OP ED EDITORIAL & CARTOON: Redefining the elderly

We take a meaningful break as we join the government and other agencies in the annual nationwide observance of Elderly Filipino Week which ends today.

This year’s theme—appropriate, with the number of elderly Filipinos projected to likely be over 8 million by end of 2018—is “Kilalanin at Parangalan: Tagasulong ng Karapatan ng Nakatatanda Tungo sa Lipunang Mapagkalinga (Recognize and Honor [the Elderly]: Advocate Rights of Seniors Into a Caring Society).”

.
– SPACE RESERVE FOR YOUR ADVERTISEMENT –
.

With the observance, it is timely that we not just recognize the growing number and honor them by perhaps treating them to a sumptuous lunch or dinner today.

There is urgency for government and the lawmakers to revisit a pending measure in Congress which seeks to lower the age bracket for beneficiaries of the P100,000 incentive under the Centenarians Act of 2016.

At the same time, it is propitious to recognize and endorse that old age is not a handicap to leading productive lives even in the digital age.

With the projected number of seniors by end of this year, we find it apropos to redefine the positives the Filipino elderly have which can still enable them to contribute to a growing population.

Given the caring and affectionate culture of the Philippines, absent in other societies, the Filipino elderly remain as important as they were in their prime summers back—since they have so much to give intangibly, with their experiences through this valley that cannot be taught and have not been written in books that deal with social issues.

They have crossed what many call their majority of life path.Which means they are senior in most of the respects in life: Tolerance, thinking, analyzing, understanding, and judging, among others.We recognize and honor them today—like in any other day they are with us.