Today, KRIS Library met with the top officials of Little Baguio, San Juan's Senior Citizens Association, Inc (LBSJSCAI). In a vast Chinese restaurant, we animatedly discussed a partnership in creating a municipal library that would target out-of-school youth, less privileged students, and other members of the community. While feasting on Yang Chow, we also brainstormed plans on book showers and scholarships that would benefit both our organizations. The tapioca-filled dessert course ended with firm handshakes to informally start our plans together.
Although it's amazing to find another league of heroes who could lead us closer to our objectives, for me, that just was not the coolest part.
President Arsenio Cuadrante, Jr. and his association are fighting for the dream of enabling ALL senior citizens in the Philippines to lend their extensive experience and wisdom to become movers and builders of the nation even in their old age. He explained that each granddad or grandmom was an influence to at least five children and grandchildren; and that their program of advancing health care, financial independence, and education for senior citizens and their families would help realize the objective of empowering all wizened Filipinos.
Comprised of more than 100 members, LBSJSCAI has only been active for barely a year. Yet with numerous fund-raising projects already in tow, I have no doubt this association will soon spread an infectious spirit to all our lolos and lolas.
It's nice to see very young people already contribute -- but it's also nice to see very old people do their thing.
Like President Cuadrante said, "You are still going there, but we're already coming back. So why don't we go together?"
That's exactly what we're doing -- going together. :)