ARE WE COPYING the culture of other countries?
In most advanced economies, the elderly– those that cared for their children when they were young and helpless until they got old enough to stand on their own– are being left in the care of homes for the aged or worse removed from their own houses that they invested in so they have something to pass on to their children. Even worse, for those that have not had the fortune of having their own homes are thrown out in the streets to fend for themselves just like stray animals.
The Philippines, touted as a very Christian country packed with love for God and neighbor is apparently going in this direction if one were to peruse the bill filed by returning Senator Panfilo Lacson, entitled “Parents Welfare Act of 2025” which also prescribes penalties for such offenders.
Lacson said the bill is aimed at ensuring that elderly parents are not abandoned by their own children.
‘The care for the aged is neither an exclusively private matter to be left to the family nor an exclusively public concern best left to the government.’
INTRINSIC OBLIGATION
Seeing this made me remember the sad western movies that I saw where the elderly are altogether forgotten by their children and when they die, the offspring show pretentious tokens of love and gratitude, virtues they never displayed in the last few years of their parents.
But then others counter, why do some parents require the eldest kid to assume the burden of supporting the siblings upon getting a job, as if giving birth to them had an intrinsic obligation for the first born.
This is unfair, like one graduate (with Latin honors) of UP said in his commencement speech: “Bakit niyo ako pinanganak para ipasan ko ang obligasyon niyo sa aking mga kapatid. Hindi niyo naman ako tinanong nung ako’y niluwal niyo kung gusto ko bang magkaroon ng kapatid na papasanin?”
It is lamentable that an increasing number of kids (after the baby boomer generation) have the mindset of: “I didn’t ask to be born, so why oblige me to care for you or my siblings.”
WORKING UNTIL DEATH
Amid this backdrop, more elderly people these days refuse to be a burden to children and would rather work until they die than depend on one or all of them.
Battling against the retirement criteria of society, they would take on menial jobs just to support themselves and buy their own needs, esp. of medicines.
Rural folks and many urban poor families are bringing forth children just like rabbits, conceiving them one after another for so long as they can reproduce. And the younger kids become the obligation of the elder ones. Passing on the burden of raising and schooling the younger kids is utterly unfair for the elder ones.
“While government is doing its best in providing support in the form of food and shelter as well as enacting legislations like the Senior Citizens Act, it cannot be over-emphasized that taking care of the elderly members of the society is not only the function of government, but rather it is a shared responsibility of government and the children of said elderly,” he stated.
“The care for the aged is neither an exclusively private matter to be left to the family nor an exclusively public concern best left to the government,” he added.
ABANDONING THE ELDER
Although Filipinos are known to have close family ties and an inclination to take care of the elderly, Lacson lamented that there are cases of elderly, sick, and incapacitated parents who were abandoned by their own children.
He lamented that sights of abandoned elderly in the streets have become “typical.”
“This proposed bill therefore seeks to further strengthen filial responsibility and to make it a criminal offense in case of flagrant violation thereof,” he declared.
“Abandonment of a parent in need of support shall likewise constitute a criminal act,” he added.
Under the bill, a parent who is in need of support may file a petition for support before a court.
Those who fail to comply for three consecutive months face imprisonment of one to six months or a fine of P100,000.
Also, persons who abandon their parents under their care and protection will face six to 10 years in jail and a fine of P300,000.
#abandoningtheelderly
#ingratitude
#Lacsonbill
#finesforabandoningtheoldpeople
#ThePhInsider