How does one feel when
he/she is at his/her youth? Isn't he/she having the time of his/her life? Isn't
he/she allowed to experience all that life has to offer? Isn't he/she
beautiful? Isn't he/she entitled to be young, wild and free? Isn't he/she
capable of doing everything?
I am on my youth now and I
am enjoying every moment of it. In professional aspect, I have earned my bachelor’s
degree and got the corresponding professional title for it. I have been working
for over three years now. This is the moment in my life that I can navigate my
life where I choose to go. Physically, I am strong and feel healthy. I seldom
get sick except for having asthma attacks once in a while. I am very
appreciative of myself. I feel I am at my most attractive and desirable stage.
I am more comfortable and confident about myself than I was years younger ago.
At this time also, I do my share as Filipino Citizen. Since I turned 18 years
old and registered as voter, I have never missed to exercise my political
suffrage. To say "youth is the spring time of life" may sound cliché
but this is how I truly feel right now because I can do whatever I desire
because I am capable and able.
When youth fades, what will happen to me? Will I still have the same level of
enjoyment that I am experiencing now? I am much aware that I will not be as
healthy as now when I'll be old. But will I be as enthusiastic about life by
then? At present, I am opinionated and participative of what's happening in our
politics. I always take a stand of what I believe. For that reason, I am driven
to really exercise my right to vote. I am still hoping those elected officials
are doing to protect the people especially less fortunate, vulnerable and weak.
When I'll reach old age, I will be defenceless, vulnerable and weak. Will I be
constitutionally protected by then?
RA 9994 - The
Expanded Senior Citizens Act is one of the country's laws that tackles about
senior citizens. As a young professional, this makes me happy because there are
privileges I am going to enjoy when I'll reach old age. I was able to know this
act because my present job has to do with senior citizens. Part of the job is
that I have to deal face to face with our Lolos and Lolas. Every time I give to
them one of the additional grants stipulated on this act I can't help but to
know a portion of their life. It is good to know that our government gives
importance to our elderly.
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| Moment of belonging.Group of senior citizens expecting for their stipend. |
As I do my duties I realized that parents will always be parents. My heart
melts with this. Out of that meager stipend they received they would still
share it to their children and even to their grandchildren.
However, there were also
painful real life situations I've encountered. To have many children is not an
assurance that one of your sons/daughters will take care of you when you will
be old and weak. I've witnessed some of the Lolos and Lolas who diligently went to
the site to claim their grants alone. There was no one to assist them. When
asked if why they were alone they would only say that all of his/her children
were busy with their own families or already left and lived in another place.
Some of them would tell that they didn't want to disturb the busy life of
his/her children.
What had
taken me a back immensely was most of our senior citizens felt they
were already disconnected to the society, to the family. From my point of view,
to feel left out, neglected or alone crushes a person's sense of belonging. I
have never wanted to feel alone. And to feel that way is the worst kind of
ordeal I don't want to encounter. Loneliness
is a dangerous killer. It can kill you slowly yet painfully.
When
all of us reached the age of majority, we started to plan how our life to be in
the future. We visualized that we would be employed in a stable and great
company. For some of us, to own a business would be the greatest achievement.
When we would already be financially independent, most of us would like to have
a family on our own. A few of us would consider living a life of singleness
whether in a holy order or not. In order to achieve that detailed plan or our
life, we promised that we would do great in our studies believing that
education is the key to a better future. And when we earned our diploma or were
already capable to survive the challenging world, we took off to realize those
plans.
We
have referred the life after schooling as the real world and this
real world, once we set foot on it, took the best of us. It forced us to
be always to be preoccupied in our chosen career. Manic Monday, busy Tuesday,
stressful Wednesday, hectic Thursday and deadline Friday were our labels for
weekdays. When Saturday and Sunday come, we would pamper ourselves. We would be
tired but we would never give up because of our eagerness to make our plans
realized.
There
is nothing wrong having those personal plans in life. Also, there is nothing
wrong realizing those personal plans. What we fail to include in our personal
plans are our parents. While we are so focused with our life, our parents age,
get old and weak. It is just right and our time to give back to the people who
have given us all without asking any in return. It is accordingly right to fly
back to the people who gave us wings to take greater heights in our life. We
should remember when we were still not able to walk, they were our feet. When we
were still not able to talk, they were our voice. When we were still not able
to see the wonders of the world, they were our eyes. So who are we to neglect
them when we are now able and capable? Who are we not to take care of
them? Who are we to be selfish?
More
than what the government can extend to our elderly, let start from us. Let’s be
generous to the closest senior citizens in us by distance and by blood. Let’s
include our parents.
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