Twelve outstanding senior citizens of Dumaguete were awarded and recognized as outstanding role models by the Federation of Senior Citizens Association of the Philippines and the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs.
The simple awarding rites were held Thursday and graced by Councilor Estanislao Alviola III.
The top three senior citizens are Paciencia Bucol of Looc, Estelita Lingcong of Junob, and Elma Cayas of Mangnao.
Mrs. Bucol will receive P5,000; Lingcong will get P4,000; and Cayas will receive P3,000.
The next seven outstanding senior citizens are Margarita Poriol of Calindagan, Fely Escalante of Bajumpandan, Nora Olivar of Bagacayu, Judith Sillero of Batinguel, Felix Alcaide of Bantayan, Genaro Amorin of Bunao, Pablita Orong of Poblacion 5. They will each receive P2,000.
Josedela Generoso of Calindagan and Saturnina Aboy of Daro will receive consolation prizes.
In recognition of their feat as top 12 senior citizens, Councilor Alviola also gave them P1,000.
In an interview, FSCAP President George Villamor enjoined the senior citizens not to be fully dependent on government.
He encouraged them to think of something that they can contribute to government.
He also announced the election of Juan Dizon as the next president of OSCA to be confirmed by the City Mayor.
Four senior citizens aged 90 years old and above were also recognized: 97-year-old Emiliana Famoso of Junob, and three 96-year-olds Eugenia Gotostos of Banilad, Tranquilina Geromo from Banilad, and Libardo Flores.
Each of them also received P1,000 from Councilor Alviola. Only Gotostos was able to attend the awarding.
In his message, Alviola said senior citizens are close to his heart, having spent long years in the pharmaceutical industry, where most of the time he frequented the hospitals in the Visayas and other hospitals in the country.
He said it pains him to see the elderly patients dragging themselves to clinics on their own, and searching for a source of their medicines. (Juancho Gallarde)