“the elderly can do much for the country, as tandang sora did”
TRANSCRIPT
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7/31/2019 The elderly can do much for the country, as Tandang Sora did
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The elderly can do much for the country, as Tandang Sora did
By: Dr. HELENA Z BENITEZ(Response of Dr. Helena Z Benitez, former Senator and now board chairperson of The Philippine Womens
University upon being conferred the first Tandang Sora Awardee during the Gawad Parangal to mark the
73rd
founding anniversary of Quezon City and the 200th
anniversary of the heroine held at Crowne Plaza,
October 12, 2012 )
I join my co-awardees in extending our sincere thanks to the people and government of
Quezon City, led by Mayor Herbert Bautista, for the signal honor accorded us in this Gabi ng
Parangal to mark the 73rd
founding anniversary of our city and commemorate the 200thj
anniversary of Tandang Sora, Quezon Citys own heroine.
I note with pride and pleasure that two of my fellow alumna of the Philippine Womens
University, both famous for their artistry and deserving of recognition as national artists
Araceli Limcaoco Dans for visual arts and Fides Santos Cuyugan-Asencio for performing arts
are also awardees tonight. Last year, PWUs Jose Abad Santos Memorial School was also
honored with this award. I say this not to boast but to affirm and reiterate our commitment to
excellence as our individual and institutional contributions to our nation and people,
particularly the government and people of Quezon City.
This occasion is particularly significant because it marks the 200th
anniversary of
Tandang Sora or Melchora Aquino in addition to the 73rd
Foundation anniversary of our beloved
City.
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To us in the elderly ranks of the citizenry, this is very meaningful and inspiring.
Melchora Aquino is an authentic heroine because of her contribution to the Philippine
revolution for freedom and independence. Tandang Sora was 84 years old when the
revolution broke out. Her advanced years were not a hindrance to her dream of freedom and
efforts to help bring it about. She gave freely of her time and resources, feeding and tending
to wounded fighters, using her house as meeting place by the revolutionaries, suffering and
enduring exile because of her revolutionary involvement.
Quezon City, indeed, our country as a whole, might derive from the example of Tandang
Sora, a glimmer of what the elderly can still do for our nation. Waging the peace to attain
lasting prosperity and progress is as important as winning it through revolution. The elder
sectors of our society can be harnessed to this great and challenging task.
Quezon City is well-known for its caring services to the elderly ensuring that benefits
accorded them by law are strictly enforced, giving special attention to their needs such as
senior citizen lanes in public places and other forms of preferential treatment, even letting
them go to the movies for free, and other very kind and solicitous perquisites. But desirable
and kind as these actions may be, elderly citizens are desirous too that their experience,
capabilities, forbearance and patience be put in service to society. They do not wish only
benefits, they also will welcome involvement. I think that is what the life of Tandang Sora tells
us. I hope it will be heard.
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Again, thank you very much for the honor accorded us.