Thy elders

HONOR THY father and thy mother.
The fourth of the fire-inscribed divine decrees on the tablets Moses brought down from Sinai ordained for the old folks a niche second only to God’s in the hierarchy of human respect and devotion.
Last time I looked, the first three still invoked of God-man relationship; the rest, man-to-man, with honoring the elders as primus inter pares.
That primacy God decreed on the elders, their offspring trampled with impunity.
Hear how your friendly jeepney driver addresses just about every sexagenarian passenger as Dyesebel or Marimar, Piolo or Dingdong, if not a most disrespectful and thoroughly politically-incorrect Baby or Junior.
Witness how drugstore despatsadoras dismiss with dispatch senior citizens’ prescriptions with the overly practiced stock reply of “Out of stock.” Or how waitresses sour up when senior citizens cards are placed alongside Ninoys to pay for the food tab. In these, Republic Acts 7432 and 7876 be damned!
Honoring thy elders has become sheer lip service, celebrated less in true devotion than in crass commercialization – read: three-day sale events for Mothers’ Day, Fathers’ Day and Grandparents’ Day at SM City, Robinsons, and Nepo malls.
It was then a cause for celebration that some semblance of sense, if not sanity, was put in the cause of honoring the elderly.
In the City of San Fernando, some 800 senior citizens were profuse in their expression of gratitude to Mayor Oscar S. Rodriguez for making them feel "still useful and young once again." The city government paid tribute to the senior citizens in the week-long celebration of "Elderly Week" which ran from October 2 to 7 with the theme "Nakakatanda: Huwaran at Yaman ng Bayan." A tradition vigorously pursued by Mayor Oca, Elderly Week this year was allotted a budget of P300,000 covering a variety of events meant to honor the city’s elders which, the happy seniors said, made them feel "young, reinvigorated and important in society." A medical mission at Heroes Hall was sponsored jointly by the city administration, the Drug Stores Association of the Pampanga and Vicky Vergara of St. Anthony's Drugstore with 470 seniors getting much needed medical attention and care.
A big hit too was the Social Upliftment and Teambuilding Session held at Robinsons Stramills participated in by over 800 elderly in a half day of fun exercises and games where many won cash prizes of P1,000 and P2,000. Mayor Oca himself donated P10,000 in cash for the activity. All these on top of the free breakfast, lunch and transportation allowances for the elderly for the duration of the week-long celebration. And above all, the celebration provided the stage for senior citizens to display their remaining potentials – despite, mayhaps, because of age – to still make a difference in their community. Not a wisp of dotage but every bit of wisdom in their poesia and polosa. Not one arthritic joint creaking but a sweep of grace in their ballroom twists, turns, and gyrations. Not the slightest trace of senility but all gung-ho in their drive to be heard, to be active key-rolers in community affairs. Talaga naman, puedeng-puede pa.
Mayor Oca has indeed done the senior citizens proud. For this, he has been blessed. Go, read the Book.
“Honor thy father and thy mother,” the first commandment that has a promise added: “so that all may go well with you, and you may live a long time in the land.” So the Apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesians. So it was written in Exodus 20:12.
Else, be damned.
The fourth commandment carries too an injunction: “God’s curse on anyone who dishonors his father or mother.” So it was proscribed in Deuteronomy 27:16.
So I am writing this now – even two weeks after the event – if only to pay my respect to my elders.