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BY SONIA D DAQUILA
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Ageism
“TAKE a Stand Against Ageism” is a fitting theme for the Oct. 1, 2016 celebration of the “International Day of the Older Persons.”
Ageism are acts of discrimination or prejudices to senior citizens. This generally begins at age 60. Some educational institutions give tribute to their teachers who are turning 60 years old. A dinner given in honor of the retirees, speeches given by selected members of the community that recall happy memories of each retiree and the values shared to the community. A plaque, a statuette, and a handsome amount as retirement pay are also given.
Retirement, in any language, means elderlies’ slackening of activities. One may pursue a laidback kind of life, do what one wanted to do but barred by previous routines, others travel. Sadly, some retirees are still in search for livelihood to maintain their keeps.
Ageing is a fact of life. No matter how one tries to slow it down, aging comes naturally, manifested by losses. Loss of hair, loss of teeth, loss of sex appetite, impairment of the sense of hearing, wobbly knees, sagging of muscles, wrinkling of skin, and the worst is the loss of memory. Loss of finances too, as the meager pension is usually not enough for medicines and food of the elderlies.
Elderly people are usually discriminated, abandoned, and taken for granted. They usually suffer sadness or depression with their empty nests, or when their respective partners are gone ahead of them.
Apart from physical aging, psychological impact takes a tool on the elderly well-being.
On the positive tone, however, older persons are toughened veterans in life, full of knowledge, may be full of scars, and wisdom, mellowed by their respective battles in life.
Bless you, laudable lawmakers! Former senator Mar Roxas for the passage of Republic Act 9257 or the Senior Citizens Act giving benefits to the elderlies. Sen. Loren Legarda for her principal authorship of RA 9994, the Expanded Senior Citizens Act excluding the elderlies from value-added tax (VAT). It is a gratifying experience to be given preference in bank transactions, in transportations, in hotels, restaurants, in the comfort rooms, and in the queues.
With the present administration considering the removal or lessening of these benefits, or removing the VAT privilege from the elderlies, these are the most cruel propositions you may push against the senior citizens.
Nonetheless, no one is exempted from aging. As the song goes, “We (You) are next in line.” (delsocorrodaquila@mail.com/PN)
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