FREE MOVIES. Mayor Santiago and Vice Mayor Lazatin along with Mall Manager Eusebio lead ribbon-cutting signalling the opening of Libreng Sine para sa Senior Citizens at SM City Pampanga.
PHOTO BY BONG LACSON
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – A pun on the Spanish honorific titles for the privileged capsulizes the spirit of Mayor Edwin “EdSa” Santiago’s program for the elderly in this city.
“For devoting the best years of their lives in rearing their children to be good citizens there- by contributing to the development of our communities, it is only proper that in their advanced years, our senior citizens be treated as senior-itos and senior-itas,” Santiago said at the launching of the “Libreng Sine Para sa Senior Citizens” at SM City Pampanga here Monday.
The program that provides free movie privilege to elderly Fernandinos was also launched earlier in the day at SM City Downtown and Robinsons Starmills. Under the program, elderly moviegoers can avail themselves of free viewing at the first screening on Mondays of any movie in the three malls in the city. All they needed to present are their senior citizens card or their Fernandino access cards.
Councilor Harvey Quiwa, the author of the Free Movie for Senior Citizen Ordinance, described the activity as a joint effort between the city government and private sectors “in the continuing efforts to provide efficient services to the people”.
The ordinance was unanimously approved by the city council presided by Vice Mayor Jimmy Lazatin, calling it a “concrete manifestation of our full support to Mayor EdSa, particularly in programs benefitting our elderly constituents.”
According to Santiago, there are currently 23,000 registered senior citizens in the city “in close coordination” with the city government. Santiago’s announcement that a service vehicle will soon be provided the city’s Office of Senior Citizens’ Affairs drew applause from the senior citizens present at the launch.
Following up on Santiago’s announcement, Quiwa requested barangay chairs through Association of Barangay Captains President Angel Wijangco to provide the elderly free transportation on Monday mornings to and from the malls to fully enjoy their free movie privileges.
“With this, Mondays will become bonding time for our seniors,” Quiwa said. For his part, SM City Pampanga Mall Manager Junias Eusebio said involvement of the Sy malls in socio-civic programs is “precisely what SM Cares stands for” the target beneficiaries ranging from the youth to the elderly, persons with disabilities and special children.
SM City malls also employ senior citizens on weekends as “mall ambassadors” welcoming shoppers. “Napakasaya namin dahil ramdam namin na importante kami kahit matanda na kami,” said Rogellio Santos, 70, a resident of Barangay Dolores.
Also present at the launch were Councilors Nelson Lingat, Jacklyn Calimlim, and BJ Lagman and OSCA Chair Juan Castro. –With reports from CSFP-CIO
