Over 11,000 people from all walks of life kicked off weeklong activities nationwide in celebration of Elderly Filipino Week aimed at increasing public awareness on various issues affecting senior citizens.
The nationwide 1-kilometer walk billed as “Walk for Life” was held simultaneously on Oct. 3 in 16 key venues all over the country. In the National Capital Region, the start out walk site was at SM Mall of Asia.
Highlighting the week’s celebration spearheaded by SM Foundation, Inc. and SM Cares Program on Senior Citizen Affairs, was an exhibit of golden memorabilia and old possessions of senior citizens to provide a glimpse of halcyon days, the genteel and gentle past as reminder of a vanishing lifestyle to the young ones.
Awards
Activities also included the “Sampung Ulirang Nakatatanda” (SUN) Awards in recognition of heroes among unsung elders who have made difference in the lives of many and have given exemplary services to their communities. Most were farmers, indigenous people, women and persons with disabilities. Awards rites were held at the DAPA Hall of the Philippine Heart Center.
Coinciding with SUN Awards rites was the
launching of the “National Respect for Centenarians Day” provided for under Republic Act No. 10868 (Centenarians Act of 2016), declaring the first Sunday of October as the National Respect for Centenarians Day.