President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in his eulogy for the late Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile, said that he hopes to live to 100.
In his emotional speech during a necrological service at Malacañang Palace, Marcos expressed admiration for how sharp Enrile remained despite his age.
Recalling a conversation with the late statesman, 68-year-old Marcos said, ‘Tito, ano bang sikreto? [Uncle, what’s the secret?] I want to be like you also when I’m-and first, I want to live to be 100 years old. And I want to be like you when I’m 100 years old.’
‘And then sabi niya, ‘Alam mo anak, I’m not sure that I’m 100 years old. I think I’m older.’ Sabi ko, ‘Bakit?”
(And then he said, ‘You know, my child, I’m not sure that I’m 100 years old. I think I’m older.’ I asked, ‘Why?’)
”Nawala ‘yung records ko sa giyera’,’ Enrile told Marcos.
(My records from the war were lost.)
This was when the President revealed that Enrile’s age was not 101, but 103, as confirmed by the latter’s daughter, Katrina.
Enrile died on November 13. He will be laid to rest at the Libingan ng mga Bayani on November 22.
As defense chief, Enrile played a key role in implementing martial law during Marcos Sr.’s rule.
He later withdrew his support and became one of the central figures in the 1986 Edsa People Power Revolution, which forced the Marcoses into exile