What’s Maceda’s secret?

Former senator Ernesto Maceda. FILE PHOTO

AGOO, La Union—The oldest candidate in the May 13 senatorial election said he has managed to keep up with the grueling campaign—thanks to modern stem cell therapy.

So far, 78-year-old former Senate President Ernesto Maceda claimed he had not gone sick despite a tough campaign schedule that required him to jump from one province to another. He credited this to stem cell therapy, he got for P600,000 at a medical facility in Frankfurt, Germany, in March last year.

“I am now convinced that my stem cell therapy is effective and that’s the reason why I’ve been able to keep up with the rigorous campaign schedule,” he told reporters before climbing the campaign stage at the Eriguel compound.

Maceda said the therapy was relatively cheap, noting that it would have cost him around P2.5 million if he had it in the Philippines. “And it was worth it,” he said.

20 years younger

“I feel 20 years younger,” he said.

Maceda joined a growing list of aging politicians who say they have resorted to stem cell therapy. They include Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, 89, and former President Joseph Estrada, who celebrated his 76th birthday on Friday.

Responding to a question by a TV reporter, Vice President Jejomar Binay said he “does not need it yet.”

The UNA campaign schedule is no walk in the park.

Candidates went around Pangasinan for two days, seeking support from the province’s 1.5 milliom registered voters.

They proceeded to La Union on Friday and were scheduled to campaign in Ilocos Sur on Saturday and Ilocos Norte on Sunday.

After a brief break, they will fly to Zamboanga City on Monday then barnstorm Dumaguete City on Wednesday.