“MASKI maliliit na bagay, gawin natin para sa ating mga nanay at tatay, lolo at lola at ‘wag nating kakalimutan na sila ay laging igalang.”
This was the appeal made by Mayor Honey Lacuna as she led he city of Manila in celebrating the ‘Filipino Elderly Week’ beginning October 1.
In her message at the regular flag raising ceremony in City Hall, Lacuna stressed the importance of senior citizens and called on all Manilans to continue honoring and respecting them at all times.
The mayor also appealed to senior citizens more so, the youngsters of today, to do away with the thought that ‘pag matanda na walang pakinabang.’
She cited the role of the elderly members of the community as the source of wisdom and greater knowledge, given their vast experiences in life.
“Hindi po ko nanniwala diyan. Alam ho ninyo, napakahalaga po ng ating mga magulang, ng ating mga lolo at lola dahil sila po ang ating unang-unang sinasandalan, kung kaya’t ganun na lamang ang pagbibigay natin ng pagpapahalaga sa kanila.” she said.
Lacuna added: “Maaring sa tingin ninyo ay maliit lang ang ating mga ginagawa, mga munting paraan para iparamdam na tayo ay nagmamahal sa kanila, pero alam n’yo, ang atin pong mga nakakatanda, itong mas maliliit na bagay ang pinahahalagahan nila. Mano ba naman na makapag-abot tayo sa kanila ng maliit na bagay.”
More importantly, the lady mayor said that honor and respect for the elders should always be there, no matter what.
“Patuloy dapat ang paggalang sa kanila kasi minsan, nakakalimutan natin. Sa ganoong paraan, napaparamdam natin sa kanila ang tunay na pagmamahal at pagkalinga. Sa mga nanay at tatay, lolo at lola, lagi ninyong tatandaan na ang pamahalaang-lungsod ndgd Maynila ay lagi ninyong maaasahan,” Lacuna stated.
The mayor meanwhile thanked the personnel of the Office of Senior Citizens’ Affairs (OSCA) headed by Elinor Jacinto for all their efforts in helping the city government in the distribution of the benefits for the some 203,000 senior citizens in the city.
Jacinto said that based on Lacuna’s orders, the senior citizens are given importance at every opportunity possible.
Apart from the monthly allowance of P500 per month, the weekly ‘Kalinga sa Maynila’ assistance such as the processing of IDs and booklets, centenarian cash gifts, birthday cake and ‘Pamaskong Handog’, among others.
