance to high wave energy, unstable substrates, and barnacle infestation.
We ourselves were witness to the sad reality. On the fringe of Mangrove Site 5 was a patch of Bakawan Babae mangroves that were planted in 2009 by the barangay LGU in cooperation with an airlines company. It is quite noticeable that this mangrove patch is dwindling in number. Many of the Rhizophoras are not thriving in the seaward zone that is Mangrove Site 5. Not flourishing and in fact, several are dying. Why? Because of barnacle infestation. The extensive, tangled, woody aerial root system of R.mucronata provides an ideal, submerged substrate for larval settlement.
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| Photo of Bakawan Babae mangroves with barnacle infestation in its root system. |
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| Drone photo of the patch of Bakawan Babae mangroves. Noticeable the dwindling numbers as the Rhizophoras are subject to barnacle infestation. Wrong mangrove species planted in the seaward zone. |
Lesson learned for us seniors-to-be. Not to old to absorb additional knowledge.
Darkness was fast approaching so we decamped quickly out of Mangrove Site 5. Ruvill and my son kayaked across the Tigman River while the rest of the team took a longer way and hiked thru a creek and into a forested area. We came upon a clearing and had a great view of Mt. Isarog, the source of Tigman River and many more rivers in the area. While admiring the view, our host Caloy arranged for buko to be served to our famished group.
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| Certificate of Participation given to Ateneo de Naga High School Batch 1983 |
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| Certificate of Participation given to La Consolacion Academy (now known as La Consolacion College) High School Batch 1983 and Grade School Batch 1979 |
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| Certificate of Participation given to Marcel |
It is at this point that Caloy took the graceful opportunity to present to our team a bunch of Certificates of Participation. One each for the Ateneo de Naga HS Batch 1983, LCA 8379 Batch Association and to my son Marcel.
Certificates of Participation in a mangrove planting activity are important for us seniors-to-be because they provide tangible recognition of our contributions to the community. These pieces of paper serve as more than just a record; they foster a deeper sense of pride, purpose, and self-esteem at a stage in life, where social roles may be shifting.
We are indeed thankful for this opporunity to be of help to the community. Much appreciation to our host Caloy and his Eagle Scouts team - Bagacay Outfit 723 for the opportunity to plant mangrove seedlings that later in life will become trees providing much benefit to the general public.
In closing, allow me to share the sage words from this Greek proverb:
"A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in."
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