Maguindanao treats elderly residents led by 4 centenarians

COTABATO CITY – The provincial government of Maguindanao has treated close to 400 elderly residents led by four centenarians in belated observance of the national Elder Pilipino Week (EFW). Host officials led by Gov. Esmael Toto Mangudadatu held a festive gathering for 390 elderly residents from 26 of 26 towns in Maguindanao, providing them physical support devices, cash incentives and other goodies in the provincial capital town of Buluan on Nov. 25.In his ceremonial vernacular message, Mangudadatu urged the present generation to give best care and respect to elderly individuals, whom he described as living witnesses to social evolution, challenges and aspirations. Without our elders, we would not be around now. They should serve as our guiding light in our stride for betterment, the governor pointed out.After his speech, Mangudadatu carried and caressed 103-year old Melan Pensing, prompting other host officials to follow suit and drawing resounding applauses.Pensing, a resident of Mangudadatu municipality, is one of four centenarians present at the convergence. The three others were Zubaika Buko, 104, of Paglat town Salia Samad, 102, of Mamasapano town and Kelan Corpuz, 100, of Northern Kabuntalan.The governor also mingled with 384 other participating elderlies, with ages from 65 to over 90, and handed to them 20 wheelchairs, 20 quad canes, and 20 walking canes alongside minor goodies and cash incentives.The four centenarians received P25,000 each, an amount to be added with P100,000 each from the regional office of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao’s social and welfare department, according to provincial budget officer Lynnette Estandarte, who researched the identities and whereabouts of elderly residents across Maguindanao.Provincial executive assistant Eman Aljani described the Buluan-hosted convergence as very festive, saying Gov. Mangudadatu had to beg off from an earlier invitation for a Mindanao media summit in Davao City as guest speaker on the same day.The event was Maguindanao’s belated observance of the national Elderly Filipino Week, which has been mandated every Oct. 1-7 under Proclamation No. 470 issued on September 26, 1994 to increase public awareness on issues concerning the older persons’ sector.This year’s EFW celebration came with themeand Kilalanin at Parangalanand Tagasulong ng Karapatan ng Nakatatanda Tungo sa Lipunang Mapagkalinga, according to the national DWSD website. (Ali G. Macabalang)