“I’m happy that someone visits me once or twice a week. I have someone to talk to, someone who monitors my health, and occasionally provides me with medicine and food,” says Tatay Benjamin.
Tatay Benjamin, 88 years old, is single and resides in Barangay Malitbog, Minalabac, Camarines Sur. He lives in a small house made of bamboo and some corrugated metal sheets, built by his neighbors. He separated from his long-time partner, Nanay Zosima, due to old age. Since then, Tatay Benjamin has been living on his own.
In 2018, Tatay Benjamin was enrolled in the Social Pension Program for Indigent Senior Citizens. He is thankful that after six years since his enrollment, the benefit level has increased from P500 monthly to P1000. “I thank God because I know I can now eat three times a day.”
Tatay Benjamin once worked as a security guard before shifting to farming, which he continued until the age of 60. He was unable to save for his old age, and his only source of regular income now is the social pension.
When the Coalition of Services of the Elderly, Inc. (COSE) started implementing the Mobile Health Care Assistance Program under the project “Improving access to needs-based healthcare of older persons by strengthening the capacity of Older Persons Organizations (OPOs) in Camarines Sur Province, Philippines”, Tatay Benjamin was listed as one of the priority patients. He lives alone in a small and old house. He is physically weak and barely speaks. Before the project, he was able to visit the Municipal Health Center once a month or every other month.
Tatay Benjamin’s financial, physical, and medical condition makes him highly vulnerable to disasters and illness. When the devastating typhoons Trami and Yagi struck the Bicol Region, he was severely affected. His small house was blown away by strong winds, and all of his belongings, including his Holy Bible, were soaked. Nothing was left for Tatay Benjamin.
After the typhoon, he had no choice but to stay in a makeshift shack. For days, he slept in a hammock and survived on bread, until concerned neighbors stepped in and brought him food and grocery packs from their village. “I am happy because my neighbors are kind to me; they are generous and gave me food. They even built a house for me,” he shared.
Tatay Benjamin has an adopted sister who lives in another Municipality. His sister provides him with groceries, sometimes once a month. “Living alone is difficult. I am already old and weak, but I can still manage basic household chores such as cooking my own food. Despite everything, I keep on fighting. And I still consider myself fortunate because I have a sister, kind neighbors, and volunteers visiting me,” said Tatay Benjamin.
The Mobile Health Care Worker assigned to the Municipality of Minalabac visits Tatay Benjamin once or twice a month. However, a Homecare Volunteer visits him more frequently—once or twice a week. They check his vital signs, monitor his health, and assist with basic household chores. “I’m happy because the volunteers and health workers visit me regularly. They don’t mind my small house and messy surroundings. They give me medicine, and sometimes, they even bring me food,” Tatay Benjamin shared.
The project has brought about positive changes in Tatay Benjamin. He now engages in small talk with the volunteers, often sharing stories about his life and dreams. “I pray to God to keep blessing me, to provide me with food, and to keep me safe at all times,” he says. Tatay Benjamin hopes to reach the age of 90, looking forward to the ₱10,000 cash gift given by the national government to nonagenarians. “I also hope that my social pension will continue, and that the volunteers will never stop visiting me in my small house,” he adds.
Written by Marites A. Hade
