THE three-day 15th Elderlympics, which drew thousands of participants in the city, culminated at The Annex of SM City Davao with a chorale contest and ballroom competition on Monday, December 5.
This year’s event is dubbed “Active Ageing, Strength in Unity.”
Headed by the Office of the Senior Citizen Affairs (Osca), the annual program aims to showcase the senior citizens’ talents and skills, a proof that they are still physically and mentally fit.
According to Osca Focal Person and Technical Assistant Luis Moran, in an interview with SunStar Davao, holding the sportsfest is also a way for the Davao City Government to give importance to the contribution of the senior citizens in the city's economic development.
Games were held at the Rizal Memorial College Gym in the past two days.
“The Elderlympics has been institutionalized to be conducted every first week of December,” Moran said, adding the city currently has 179,000 senior citizens who are Philihealth holders but their office only recorded 80,000 seniors.
Norma Abaquita, 73, one of the ballroom participants, said senior citizens could no longer be underestimated despite their age because of activities like this. She also lauded the efforts of the government for constantly recognizing the elderly sector.
Themla Briones, 65, emphasized they have enjoyed the activities, citing that they are only after the opportunity to display their talents.