Learning longevity from Pak Citro

Text by Budi Sardjono, photos by Slamet Riyadi

JAKARTA (JP): Normally, people want to live long lives, especially if they believe life is beautiful.

They do everything to stay fit and retain youthful. Many regularly take jamu (herbal medicines) or food supplements. Many of the rich probably undergo plastic surgery to remain young- looking.

Those plagued with health problems probably think longevity is unimportant for obvious reasons.

If you are one of those who are seeking a role model for a healthy life without spending too much money on medicine or food supplements, FX Citroadisuwarno, aged 97, may be a good one. Born in Yogyakarta's regency of Kulonprogo in 1904, Pak Citro, as he is affectionately called, has never been afflicted with any serious illness, so he claims.

"Sometimes I catch flu, which immediately goes after kerokan (having his body rubbed with balm using a coin) and having a good rest," he says.

The habit that he believes does good to his health is drinking some four liters of water in the morning. He doesn't take jamu or any food supplement.

The second child of 12, Pak Citro lives with his wife Siti Kholimah, 86. The elderly couple remain self-supporting and don't rely on their children. They celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on May 11, 2000.

The fist thing they do every day is to boil water and cook rice after they wake up early in the morning.

"I've been doing this for a great many years. When my children were still small, I would prepare breakfast for them," he said as a father of 15 -- five of whom have died --and grandfather of 47.

At dawn, Pak Citro sweeps the floor and yard of his house in Dipowinatan village, Yogyakarta. He doesn't allow his children or grandchildren to do this job. So, when they wake up, the house is already clean.

"Sweeping and cooking are my daily physical exercises," he says. Another routine exercise is to walk on Sundays with his wife to Kidul Loji church, some three kilometers from his house.

Pak Citro also attributes his longevity to vegetarianism. He frowns upon meat and eggs.

It is interesting to learn how Pak Citro decided to become a vegetarian. He used to work as a cook at a restaurant in Yogyakarta for 42 years starting in 1922 but he never once breached his self-imposed rule to stick to vegetarianism.

"My daily diet consists of carrots and tomatoes," he says. "Plus other vegetables of course."

Pak Citro is a respected elder at Kidul Loji parish and in his Dipowinatan neighborhood.

He is a resigned man, as he always says, "I've often asked God to take me with Him any time He wishes. I am satisfied that I can enjoy life this long. I have lived through historical periods, the colonial Dutch era, Japanese occupation, the struggle for independence, Sukarno ("Old Order") era, Soeharto's "New Order" era, the reform era down to this 'crazy' era," he says.

Unlike Pak Citro, his wife Siti Kholimah doesn't want to die before she sees the birth of her first great-great-grandchild.

In their big house the old couple live with Sunarno, their eighth son together with their daughter-in-law and three grandchildren. Their other children and grandchildren live in other cities, such as Jakarta, Tangerang, Semarang, Surabaya and Malang.

Although he has retired from regular church and social activities, his ideas are still much sought after by younger people.

He says particularly pleasing moments occur on Christmas day when his offspring are gathered at his home. Together they say a prayer and have dinner together.

"The household atmosphere resembles a fancy fair. Very lively," says Pak Citro. These moments remind him of the hard old days when poverty forced him to feed his children with recooked left-over rice that he would take home from the restaurants he worked in.

"Thank God, they can now enjoy decent food. But I remain steadfast and don't eat meat and eggs. So I can't tell you how meat and eggs taste," he said laughing.