Grandparents’ Day made beautiful

Time is precious; it should be well spent with the families

Elderly finds his artistic vein. DAVID CUBANGBANG

Even if Jimmy Carter had not made it an official edict to recognize the importance and worth of grandparents, one may bet that it would have somehow ended up being a national event hereabouts anyway.

The Philippines, according to primer.com.ph, began celebrating Grandparents’ Day in 1987, while the American tradition started in 1978.

What the former US President said, in his Proclamation 4679, also holds true for all: “Grandparents are our continuing tie to the near-past, to the events and beliefs and experiences that so strongly affect our lives and the world around us. Whether they are our own or surrogate grandparents who fill some of the gaps in our mobile society, our senior generation also provides our society a link to our national heritage and traditions. “We all know grandparents whose values transcend passing fads and pressures, and who possess the wisdom of distilled pain and joy.

Because they are usually free to love and guide and befriend the young without having to take daily responsibility for them, they can often reach out past pride and fear of failure and close the space between generations.”

Filipinos, even on a daily basis, somehow find a way to honor their elders in the family. Our lolos (grandfather) and lolas (grandmother) hold esteemed places in our hearts — our fount of love and affection and, in the absence of our parents in this age of dysfunction, our guides and guardians. They are, in a way, heroes who inspire the youth with their life lessons and enduring values.

“In the Philippines, grandparents are not just treated as an extended family member: they are still being considered as part of the immediate family because some would still live with their children even when they already have families of their own. Usually, grandparents are the ones who take care of their grandchildren when the parents are away. They play a special role in a child’s development, especially when it comes to teaching values, respect and affection that helps influence a child as he/she grows up,” the Primer article says.

For these and many other reasons, the second Sunday of September is reserved for eating out, pampering and spending time with our grandparents. It is a special for the “grands,” as they say, as family members shower them back with love in return.

Efforts to celebrate this first Sunday of September get better and more creative each year.

The Araneta Center, for one, gives our lolos and lolas a chance to shine in “Grand Hangout” activities happening today, in partnership with reigning Miss Universe Philippines 2019 Gazini Ganados.

Ganados has been very vocal about her advocacy of the elderly, something which stemmed from her close relationship with her grandparents. The beauty queen said wants to do more, despite visiting a home for the aged in Manila already.

BINIBINING Pilipinas Universe 2019 Gazini Ganados with the lolo and lola painters. Portaits will be sold and proceeds will be donated to her chosen charity. GROUP PHOTO BY ARANETA CENTER. PHOTO AT RIGHT BY DAVID CUBANGBANG

“Time is precious; it should be well spent with the families,” she said. The Cebuana, who is also an animal lover, recalled that her favorite thing about her grandparents was when they would sing lullabies and Visayan songs. Ganados then sang a some bars of the ditty, “Tong, tong, tong, pakitong, pakitong,..”

Ganados, who continues to prepare for the global pageant, revealed that she is pouring everything into the events assigned to her by Binibining Pilipinas Charities Incorporated. She said she is reading an online application to get updated on current events through social media to prepare for the question and answer portion. She’s also excited about the rumor of the Miss Universe Pageant being possibly staged here in the Philippines anew.

Araneta Center gave her the opportunity on Friday, 6 September, to spend time meeting 15 members of the elderly community who did portraits of her. These portraits will be sold and part of the proceeds will be donated to a chosen charity by Ganados.

Today’s Grandparents Day celebration will also be highlighted by different activities across the Araneta Center.

The Grand Chess Championship will start at 10 a.m. in Gateway Mall where 150 members of the elderly community will battle it out the entire day. The winner of the Grand Chess Championship will have the opportunity to match up with International Chess Master Chito Garma with the help of National Chess Federation of the Philippines, sanctioned by FIDE.

By 3 p.m. at Ali Mall, grandparents can groove in an hour of classes on salsa and cha-cha with A Dance Company in a grand ballroom party. Or to simply unwind and hang out with their fellow grandparents, they can head to Farmers Plaza, also at 3 p.m., for the Grand Symphonic Band free concert in partnership with the Quezon City Tourism Department. To reminisce more, the DWWW 774 radio station will also be relaunched.

While all the activities are ongoing, the center will provide a free medical check-up loaded with freebies. To avail of the services, customers must show a P500 single receipt purchase from any Araneta Center establishments.

Those interested to purchase a portrait may contact Gateway Gallery curator Gari Apolonio at gatewaygallery@aranetagroup.com, call 588-4000 local 8300. For more updates, visit www.aranetacenter.net and follow Araneta Center’s social media pages: @aranetacenter on Facebook and Twitter and @thearanetacenter on Instagram.