Philippines inspiring and outstanding older persons get recognition

Oscar Ricaflanca, 82, is known for being enthusiastic and persistent in his advocacies for the elderly and Persons with Disability (PWDs) for their safety and convenience as passengers and discounts, among others.  

Coming from Oriental Mindoro province, he is the only male among this year’s 34th “Sampung Ulirang Nakatatanda” (SUN) or 10 most inspiring and outstanding older persons in the Philippines, organized by non-government organization Coalition of Services of the Elderly (COSE). 

This year’s search received 119 nominations from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, said COSE, in an emailed interview to RVA.

The SUN Awards started in 1991 and has been part of the annual  Elderly Filipino Week  celebration in order to recognize the important  contributions of older women and men to their respective community and the entire society. 

The Elderly Filipino Week  is commemorated every October 1 to 7 through Proclamation No. 470, issued by then-President Fidel Ramos on September 26, 1994.

SUN nominees and awardees come from different sectors like farmers, PWD, indigenous    peoples, fisher folks, human rights advocates, environmental advocates, educators, and others. 

They are ordinary people who, one way or another, have rendered exemplary and notable services to help others and their communities.

“We always say that older persons play a big part in the nation-building but we seldom show our appreciation of what they have done to our society,” said Emily Beridico, COSE executive director.

Championing the Elderly

Ricaflanca, or "Tatay Oca", in order to ensure the safety and comfort of elderly and PWD passengers promoted the existence of an ordinance regarding the standardization of the height, width and length of passenger tricycles in Calapan City, said COSE in a narrative. 

His leadership and persistence also helped in the implementation of exemption from the payment of port terminal fees for the elderly and PWDs (alongside students) at Batangas City port, now an international port. 

He has also made it his mission to ensure that the establishments comply with the laws such as giving proper discounts to the elderly and PWDs. 

“The law that is for the masses, comes from the masses,” he told RVA on Saturday, Oct. 5.

Ricaflanca was President of the Calapan Senior Citizens Association of the Philippines Calapan City (FESCACC). 

In 2011, he lobbied the local liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) distributors so that the seniors could have a P30 pesos discount and allocate P35 pesos from each tank purchased by the seniors for the Federation of Calapan Senior Citizens and the village where the senior purchaser resides. 

Ricaflanca continues his advocacy of promoting local policies and programs and increasing the knowledge and awareness of the majority about the situation and challenges faced by the elderly and PWDs. 

He hosts “Ang Senior Citizen”, a regular weekly program on local radio station DWOM FM 105.5 in Calapan City. 

Nominees and Awardees

Ricaflanca is among the latest addition to 334 unsung older person heroes nationwide with SUN Awards, said COSE.

An organization, community groups, or individuals whom the nominee have served and inspired can nominate older women and men.

The nominee should be 60 years old and above, not multi-awarded and not well-recognized at the international or national level, selflessly rendered his/her life for the service of other people, community, or organizations for at least five years.

Immediate family members or relatives of the older person cannot nominate him/her in the SUN Awards.

“Old people are honored in the Philippines but aging is not. Beyond all the good programs (health care, advocacy, etc.), my deepest wish is that both older people and society look at aging differently and older people become who they are supposed to be… at the peak and not end of a lifetime of growth and hence invaluable to themselves and others,” said Edward Gerlock, founder of COSE.

Ricaflanca, a lay minister, member of the Knights of Columbus   Bishop Finneman Council 4290 and lector since 1989, is grateful.  

“I am proud and happy that all my works have been recognized and appreciated. I do all these without expecting anything in return because I am happy with what I am doing, especially to our vulnerable sectors. WHILE I STILL CAN!,” he said.  

The other awardees are Zenaida Barroca, 76, from Hinoba-an, Negros Occidental;  Susana Butobara, 65, Culion, Palawan;  Delia Camacho, 75, General Mariano Alvarez, Cavite;  Maribel Cruz, 69, Antipolo City, Rizal;  Adoracion Delos Santos, 75, Paranaque City, Metro Manila;  Rosalinda Pugsong, 76, Alfonso Catañeda, Nueva Vizcaya; Cristina Prado, 96, Malay in Aklan;  Alicia La Torre, 81, Bacnotan in La Union;  Luz Docuyanan, 76, Malabon City, Metro Manila.

They will be awarded in a ceremony on October 6, 1pm to 5pm, at the Children's Heart Foundation Grand Auditorium, Philippine Heart Center, East Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City, Metro Manila.