Foundation to form retirees’ one-stop-shop

THE Blessed Association of Retired Persons Foundation Inc. (Barp) will organize a month-long tribute to the elderly dubbed as The Golden Years Festival in October.

It is part of their preparations for the construction of a one-stop shop for retirees in the Cordillera region.

Activities slated are medical and dental mission for senior citizens, sports fest, trade fair and exhibit, food fair, entertainment shows, lectures and raffle draws.

“The theme of the fundraising campaign is ‘Mano Po!’ derived from the Filipino value of filial love and respect. Aside from a gift-giving campaign to support the construction of the Senior Citizens’ Center, it will be a reminder that we promote and instill this fading tradition of love, respect and care for the elderly while we raise funds for the building,” Barp president Federico Balanag Sr. said.

The proposed one-stop Center for Senior Citizens and Retirees will be a five-storey structure with a scheduled groundbreaking rites on October 6 in Crescencia Village, Bokawkan Road.

The festival expects the attendance of at least 10,000 senior citizens representing the City of Baguio, La Trinidad and the different Cordillera regions, La Union and Pangasinan.

Balanag said the goal of their fundraising is to establish a permanent home for the Barp Foundation Inc. and Multi-Purpose Cooperative.

The more than 700 square meter property along Bokawkan Road was acquired by the foundation from the late senior citizen comedian Dolphy Quizon last year.

“The Center is envisioned to be a facility maintained and operated by the elderly for the elderly, keeping them productive and active in their golden years,” he added.

The facility will combine an array of basic services and amenities for members and the community by providing medical, health, fitness, wellbeing, rehabilitation, lifestyle and legal services with easy access to quality, on-site elderly care.

Aside from the many personalized services offered, the Center will feature an elderly oriented commercial center with a comfortable, safe and affordable bed and breakfast inn with a pleasant living environment for the elderly and their family.

The surrounding landscape will be transformed into a fitness and rejuvenation park.

The participating elderly organizations belonging to the Baguio Elderly Assembly and the Cordillera are: Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Government Retired Employees Association, Inc., Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs, Democratic Independent Workers’ Association party-list, Federation of Baguio Senior Citizens Associations, Veterans Federation of the Philippines-CAR, Philippine Retirement Authority, U.S. Navy Fleet Reserve- Baguio Chapter, US Armed Forces-NL World War II Veterans.