The elderly can do much for the country, as Tandang Sora did

By: Dr. HELENA Z BENITEZ

(Response of Dr. Helena Z Benitez, former Senator and now board chairperson of The Philippine Womens University upon being conferred the first Tandang Sora Awardee during the Gawad Parangal to mark the 73rd founding anniversary of Quezon City and the 200th anniversary of the heroine held at Crowne Plaza, October 12, 2012 )

I join my co-awardees in extending our sincere thanks to the people and government of Quezon City, led by Mayor Herbert Bautista, for the signal honor accorded us in this Gabi ng Parangal to mark the 73rd founding anniversary of our city and commemorate the 200 thj anniversary of Tandang Sora, Quezon Citys own heroine.

I note with pride and pleasure that two of my fellow alumna of the Philippine Womens University, both famous for their artistry and deserving of recognition as national artists Araceli Limcaoco Dans for visual arts and Fides Santos Cuyugan-Asencio for performing arts are also awardees tonight. Last year, PWUs Jose Abad Santos Memorial School was also

honored with this award. I say this not to boast but to affirm and reiterate our commitment to excellence as our individual and institutional contributions to our nation and people, particularly the government and people of Quezon City.

This occasion is particularly significant because it marks the 200 th anniversary of Tandang Sora or Melchora Aquino in addition to the 73 rd Foundation anniversary of our beloved City.

To us in the elderly ranks of the citizenry, this is very meaningful and inspiring. Melchora Aquino is an authentic heroine because of her contribution to the Philippine revolution for freedom and independence. Tandang Sora was 84 years old when the

revolution broke out. Her advanced years were not a hindrance to her dream of freedom and efforts to help bring it about. She gave freely of her time and resources, feeding and tending to wounded fighters, using her house as meeting place by the revolutionaries, suffering and enduring exile because of her revolutionary involvement.

Quezon City, indeed, our country as a whole, might derive from the example of Tandang Sora, a glimmer of what the elderly can still do for our nation. Waging the peace to attain lasting prosperity and progress is as important as winning it through revolution. The elder sectors of our society can be harnessed to this great and challenging task.

Quezon City is well-known for its caring services to the elderly ensuring that benefits accorded them by law are strictly enforced, giving special attention to their needs such as senior citizen lanes in public places and other forms of preferential treatment, even letting them go to the movies for free, and other very kind and solicitous perquisites. But desirable

and kind as these actions may be, elderly citizens are desirous too that their experience, capabilities, forbearance and patience be put in service to society. They do not wish only

benefits, they also will welcome involvement. I think that is what the life of Tandang Sora tells us. I hope it will be heard.

Again, thank you very much for the honor accorded us.