FOR some people, the heart of service and excellence continues to burn strongly—even at the twilight of their lives.
As such, the BusinessMirror, in partnership with the United Bayanihan Foundation (UBF) and RiteMed, will be holding its third Dangal (Dakilang Adhikain ng Ating Lahi) Awards for the Elderly on October 27 at the Bayanihan Center, Pasig City.
The Dangal Awards seek to give due appreciation and recognition for senior citizens who still have the fire of exemplary service—particularly to the elderly community—strongly in their respective lifestyles.
The awardees were chosen due largely to the inspiration they give, as well as the concrete projects they have spearheaded during their times of service in the community, which ultimately benefit the aged community—the community who laid the groundwork of what the current generation is reaping.
BusinessMirror Publisher T. Antonio Cabangon said the people of more advanced ages are evolving and becoming more proactive in contributing to societal progress despite being at the twilight of their lives.
“We have to change this perception that elderly people aren’t capable of change,” Cabangon said.
“These people, especially our Dangal awardees, are able to prove that they can contribute, inspire and change the world, and that they deserve due recognition and praise. And we are doing that exactly,” he added.
For this year, five individuals and five associations of elderly citizens at the local government level will receive recognition from the BusinessMirror and its partners UBF and RiteMed.
Here is a glimpse of the awardees for the year:
Individual category
Group category
Parish/Shrine of Our Lady of Mercy-Diocese of Novaliches, Quezon City
UNDER the Vicariate of Our Lady of Mercy, the Parish/Shrine of Our Lady of Mercy assists the needs of senior citizens via its Ministry for the Elderly. They pursue holistic wellness programs aimed at promoting the total well-being of the elderly population in Novaliches, Quezon City. These include spiritual activities, such as Bible-sharing sessions, Purpose Driven Life Seminar, Lenten and Advent recollections, as well as pilgrimages. For physical development and health promotion, members are engaged in exercise, dancing activities and medical missions. Livelihood projects are provided to improve their productivity, while the social development part of its thrust involves fellowship sessions and seasonal parties.
Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs-San Juan City
AS a show of care to the aging constituents, the city of San Juan’s Osca is tasked to provide the best benefits to the elderly under the government’s protection program for them. It has implemented health-care projects to the benefit of the city’s senior citizens, such as Philippine Health Insurance Corp. membership campaign, environment cleanup and lifestyle modification lectures. Osca-San Juan also has proposed P1.023-million appropriation for its Gender and Development Plan from 2016 to 2019. This is aimed at supporting the activities of the 20,000 elderly, like camaraderie, sportsmanship, physical fitness, the yearly Elderly Week and Walk of Life, among others.
Above 60 Academy
WHAT started as a cooking contest in 2010, Above 60 Academy has grown today as a private group of the aging constituents of Marikina City. Founded by Dr. Cheridine Oro-Josef, this school for the elderly works closely with the government, through the Osca. It regularly conducts health education and recreational activities for about 200 members at the
Senior Lifestyle Center in the “Shoe Capital” of the Philippines. In addition, it has programs on promoting physical fitness and spiritual upliftment. The academy also holds regular visits to Home for the Aged, counseling through Seniors for Seniors Program, as well as social activities like Christmas parties and gift-giving to the needy, among others.
Office of the Congressman– First District of Batangas
THE Office of Rep. Eileen Ermita-Buhain of the First District of Batangas is also one of the recipients of the award in the Group Category. Ermita-Buhain’s office implemented a series of programs for senior citizens, also in partnership with the UBF throughout the eight municipalities covered by the First District of Batangas. The eight towns are Balayan, Calaca, Calatagan, Lemery, Lian, Nasugbu, Taal and Tuy. Among the programs she implemented were health and wellness, fora, as well as training for barangay health workers on proper care for elderly . There are around 12,500 senior citizens registered under her office.
Barangay 177 Senior Citizens Office of Caloocan City
FELIZAMIN Fresnosa, head of the city’s senior citizens department, said she is making all the efforts for senior citizens to know their rights, including opportunities and their protection. Their group is composed of 25 associations with a total of 3,300 members. The group recognized the need to address problems on health, social protection and livelihood. This necessitated the implementation of the five-point program in collaboration with non-governmental organizations, funded by the mandatory 1-percent allocation for senior citizens.