The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
By Mike G. Jamisola
A thanksgiving mass and flag-raising ceremony attended by hundreds of senior citizens, officials of the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) and Quezon City government, kicked off the national opening of Filipino Elderly Week at the QC Hall grounds yesterday.
Meanwhile, NCSC Chairman Atty. Franklin Quijano led the simultaneous nationwide celebration by attending a gathering of senior citizens in Batangas, Iligan City (via Zoom) and others while Luzon cluster Commissioners Reymar Mansilungan and Rainier Cruz, took care of the QC event with guests FSCAP NCR Chapter president Jorge Banal, QC mayor Joy Belmonte and QC vice mayor Gian Sotto.
Commissioner Ida Yap-Patron took care of the Elderly Week celebration activities in Regions 9, 11, 13 and other parts of BARMM and Zamboanga Peninsula,
Comm. Edwin Espejo took charge of of the festivities in Regions 10, 12 and some parts of BARMM and Zambo Peninsula while Comm. Enriqueta Roncal-Rodeles handled the activities in most parts of the Visayas region.
The Elderly Filipino Week, celebrated every first week of every year is anchored on Proclamation No. 470, s. 1994, issued by former President Fidel V. Ramos.
It is declared every first week of October referred to as Linggo ng Katandaang Filipino or Elderly Week to give importance to elderly Filipinos in nation-building.
The week-long festival is now spearheaded by the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) based on the mandate of RA 11350, specifically referring to the transfer of programs, functions and activities that used to be under the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
With the mandate of taking the lead in this celebration, the NCSC headed by its Chairman, Atty. Franklin Quijano, has lined up a massive schedule of activities following the theme Older Persons: Resilience for Nation-Building.
The NCSC has also encouraged frontline leaders in governance and the local government units (LGUs) including civic organizations to actively participate and ensure the success of the celebration through the programs and activities especially dedicated to our elderly populace.
Among the groups that have been tapped to help the NCSC are the National Government Agencies (NGAs) National Government Organizations (NGOs) Local Government Units (LGUs) Senior Citizens Organizations/Associations
Federation of Senior Citizens of the Philippines (FSCAP), private organizations, religious groups and the civil society.
Also expected to collaborate and provide assistance are the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Commission of Human Rights (CHR).
The Coalition of Services for the Elderly (COSE) are likewise enjoined to coordinate, to the Federation of Senior Citizens Association of the Philippines (FSCAP) in carrying out these activities for the elderly.
To kick-off the week-long celebration on October 1, a national opening ceremony will be held in the National Capital Region with similar activities set simultaneously in various regions and provinces throughout the country.
Adopting American poet and author Irwin Allen Ginsberg’s Seven Cs of Resilience, the calendar of activities for this year’s Elderly Filipino Week are as follows:
Saturday, October 1: With the theme Confidence, the set of activities starts with the national opening ceremonies, which will highlight the Achievements of Older Persons. Other events include Documentary-Feature: Saludo kay Lolo at Lola and #SikatsiLolo#SikatsiLola.
Sunday, October 2: Themed Contribution of Older Persons and Their Impact to Others, activities include Cente-Sinta in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Libreng Health Drinks Para kay Lolo at Lola Cubao-Araneta Station, LRT Line 2 9:00 AM – 12 noon.
Monday, October 3: Themed Coping mentally, emotionally and physically and strategies to relax and cope with stress, activities include Announcement about the EW Celebration after the Flag Ceremony Health & Wellness Related Activities in Various SC communities.
■ Walk for Life, Zumba for Seniors
Tuesday, October 4: With the theme, Control Circles of concern, influence and control, activities include SIMBA, ZUMBA at SIGLA SM MOA, 6AM- 9AM In partnership with SM Cares and
In cooperation with 17 NCR LGUs.
Wednesday, October 5: Themed Connection – Sense of belongingness, network and support given and received by others, activities include Medical-Dental Mission for Senior Citizens in partnership with SM Cares, SM Foundation
SM Baguio, 9AM onwards
News Features: Older Persons and Volunteerism.
Thursday, October 6: With the theme Character – Values Leading with good values and character, activities include Online Policy Forum on Older Person’s Right to Work in partnership with the Commission of Human Rights (CHR) Via Zoom, 9AM-11AM
Friday, October 7: Themed Competence – Special Skills and Competencies, activities include Soft-launching of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities Pilot Sites
10 AM, NCSC FB Page
(SUN) Awards
1.30pm – 5pm, FB COSE Live
Other Culmination Activities from various regional and local SC communities
National Closing Ceremonies
5PM, NCSC FB Live
Saturday, October 8, 2022
PhilHealth Konsulta Rocks
Konsulta Registration On-site Communities for KonSulta Service (K_ROCKS)
This is for lifetime or elderly membership.
The booth will also promote the Primary Care Benefit Package that senior citizens can avail of.
According to a most recent data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, there were 12,336,355 Filipinos aged 60 years old and above as of May 2020.
The total number of senior citizens was placed at 11.31 percent of the country’s estimated total population at 109,035,343, based on the 2020 Census of Population and Housing (2020 CPH).
