THE Philippines is out of the running for an outright Olympic berth. Fans have singled out Coach Chot Reyes as the main cause of the Philippines’ disappointing show in the FIBA  World Cup and the champion coach admitted that the team failed to meet Filipino people’s expectations. But I empathize with the coaching staff and the players.  It should be whole of government effort and whole of society approach to win. It’s a system change and this will need long preparation and lots of sacrifices.

Systems Change Principles

All right, he’s to blame — but only partly. It’s not in his control that international basketball has developed by leaps and bounds. Globally, basketball has become one of the world’s most popular sports, thanks to the Dream Team and the NBA, whose televised games in more than 100 countries have inspired young and old alike to BE LIKE MIKE.

If we want to win in the big stage , we need to prepare well because with social media the whole world will be watching us. To be the best in the world , you have to work the hardest. You have to chase what seems impossible over and over and over again, because giving up or learning during the World Cup is not an option, and when you feel like you’ve reached your limit, it’s only the beginning, that’s when it’s time to dig deep and work harder , to find the courage to push some more.

Achieving true systems change requires stakeholders to commit to centering the voices of people with lived experience in identifying issues and developing solutions. Health care systems; public systems, like health and human services, education, and housing; and community-based organizations must commit to some common goals, values, and outcomes to improve our quality of lives and wellbeing.

Life is like a basketball game . It’s played in quarters.

For the most part we all live about 72 years—sometimes more, sometimes less. If you go longer, you are in bonus time! But our bodies are really only designed to live for about 80 years. If you divide these 80 years into four quarters you have about 20 years per quarter.

What if we could live longer than 72 years.  What will it take to live beyond the average life span?

Well ,life is lived in four quarters. Twenty-five years each. 0 to 25 years of age is your first quarter, 25 to 50 years old is your second, 50 to 75 is your third, and 75 to 100 is your fourth. Please don’t forget. Most people don’t make it to the fourth quarter.

I love the fourth quarter of a basketball  game. I can go without watching the entire first three quarters, jump in on the fourth quarter when there is usually all kinds of activity and tension and get to experience the excitement of the final few minutes of the game. And no matter if it is a win or a loss, how the game is played in the fourth quarter really matters.

The first 25 years you measure success with grades , honors and awards , only to realize that the real value is in learning to learn and critical thinking.

The second 25 years you measure success by how much money you made and material things you have gained only to realize that how you spend time, and with whom, is most important.

The third 25 years you measure success by how much you have been a blessing to a lot of people and by how much physical energy you have  to pursue lofty goals.

The 4th Quarter of Life Could Mean an Exceptional Finish if you’re healthy. But people rarely finish the game of life due to several cardiovascular risk factors.

If you are fortunate enough to live a healthy and full life and make it into your 80s, you are beyond blessed, because you have beaten out most of the world’s average life expectancy. Those with long lives have amassed a rich vault of experiences that they can use to help influence others. People in our lives who are dying, or who have died, teach us about the value of living. They teach us that each moment matters.

What I realize now is that it is never too late to start living with the end in mind. There will be an end. None of us are getting out of here alive. But what we should all hope for, is that we lived a life with meaning and direction and enjoyed the time we lived to the fullest. That we loved deeply, explored incessantly and shared freely.

The fourth quarter is the stage of life to relish. It’s the time of life to enjoy the freedom that you worked so hard for all of the years before. It is a time to clearly establish the direction that is best for you, and only you, to take. And because it is finite, the last quality years of your life should be focused on spending your time wisely. You now have the experience and wisdom to make good decisions. For yourself. Trust yourself and celebrate the win.

Whatever your goal in life is: dedicate yourself to it. Stay healthy.

And it’s going to be a lot of sacrifice, but if you love what you want to do, it shouldn’t be a problem.

If you love the game of life and you love playing, just have fun and enjoy it. Work hard and don’t get bogged down by it. Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character and moral courage to keep you there.

Top killer diseases in the Philippines 

The rest of the Top 10 leading causes of deaths for 2022 according to the Philippine Statistics authority are the following:

Ischemic heart diseases

Cerebrovascular diseases

Neoplasms

Diabetes mellitus

Hypertensive diseases

Pneumonia

Chronic lower respiratory diseases

Other heart diseases

Remainder of diseases of the genitourinary system

Respiratory tuberculosis

There’s no need to have your DNA sequenced yet to determine what genes you carry. It won’t change what you need to do now. You have the power to change many things that influence your health and how long you live.

Here are 10 steps that will help you have the longest, healthiest life possible: 

Don’t smoke.

Be physically active every day.

Eat a healthy diet rich in whole grains, lean protein, vegetables, and fruits. Reduce or avoid unhealthy saturated fats and trans fats. Instead, use healthier monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.

Be sure to get enough vitamin D and calcium.

Maintain a healthy weight and body shape.

Challenge your mind.

Build a strong social network.

Protect your sight, hearing and general health by following preventive care guidelines.

Floss, brush, and see a dentist regularly. Poor oral health may have many effects. It can lead to poor nutrition, pain and possibly even a higher risk of heart disease and stroke.

Discuss with your doctor whether you need any medicine to help you stay healthy. These might include medicines to control high blood pressure, treat osteoporosis or lower cholesterol, for example.

Life humbles you As you grow old, you stop chasing the big things and start valuing the little things. Alone time, enough sleep, a good diet, long walks, and quality time with loved ones. Simplicity becomes the ultimate goal.

I’d like to end with these inspiring words :

“ Everybody is pretty good in the first quarter. Second quarter, you have a little bump or two on you coming into the half. By the time the third quarter comes around, you’re tired, you’re laboring. When you come to the fourth quarter, it calls on your character.”

Jerry Jones

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Anthony C. Leachon, M. D. 

Special Adviser for Noncommunicable Diseases
Department of Health

Past President ,
Philippine College of Physicians

Internist – Cardiologist
Manila Doctors Hospital