BACOLOD City – Before she turned 89 years old on Saturday, October 19, Remedios Chavez was very happy to receive gifts from the Himamaylan City Government in Negros Occidental.
The city government through its City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) recently conducted a series of gift-giving activities to celebrate the birthdays of senior citizens in the locality. Free cakes and groceries were distributed to the elderly individuals.
Chavez was one of the beneficiaries. She shifted her weight leaning on to her trusty umbrella while waiting for her turn to receive a cake and groceries during the distribution held in Barangay To-oy.
The octogenarian who is a resident of the village’s Sitio Mambato shared that her umbrella has been with her through thick and thin doubling as a cane and protection from sun and rain. This has rendered her old tool loose on the handle and an accident waiting to happen.
“I do not own a baston (cane),” replied Chavez when asked if she had a walking cane.
Upon learning Chavez’s story, Himamaylan City’s Mayor Raymund Tongson together with the CSWDO and Persons with Disability Affairs Office immediately arranged to gift her a baston”.
Upon the request of the mayor, the CSWDO led by senior citizens focal person Norma Pelayo visited the house of Chavez to personally hand over her present, a walking cane.
The octogenarian was thankful and she began practicing using her new baston./PN
