BAGUIO CITY- Baguio senior citizens celebrate elderly month in October with activities in accordance with the theme, “Kilalanin at Parangalan,: Tagapagsulong ng Karapatan ng Nakatatanda tungo sa Lipunang Mapagkalinga.”
October is proclaimed as elderly month through Republic Act 10868.
In Baguio, the City Social Welfare and Development Office in partnership with the Baguio Veterans District, Blessed Association of Retired Persons (BARP), Philippine Government Retirees Association (PGRA), and Federation of Baguio Senior Citizens Associations (FBASECA) have come up with the Senior Citizen Official for a Day (SCOFAD), Search for the Outstanding Senior Citizen, healthy lifestyle fora and others for the celebration.
The CSWDO spearheads the selection of the SCOFAD who then assumes office on October 1, after observation, orientation and introduction to their respective places of assignment; in regional line agencies, city hall offices, or in the barangays. SCOFAD officials are expected to function for one day as the officials they took over.
On October 2, the opening program is conducted with high lights on the awarding of senior citizens on leadership, community service, resource generation, and Huwarang Nakatatanda awards. Nominations for said awards ends Friday, Sept. 14.
Baguio Centenarians are also recognized during the program.
On October 4, a whole-day orientation on healthy lifestyle “Right to a Wholesome Life,” by the Department of Health-CAR and CSWDO is presented to at least a hundred elderlies. The forum is centered on senior citizens’ physiological, emotional and positive outlook on life.
The Department of Health-CAR, Philhealth-CAR, CSWDO, OSCA and FBASECA together with the senior citizens converge for a walk and Palaro, the venue for announcement at a later date. The elderlies shall have mind and word games, and soft exercises, as well as information on their Philhealth insurance benefits. A medical, dental and optical sharing follows.
On October 18, a renewal of vows for married elderly citizens is sponsored by the CSWDO, Office of Senior Citizen Affairs and the office of Councilor Lilia Farinas.
A grand Pista Sa Nayon concludes the elderly month celebration in the afternoon of October 25 at the PFVR gym. A Lakan and Lakambini is chosen among the senior citizens, and crowned at the venue.
The elderlies show off their learned and natural talents in modern, ethnic and folk dance during the pista sa nayon. Other competitions are conducted in solo and choral singing Accordingly, a native Ilokano literary metaphorical and rhythmical speech and song, shall be presented , to preserve and pass on to the younger generation the said form of poetic art.**pio
