Rtn. Paul Jeremy Villaruel
“Alam mo, masayang masaya kami sa pagdalaw niyo. Nabigyan niyo po kami ng importansya… Hindi niyo po kami nakakalimutan, maraming salamat sa mga tulong niyo,” quips the teary-eyed “Tiya Remy”, as she is fondly called, during a gift-giving program dubbed as “Lingap Para Kay Lolo At Lola” held at Barangay 886, Zone 98, Santa Ana, City of Manila last Sept 11.
Led by Life Changing President Rita Francisco, the Rotary Club of Manila Santa Ana (RCMSA), handed over a total of 6 Manna Pack boxes, 100 boxes of facemasks, 100 boxes of face shields, 500 boxes of ferrous sulphate and a box of sotanghon. The aid targets to benefit around 100 individual senior citizens, who are prohibited from going out due to prevailing modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) which took effect to curb the COVID-19 delta variant.
Ana Janina Santiago, chairperson of Barangay 886, thanked the Rotary in her Facebook post. “Humanitarian aid is always welcomed overwhelmingly,” she added. The barangay is home to the Santa Ana Hospital, which is an active government COVID-19 hospital of the City of Manila.
Mr. Reyes, at 69 years, is the president of the barangay’s senior citizen group and a bank retiree. He is now busy looking after his grandchildren whom he describes as “source of happiness” in his twilight years. A jolly and optimistic Tiya Remy, at 87 years, is the vice president of the group and is well satisfied living a life of single blessedness. During the interview, she expressed how the pandemic affected her and the other senior citizens, especially those who are earning a living. Tiya Remy encourages other senior citizens to be inoculated and even advised to avail of the pneumococcal vaccine as added protection against the coronavirus.
“Ipagpatuloy niyo po ang kabutihang loob niyo, sa kahit anong paraan… kami pong mga senior, kailangan po namin ang tulong niyo,” Mr. Reyes challenged as the event wrapped up.