Juan Ponce Enrile turns 100 years old today.
Born on February 14, 1924, the centenarian has witnessed, influenced, and participated in some of the most pivotal moments of Philippine history. We're talking eight presidents, including two Macapagals, two Aquinos, and two Marcoses. He has outlived two world wars and two pandemics. Not even contracting COVID-19 at 98 can stop him.
Discussing the secret to his long life, Enrile said in 2019 that he preferred to call it "longevity and not immortality" which he attributed to his capacity to quickly "move on." His house helpers said the centenarian does regular breathing exercises and prefers to have light dinner meals rich in greens.
Enrile’s age has often been the subject of Internet meme-ry, so what better way to commemorate his 100th than a list of the important persons, inventions, and events he is older than or equal in age with?
Our Independence from the U.S.
Yup, Enrile was born when we were technically still a colony. He was already 22 years old before when the Americans finally recognized Philippine independence on July 4, 1946.
Banana ketchup
Banana ketchup was invented in the Philippines during World War II by food
technologist Maria Orosa in 1942. The invention was a creative response to a tomato ketchup shortage, using bananas as the primary ingredient, which were abundant in the country. More importantly, Enrile got to enjoy it at 18 years old.
The ballpoint pen
The ballpoint pen was patented in 1938 to provide a cleaner, more reliable way of writing on paper. Before this was invented when Enrile was just 14-years-old, people who had access to them would use fountain pens.
Martin Luther King
The fight against racial segregation might seem like ages ago, but American activist Martin Luther King was actually born five years
after Enrile in 1929. His celebrated "I Have a Dream" speech on civil rights was delivered when Enrile was already on the brink of 40.
Philippine sewage system
No, really. Sewage systems were only modernized in the Philippines when Enrile was five years old. That means he was very possibly drinking contaminated water in his earlier years. Maybe that’s why his immune system is so strong?
Mein Kampf
Mein Kampf was written by Adolf Hilter during his imprisonment in 1924, outlining his political plans for Germany. Its publication allowed Hitler's ideas on antisemitism to spread, influencing the Nazi Party's rise to power that would trigger World War II. Enrile was busy being a baby when all this was taking place.
Table salt
Table salt was introduced in the U.S. to combat iodine deficiency in 1924—the same year Enrile was born. Now it’s a common household item used to season food. Can you imagine eating meals without salt in them? God has blessed Enrile greatly.
Mickey Mouse
Mickey Mouse's debut,
Steamboat Willie, came out in 1928, and officially entered U.S. public domain in January 1, 2024—meaning Enrile's entire lifespan has outlasted those two events. While he is technically older than Mickey Mouse, the Walt Disney Company is older than him by four months.
Jeepneys
There was a time Manila’s streets weren’t full of jeepneys. Filipinos upcycled the surplus jeeps brought by the American troops shortly after World War II ended in 1945. Yes, jeepneys were a considered a new mode of transportation to when Enrile was already finishing up his bachelor's degree at the Ateneo de Manila University.
Queen Elizabeth
Another important figure usually on the receiving end of immortality memes is none other than Queen Elizabeth, who was born two years after Enrile. As you probably recall, she passed at 96 years old in 2022, meaning that Enrile is once again the sole subject of such memes locally.
