"Gasa Sa Gugma"

Becoming old is not a hindrance for us to face the outside world. It is normal for us the human beings. It is not just us but also the other living creatures of the world. Even animals grow old as the days pass by, the plants also grow old too. It’s already what is destined to us. That’s why we need to cherish every minute of our life.

Last February, 2007, the University of the Philippines, Civic Welfare Training Service had their outreach program at the Gasa sa Gugma in Mabolo Street Cebu City. I was one of those volunteers who were there making our fellow happy. Gasa sa Gugma is an organization that takes care of the old woman and man who were abandoned by their family or those who have no families here in Cebu. As I first enter the place, it was so quiet. The only thing that hear was the swinging swing. The place was very peaceful and quiet. As I saw our lolos and lolas, I felt weak. I didn’t expect that there are people like them. As I saw them, I remembered the suffering of my lola. I felt sad and at the same time I started shedding tears but I control it. I should not let them see that we pitied them. Our purpose there is to let them feel that there are still people who cared for them. To encourage them that it is not yet the end of the world, that even if they’re old they still play a role in our society.

In there I have met lola Julia. She is 95 years old. She was born during the time of the World War II. She acts like if she's just 50 years of age. She shared to us her experiences during the World War II. Like me, she had good and bad experiences. We had a great time with each other. She even told me about her sentiments about the caretakers who were abusing them in a way that they get some belongings of the elders there. i did not expect that kind of thing because as what the caretakers has shown to us, that's their real identity but we were wrong. She also shared to us how they are treated inside their ward. I really pitted them. Knowing that they are old and they don't have the strength like us. In the middle of our conversation, she then asked me to buy her a slipper. I didn't promise to her but i just said to her that I'll try my best to achieve it. It was a very good feeling that we somehow made them happy.

When it was time to bid farewell to our lolos and lolas, my fellow classmates didn't help but cry. It was a emotional time for them. With that two hour interaction with hem. We feel very close to them. To us it was an experience that we can't forget. We have help them stand out from their beds, we made them very happy at that time. It only happens once in a blue moon so we should cherish that moment.

The experience that we have taught us that in tis world, there are people that needs the care of their loved ones. There are people who lie low because of their situation . With that, we, as part of our youth should treat them very well. We should let them feel that they are special. That even if they are old they still have worth and is still part of the society.