Exclusive of the Filipino Reporter, a content partner of GMA News Online
Alberto S. Florentino, one of the Philippines’ surviving literary treasures, has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in early 2012 and has been suffering from depression ever since, according to his wife, Eva San Jose Florentino.
Formerly based in New York City, he is now residing at an assisted-living facility in Portland, Oregon.
Eva lives in a nearby apartment and regularly checks on him.
Born in Nueva Ecija on July 28, 1931, Florentino, now 81, is a prolific author and playwright who shot to fame in the 1950s with his work, “The World is an Apple,” one of the most performed plays in the Philippines to this day and which also gave him his first Carlos Palanca Award in 1954 when he was just 23 years old.
He is a contemporary of Nick Joaquin, Jose Garcia Villa and NVM Gonzalez.
Also known as the main scriptwriter of the award-winning TV drama series in the 60s and 70s “Balintataw,” he has written 100 plays for television and cinema, and more than 50 for stage, besides having published several collections of his own plays and more than 70 titles by other Filipino authors.
He became a TOYM (Ten Outstanding Young Men) awardee for literature in 1960, an honor he shared with then Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr., (for public service).
In 2008, Florentino was given a Presidential Medal of Merit for being a distinguished literary giant.
Today, the former University of the Philippines (U.P.) professor is no longer writing and spends most of his time reading books at Laurelhurst Village, a senior care community in Portland.
“He loves to buy books on sale and get the old ones thrown out by libraries,” Eva told the Filipino Reporter in an exclusive interview on Christmas Day.
“Yun na lang ang kaligayahan niya sa ngayon.”
“He has no friends here because we just moved here and most of his surviving friends are either in New York or Manila,” said Eva, herself a writer, art curator and retired university professor.
The couple relocated to Portland to be close to their daughter Lisa, a voice teacher who has a private studio there.
Eva recalled that her husband’s depression came upon when his doctor told him he’s in the early stages of Alzheimer’s.
The diagnosis was a result of a medical test after Florentino got lost twice and couldn’t find his way home from his regular trip to a coffee shop.
“Bert couldn’t accept the fact that he has Alzheimer’s which he knows is a progressive disease that has no cure,” shared Eva.
“He used to be so good at computers but he couldn’t write anymore and his depression only worsened. He started acting strange and even became suicidal, threatening to jump from a building.”
At one point, Florentino reportedly requested for an assisted suicide, which is legal in Oregon, as long as it is self-administered.
But Eva said the doctor told him he’s not qualified to receive it since he has Alzheimer’s which, by definition, robs its victims of good judgment and the capacity to understand consequences — and ultimately the ability to carry out their own deaths.
Florentino’s condition has taken its toll on their family, according to Eva, which was aggravated by the sudden passing of one of their daughters, Sonya, 52, who was found dead in her Manhattan apartment in November.
The cause of death was pneumonia.
“We all try to be strong for each other,” Eva said, “especially me, I already had quadruple bypass. I cannot die. Not now. Hindi ako puwede mamatay because my husband needs me.”
“I thank God we’re holding up well and my whole family is my source of strength,” she added.
“Like this Christmas, all of our children and grandchildren are here with us. Even our daughter Leila, who is based in Paris, flew in with her daughter Tess to be with us again.”
The Florentinos’ have a fourth daughter, Angeli, who is a social worker in New York City.
At present, Florentino is under medication and has been seeing a psychologist every other week.
“He’s okay as long as he taking his medication religiously,” Eva said.
“Aside from reading, he goes to concerts and watches movies. Like the the other day we watched the movie ‘Lincoln’ and he loved it. We talked about the movie.”
“He hasn’t lose cognition,” she added.
“He still remembers people and events. He stays in my apartment during weekends, but it’s better that he’s in the assisted-living facility where he is closely monitored.”
When the Reporter got a chance to talk to Florentino on the phone recently, he sounded coherent and even talked about his illness.
“The doctor told me I have Alzheimer’s...and I’m battling this terrible depression,” he said.
“But I’m aware of what’s going on around me. I feel fine and I feel normal. I know you...and I know all of my friends. Just pray for me.”
For those who want to get in touch with Bert Florentino, e-mail Eva at evasjflorentino@aol.com
To send him a card or letter, e-mail it to Eva’s apartment at 333 NW 4th Avenue, Apt. 327, Portland, Oregon 97209. - Filipino Reporter
Alberto S. Florentino, one of the Philippines’ surviving literary treasures, has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in early 2012 and has been suffering from depression ever since, according to his wife, Eva San Jose Florentino.
