Contest to honor Caloocan seniors

Councilor Orvince Howard “ConVINCEd” A. Hernandez has announced a contest that will honor living married senior citizen couples in Caloocan City who have stayed together for four decades and are still going strong.

The contest is open to all husband-and-wife senior citizens who are bonafide residents of the city and are still happily living together for 40 years or more.

“Let’s celebrate this year’s Valentine’s Day by honoring our lolo and lola or nanay and tatay whose faithfulness to each other has stood the test of time through the years. Through this contest, let’s make them feel that we dearly love them. Let’s make the people know that here in Caloocan City, we are extremely proud of our senior citizens,” said Hernandez, president of the Sanggunian Kabataan Federation of Caloocan City.

To join the contest, any grandchild or child should write the story of his or her senior citizen grandparents or parents and send it to Hernandez’s FB page “Vince Hernandez” or email it to [email protected]

“Ikuwento n’yo ‘yung mga ‘kilig’ moment ng love story nila, kung paano sila nagkakilala at nagligawan, tampuhan at suyuan, ilan ang naging anak at apo nila, how they overcame challenges and all that. In other words, their love and life story as husband and wife,” he said.

“Puwede po ito gawin sa Tagalog o English. Hindi na po kailangan na maganda ang pagkakasulat dahil hindi naman lahat ay magaling talagang magsulat. Ang importante po rito ang ‘substance’ ng istorya, lalo na kung may kasamang video o photos ng kanilang mga lolo at lola,” the councilor added.

From all the entries, Hernandez will choose five winners who will be honored with plaques and cash prizes.

“Bukod dito, iti-treat ko, ako ang taya, ng isang munting salu-salo with matching roses para kay Lola sa darating na Valentine’s Day ngayong Pebrero 14. Ang salu-salong mangyayari ay sa mismong bahay po nila gagawin para kapiling din nina Lolo at Lola ang kanilang buong pamilya. Kahit pandemic, tuloy po ang V Day sa ating mga tahanan. lalo na ang mga lolo at lola natin na dapat maging inspirasyon ng mga kabataang at mga mag-asawang nagmamahalan ngayon,” said Hernandez.

“’Yung mga mapipili ay gagawan din namin ng MTV o video presentation na parang ‘Wish Ko Lang’ and dating para mapasaya natin sila at bilang pagpupugay sa kanilang matibay na pagsasama,” Hernandez said, referring to the popular TV program on GMA7.

Interested parties may send their entries beginning on January 18 while the deadline for submission is on February 8.

“Walang limit kung gaano kahaba ang letter, pero ‘wag naman masyadong mahaba, basta ang importante ay maibigay ang substance. Maaari ring lagyan ng larawan nina lolo at lola o nina tatay at nanay ang inyong sulat o Blog,” Hernandez added.