Every new year and its twin Lunar New Year, people wish each other good health and longer life. For some people, however, long life is no longer just wishful thinking.

The late senator Juan Ponce Enrile, for example, died at the age of 101 on 13 November 2025, and would have been 102 had he reached his upcoming birthday on Valentine’s Day.

According to Crystal Jacinto, chief executive officer of European wellness center Villa Medica Manila Premier at the second floor of Newport Mall in Resorts World Manila, Pasay City, among Enrile’s secrets to his long life is stem cell therapy.

Villa Medica, said Jacinto, is a pioneer in stem cell therapy. 

“Because we started at 1963 from Germany. I brought it here to share to the Philippines and the rest of Asia, because anti-aging has to be closer to home,” she said at the recent press launch of her awarding as one of last year’s Elegant Filipinas, a fundraising initiative by philanthropist, politician and socialite Tingting Cojuangco.

“We are known as the pioneer of stem cell therapy, so we customize our stem cells according to what your body needs. Basically, we’ll do a comprehensive laboratory, yes, to find out what’s happening in your body and then customize the treatment plan for you. Only Villa Medica does that. No other clinic can offer targeted stem cell therapy,” she claimed.

How does targeted stem cell therapy provide longevity? According to her, it is by targeting the organs that need therapy the most. 

As one ages, the body’s organs deteriorate, but stem cell therapy helps slow down the aging process from within. “Say, for example, we found out that your sugar is high, then we’ll target the pancreas for the stem cell therapy,” Jacinto said.

Besides Enrile, among the center’s clients are broadcaster Korina Sanchez, actors Aubrey Miles, Troy Montero and John Estrada, and beauty queens like Chelsea Manalo. The center is also among the sponsors of Miss Universe Philippines.

More than just a preventive and an anti-aging measure, stem cell therapy also helps address chronic diseases and autism. A therapy session at Villa Medica ranges from P100,000 to over P1 million, depending on the case.

Due to stem cell therapy’s high success rate in these different areas, around 70 percent of the center’s clientele in Germany are all Filipinos, so bringing the center to the Philippines entails less travel cost and effort among Filipinos and Southeast Asia patients, Jacinto affirmed.

She believes that thanks to the Philippines’ chairmanship of the Asean Summit this year, the country could put forth to position itself as a pioneer in medical tourism and innovations like stem cell therapy.