By Neny Regino
OVER the years, new words have been added to the dictionary that I cannot recall using in my younger years. Among these are: chatbot, coffee nap, dumbphone, greenwash, sleep debt, supply chain and of course, there’s google!
But for me, the newest in my personal dictionary is the word “senior.” Googling its meaning I found the following: It could refer to someone holding a high and authoritative position in an organization; a student in the secondary level preceding graduation; the older of two persons who have the same name belonging to the same family. And lastly, the meaning that is most relevant to my situation — someone who is older, someone who has lived for a relatively long time or has reached a specific age.
In her book “The Gift of Years”, Joan Chittister wrote, “Our image of an aging population is more commonly an image of debilitation and dependence, of unhappy isolation and social uselessness and left alone in a world long gone.”
“But people live longer every decade that passes. Aging is also a period of sweet liberation and possibility. Life is not a straight line, it is a spiral.”
We are in a circle. We start from the bottom, go round and round till we reach the end. We must exhaust all means to enjoy this period of liberation and wish we could start all over again.
The poet Robert Browning wrote: “The best is yet to be, the last of life, for which the first was made.”
And that is what we must do.
In the Philippines, we have given a name to those ‘dislocated’ souls; those 60 years old and older are considered “seniors.” According to the Commission on Population and Development, in 2020, 8.5 percent, or 9.2 million, of the country’s population were aged 60 years and older. We are given a senior card which I personally treasure like my passport. I use my senior card in all transactions to avail of a fair discount in stores, particularly in the purchase of costly medicines, grocery goods and in all other purchases.
In supermarkets seniors have a specified checkout counter plus get discounts for basic commodities purchased. My non-senior friends would sometimes put their grocery finds in my basket to avail of my discount privilege. But I discourage them from taking advantage of the perks of seniors. I tell them: “Wait for your turn.”
In the rail transit system, senior citizens get to board the first rail car specifically designated for them. This frees them from the aggravation of being lumped together with the teeming mass of passengers who have to muscle their way in to get a ride especially during rush hours. I, too, have experienced the courtesy and respect generally accorded senior citizens by younger Filipinos. I get preferential treatment in public places with my gray hair noticeable even from afar. At times, I feel uncomfortable at being immediately “recognized” as a senior but the gray hair says it all.
I also get discounts when dining in restaurants. It is a joke among us seniors whenever we dine as many times we share a dish and when we are billed, we brandish our senior cards. Someone in our group exclaims: “OMG, the restaurant may end up paying for us instead of us paying the bill!” And we have a big laugh.
To care for our medical and health needs, seniors who are not registered with PhilHealth become automatic members. Moreover, indigent senior citizens receive a cash allowance from the government.
In Quezon City where I reside, I have availed of these benefits and privileges. Seniors are first in line when the local government schedules free vaccination for flu and pneumonia. Since childhood, I have been afraid of needles so I ignore notices from my barangay. However, my barangay Kapitan would come to my house to inform me of these scheduled immunizations so there is no escaping these “efficient” services of our barangay. I wish the rest of our government would be just as efficient in the delivery of other services.
While having breakfast at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Cebu, my young workmates recognized FIBA players sitting at a table opposite ours. I was calmly enjoying my meal when I overheard our young manager and secretary giggling and ogling at the opposite table. I asked what the ruckus was all about and was told about the FIBA players. On our way out, one of the players, Kareem Maddox recognized me, as previously we had a photo with him when our director Connie Angeles wanted a picture with him to show off to her daughter who is a basketball fan. To break the ice, I introduced myself as Granny and he obliged immediately for who can ignore his “Granny.” Little did I know that I would precipitate a photo-ops stampede for soon everyone wanted a photo with him and other players. Being a Granny made our day!!
My younger friends envy me and look forward to their 60th birthday so they too can enjoy the perks of a senior citizen.
Nothing beats the Philippines for the courtesy given to seniors because once you fly to another country, you become an ordinary human being.
“The Gift of Years” ends: “We know that life is whole. The first part was good, so good. Why would we doubt for a moment that this half will be anything less.
Now is the time to complete, now it is only the beginning.”
(The author spent years working in government doing events planning & research work while her stints in private corporations involved her in corporate communications and media relations. Upon retirement and up to this day, she devotes her time to foundation work writing, among others, human interest stories.)