What began as a simple feeding program and gift-giving activity by journalists covering the eastern flank of Metro Manila and Rizal province on Saturday became an affirmation of a broader mission: a community choosing not to abandon its elderly.

At the center of that mission is One Cainta Sunset Retreat, the local government–run facility inside Greenland Subdivision that now houses 42 abandoned senior citizens.

For many of them, it was the first time in years — sometimes decades — that they have a stable home, regular meals and people who check on them daily.

“This is the only LGU-funded home for the aged facility in the entire province of Rizal,” said facility general manager Frederick Salonga, who has taken it upon himself to ensure that no elderly resident under their care feels forgotten.

“All seniors who grow old in Cainta should have a facility to take care of them,” he said.

Salonga said the vision behind the facility is simple but rarely achieved at the local level: to provide abandoned and neglected elderly with dignity, safety and consistent care. Clean rooms, daily routines, medical support and recreational programs are not extras — they are the standard.

“Our facility is clean and decent, and we provide a good quality of care,” Salonga said. “It’s a big help for people like us who work here and care for our clients.”

The facility’s establishment on 1 May 2023 stemmed from Mayor Keith Nieto’s directive that no senior in Cainta should spend their final years in neglect.

Social worker Abegail Mae Pastor said the mayor’s instruction was clear: treat the elderly with the same attention and compassion one would give a family member.

“He loves our senior citizens because he doesn’t want anyone left behind,” Pastor told members of the PaMaMariSan-Rizal Press Corps during their visit.

“That’s why Mayor Kit built this facility — so they can have a nice place to live, sleep comfortably at night and have all their needs provided.”

Pastor detailed the level of care the seniors receive. They are fed five to six times a day — breakfast, morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack, dinner and sometimes a late-night snack. Doctors and nurses are on-site.

Maintenance medicines are free. Caregivers assist them throughout the day. “All of the services are provided here,” she said. “Daily care, activities, health monitoring — everything is taken care of.”

To keep residents active and engaged, the facility offers a variety of recreational and social programs, from small classroom-style sessions to holiday-themed activities.

Pastor said seniors take part in monthly events including Nutrition Month, Halloween, gala nights, a sports fest and Valentine’s Day celebrations.

“It’s important that they don’t just eat and sleep,” she said. “They should also feel joy, routine and community.”

During Saturday’s visit, journalists brought food packs, hygiene kits and toiletries and serenaded the elderly with Christmas songs — a gesture that many residents said reminded them of the warmth of family gatherings they no longer experience.

For Salonga, the involvement of the wider community is not optional — it is essential.