Formerly based in New York City, he is now residing at an assisted-living facility in Portland, Oregon.
Eva lives in a nearby apartment and regularly checks on him.
Born in Nueva Ecija on July 28, 1931, Florentino, now 81, is a prolific author and playwright who shot to fame in the 1950s with his work, “The World is an Apple,” one of the most performed plays in the Philippines to this day and which also gave him his first Carlos Palanca Award in 1954 when he was just 23 years old.
He is a contemporary of Nick Joaquin, Jose Garcia Villa and NVM Gonzalez.
Also known as the main scriptwriter of the award-winning TV drama series in the 60s and 70s “Balintataw,” he has written 100 plays for television and cinema, and more than 50 for stage, besides having published several collections of his own plays and more than 70 titles by other Filipino authors.
He became a TOYM (Ten Outstanding Young Men) awardee for literature in 1960, an honor he shared with then Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr., (for public service).
In 2008, Florentino was given a Presidential Medal of Merit for being a distinguished literary giant.
Today, the former University of the Philippines (U.P.) professor is no longer writing and spends most of his time reading books at Laurelhurst Village, a senior care community in Portland.
“He loves to buy books on sale and get the old ones thrown out by libraries,” Eva told the Filipino Reporter in an exclusive interview on Christmas Day.
“Yun na lang ang kaligayahan niya sa ngayon.”
“He has no friends here because we just moved here and most of his surviving friends are either in New York or Manila,” said Eva, herself a writer, art curator and retired university professor.
The couple relocated to Portland to be close to their daughter Lisa, a voice teacher who has a private studio there.
Eva recalled that her husband’s depression came upon when his doctor told him he’s in the early stages of Alzheimer’s.
The diagnosis was a result of a medical test after Florentino got lost twice and couldn’t find his way home from his regular trip to a coffee shop.
“Bert couldn’t accept the fact that he has Alzheimer’s which he knows is a progressive disease that has no cure,” shared Eva.
“He used to be so good at computers but he couldn’t write anymore and his depression only worsened. He started acting strange and even became suicidal, threatening to jump from a building.”
At one point, Florentino reportedly requested for an assisted suicide, which is legal in Oregon, as long as it is self-administered.
But Eva said the doctor told him he’s not qualified to receive it since he has Alzheimer’s which, by definition, robs its victims of good judgment and the capacity to understand consequences — and ultimately the ability to carry out their own deaths.
Florentino’s condition has taken its toll on their family, according to Eva, which was aggravated by the sudden passing of one of their daughters, Sonya, 52, who was found dead in her Manhattan apartment in November.
The cause of death was pneumonia.
“We all try to be strong for each other,” Eva said, “especially me, I already had quadruple bypass. I cannot die. Not now. Hindi ako puwede mamatay because my husband needs me.”
“I thank God we’re holding up well and my whole family is my source of strength,” she added.
“Like this Christmas, all of our children and grandchildren are here with us. Even our daughter Leila, who is based in Paris, flew in with her daughter Tess to be with us again.”
The Florentinos’ have a fourth daughter, Angeli, who is a social worker in New York City.
At present, Florentino is under medication and has been seeing a psychologist every other week.
“He’s okay as long as he taking his medication religiously,” Eva said.
“Aside from reading, he goes to concerts and watches movies. Like the the other day we watched the movie ‘Lincoln’ and he loved it. We talked about the movie.”
“He hasn’t lose cognition,” she added.
“He still remembers people and events. He stays in my apartment during weekends, but it’s better that he’s in the assisted-living facility where he is closely monitored.”
When the Reporter got a chance to talk to Florentino on the phone recently, he sounded coherent and even talked about his illness.
“The doctor told me I have Alzheimer’s...and I’m battling this terrible depression,” he said.
“But I’m aware of what’s going on around me. I feel fine and I feel normal. I know you...and I know all of my friends. Just pray for me.”
For those who want to get in touch with Bert Florentino, e-mail Eva at evasjflorentino@aol.com
To send him a card or letter, e-mail it to Eva’s apartment at 333 NW 4th Avenue, Apt. 327, Portland, Oregon 97209. - Filipino Reporter
source: gmanetwork.com
