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Philippines |
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ECHOES FROM LEYTE
Autumn of our lives |
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Source: Inquirer |
Author: Loly Isiderio-Perez |
Date: 1999-09-16 |
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IT is now September and in temperate
countries, autumn has set in.
Although we live in tropical isles, we
are no strangers to the four seasons
of Western countries.
We knew all about spring, summer, autumn and winter from our
school days before World War II. I always thought spring and
autumn were the best seasons and that if ever I went to those
countries, I'd do it in autumn.
After reading Keats' ''Ode to Autumn'' in college did I develop a
special feeling for this season. The song ''Autumn Leaves'' is my
favorite, as well as my friends'.
Now we have reached the autumn of our lives. It is a beautiful
season when we feel still full of vigor and much-inspired to
continue with our endeavors, though mellowed by time. But we
are aware that winter is not far off--only three full months from
the end, not just of a year but also of a millennium.
So my friends and I--sexagenarians and septuagenarians--make
it a point to get together as often as possible and talk about the
good old days in the defunct Divine Word University, once the
biggest university in Eastern Visayas.
We are still many, each doing her full share and still giving
much to all she can reach. May I name a few of the most active,
highly productive of them.
There's Aching Jimenez, trying to recruit me to her laudable
work of tourism promotion. Leonor Almeria, professor of music,
who has been a mentor to most of the young professionals
hereabouts.
Ching Arce, Tacey Cinco and Linda Almaden, through whose
hands passed many a young child, have graduated to being
doctors of education and now mostly doing their parts to bring
up our youth in the old traditions of Christian life and humility.
This year, declared ''Year of the Elderly,'' is soon to end.
We started the year with the birthday bash of Nena Baqez, who
brought her children and grandchildren from the United States
to celebrate her 80th birthday in January. She said that Leyte
was a very good and kindly place for those in the autumn of
their lives. She worked for a while in a nursing home for old
folks in the US and, like most Leyteqos, she would not like to
live in one.
Times have changed, though. Many old people live lonely lives
by themselves, mostly by choice as they often refuse to go
where their children want to relocate them for a better life.
In Leyte, we have at least two institutions devoted to the care of
the sick, incapacitated and elderly.
One was donated by Msgr. Antonio Mate for children, the sick
elderly and the abandoned. Mate gave the lot and the buildings
for the institution being managed by the Missionaries of
Charities of Mother Teresa. The facility serves the whole region,
but mostly Leyte.
Many wealthy and charitable families contribute to the upkeep
of the institution. Those who need hospital care are brought to
government health centers. The ultimate aim is to bring back
them to their families, if they have any.
Another facility to serve the lone and lonely elderly is the
Senior Citizens' Village to rise in Diit in northern Tacloban City.
It is to be built on a half-hectare land donated by the family of
Nicolasa Reyna, one of the prominent philanthropic residents of
Tacloban.
Felicidad Legarde, Senior Citizens president, has been at this
work almost forever, having been engaged in promoting the
welfare of the elderly as early as 1982.
Why did I get into this subject? Because I saw the autumn
leaves, green and gold, dropping from the trees, leaving them
bare for next spring. Well, as we say in our group, we feign we
would linger a little while longer, for as Robert Frost says: ''I
have promises to keep, and many miles to go before I sleep.''
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