The National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) on Wednesday led the launch of the 2025 Elderly Filipino Week with the rolling out of simultaneous activities and service caravans across the country to honor the contributions of senior citizens.

NCSC spokesperson Loraine Cerillo Valdevieso said the annual celebration is mandated under Proclamation No. 470 signed by former President Fidel V. Ramos to recognize the role of the elderly in nation-building.

“Nag-umpisa po maagang-maaga, mayroon tayong mga misa sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng bansa at sinundan ng walk for life at mga caravan of services kasama ang Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), PhilHealth at Philippine Statistics Authority para makapagbigay ng serbisyo sa ating mga senior citizens (The celebration started very early with masses nationwide, followed by a walk for life and service caravans with DSWD, PhilHealth and PSA to deliver services for senior citizens),” Valdevieso said in a news release.

As part of this year’s celebration, Valdevieso said the NCSC is also launching a new partnership with the Department of Tourism to train seniors as accredited community tour guides.

“Ito ay nagbibigay ng opportunity para sa ating mga senior citizens na maging kabahagi pa rin ng sektor ng turismo. Sila ay sumasailalim sa pitong araw na training upang maging accredited na tour guide sa Intramuros (This gives our senior citizens an opportunity to remain part of the tourism sector. They undergo a seven-day training to become accredited tour guides in Intramuros),” she said.

The program aims to replicate the Intramuros model in other priority tourism areas nationwide, allowing senior citizens to serve as storytellers of history.

Valdevieso also urged young Filipinos to assist their elderly family members in joining the activities.

“Maganda po iyon na nabanggit, iyong role ng mga kabataan sa pagtulong sa mga senior citizens upang maitaguyod ang inter-generational relationship (It is important for the youth to help senior citizens so we can strengthen intergenerational relationships),” she said.

Elderly Filipino Week will run until Oct. 7 with simultaneous events in all regions. (PNA)