By: Emme Rose Santiagudo
Christmas is all about extravagant social gatherings, festive Christmas parties and bountiful Noche Buena with the family, but for the elderlies of Asilo De Molo in Molo district, they only ask for two simple things this Christmas – to have good health and long life.
“Ang gusto ko lang mabuhi lang, amo lang na ang importante,” 85-year-old Lola Rosa (not her real name) told Daily Guardian on Thursday.
On the other hand, 65-year-old Lola Linda said her only wish this Christmas is to eat nutritious food every day.
“Ang wish ko makakaon adlaw-adlaw kag mabuhi,” she said.
Lola Marie said she will accept anything that the Lord will grant for her.
“Biskan ano lang basta hatag ni Lord,” she said.
Almost all the elderly of Asilo de Molo in Iloilo City wished for the same thing this Christmas.
The Daughters of Charity-run Asilo is home to Lola Rosa and the other elderlies who were either neglected, abandoned, or were rescued from the streets.
It is the only institution in Iloilo City which houses and takes care of old people from all parts of Western Visayas.
“There are different ways, some of the families who can’t take care of them they come here to request that they can come in, others we find them in the streets, others their relatives are far outside the Philippines and so they cannot come regularly so they opted also to bring their elderlies here,” Sister Amelia E. Torres D.C., unit-in-charge of Elderly Residential Unit (ERU) Asilo de Molo, said.
Founded on July 8, 1934 by Rev. Fr. German P. Villasan, C.M., together with Dona Pilar Advincula de Javellana, and Dona Adela Lizares Vda. De Mapa, Asilo de Molo was formerly known as Asilo de San Vicente de Paul.
Under the supervision of the sisters of the Daughters of Charity, Asilo de Molo originally catered to homeless babies, toddlers, orphans, and indigents who are in need.
In 1993, it was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as a non-stock, non-profit corporation with the aim to house and give necessary care to the poor elderly in and around Iloilo City.
“We gave up the children, we gave up the toddlers, it is the only institution that caters to the elders,” Torres said.
Driven by the generosity of Ilonggo people, private donations, corporations, and private individuals, Asilo de Molo became a haven for the elderlies who were abandoned or neglected by their family or rescued from the streets.
As of now, Torres said they are catering to 35 elderlies, including three males.
The eldest is 92 while the youngest is at 58, she added.
According to Torres, most of the elderlies spent almost decades staying in the facility.
“Families visit them but very rarely, we call relatives if they are in need of something that we cannot give them especially if they are sick,” she said.
While volunteer doctors visit Asilo de Molo often, Torres admitted that they also struggle complying with the needs of the elderlies such as medicines and nutritious food.
“There are blind, paralyzed, and most of them are diabetics and have some art ailments. All in all they are 35, and they have to have nutritious food for three meals a day including hygiene supplies and medicines. Thank God people come in and out to support us but we still need and we will be really happy for them if there are more people who would want to share their fortunes with them,” she said.
In a span of six months, Torres said two elderlies went up to heaven.
“They were lingering long before,” she said.
On regular days, around 25 groups or individuals conduct outreach program to Asilo de Molo.
This number balloons to three to five outreach per day during holiday season.
Since 2016, Daily Guardian has been one of the consistent companies that conduct outreach program to the elderlies of Asilo de Molo as part of the company’s social corporate responsibility.
Last Thursday, employees of Daily Guardian distributed hot meals, fresh fruits, bread, and juice to the 35 elderlies.
Daily Guardian also gave monetary donations and a sack of rice to help Asilo de Molo comply with its daily needs.
“We are just very lucky that there are tons of generous Ilonggo people,” Torres said.
Meanwhile, Torres also invited young Ilonggo teenagers to make time and visit Asilo de Molo.
Aside from the donations, Torres said the elderlies need interaction to cheer them up especially this holiday season.
“You know, we always have an open invitation to our young millennials. At this point of Christmas season, they can come and the elderlies will be very happy to sing, dance, and talk with this young people,” she said.
While Christmas is usually regarded as the time to grant the wishes of the young kids, hopefully even the elderlies of Asilo de Molo can have their wishes granted this Christmas.
