For lolos and lolas, it's more fun in Makati

Friday morning in Makati City, and there's a line at the beauty parlor. In one corner, a man sits on a stool in front of a mirror, snippets of his hair feathering-down to the floor as he gets a haircut. At the opposite side of the room, a woman closes her eyes as she soaks her feet in a tub of bubbles. Nearby, another woman places her hand on a towel, ready for her manicure. Like any other salon, the air smells of nail polish and talc. Unlike other salons, all the clients are above 60 years old. In Makati, senior citizens enjoy a slew of benefits, all courtesy of the city government. These include free movies, free cakes on birthdays and golden wedding anniversaries, leisure tours and burial assistance. There is, also, the free salon services. Opened in July 2012, the SM Felicidad Sy Wellness Center for the Elderly in Barangay Tejeros has a steady clientele of lolos and lolas, who take advantage of the free services, from haircuts to full body massages.

Makati's senior citizens troop to the SM Felicidad Sy Wellness Center, where they can get free hair cuts. GMANews.TV

Makati Social Welfare Department livelihood trainees in beauty care and massage therapy man the salon, which is open on weekdays. According to receptionist Eva Olata, they get around 40 clients daily. Olata explained that the number of services the client can avail depends on how far their residence is from the salon. "Kunwari District 2, three services ang ginagawa namin. Pag dito lang sa malapit, two services lang ang binibigay namin," she said. Both males and females come to the salon for their haircuts, but the manicure and pedicure are the women's favorite services. "Paminsan nga nagkukulang kami pero willing sila mag antay. Matiyaga sila," she said. Olata shared how some of the senior citizens had their first foot spa at the salon. "Di raw nila nararanasan yun sa tagal ng ano nila, kaya tuwang-tuwa sila. 'Ano ba ito, di ba kami magground dito?' Tapos kami, 'Hindi po.' Tapos sasabihin nila, 'Ay ganito pala, ang ganda pala,'" she said. Convenience Another favorite service is the massage, which can be done in the salon or, in special cases, at home. "'Yung iba natutuwa rin kasi may massage room kami rito, talagang relaxing na nakahiga, lalo na pag yung masakit na mga katawan, paglabas nila, 'Ay ang sarap naman,'" she said. Olata said the therapists are specially trained to serve senior citizens. Before giving a massage, they are required to check the blood pressure. "Kasi pag mataas ang kanilang hypertension, di muna puwedeng i-massage yun. Tinatanong sila kung may high blood, may sakit na ganito ganyan. Para mild lang ang massage sa kanila," she said.

Vilma Estrecho enjoys a one-hour massage at the SM Felicidad Sy Wellness Center, where senior citizens are offered free services. GMANews.TV

Meanwhile, those who want a manicure or pedicure are asked if they have diabetes. "Kasi pag may diabetes ang senior, mild lang ang pag push kasi baka masugatan," she said. Based on the comments and suggestions, Olata said the senior citizens enjoy the salon and hope the services will continue. "Kaya tuwang-tuwa sila kasi dito lang nila naranasan na pag pasok nila, paglabas na iba. Kasi gumanda raw sila, napagupitan ng buhok, napaganda ang kamay," she said. "Nagpaparequest pa sila ng facial... sabi ko mahirap yung facial, mahal ang materials na gagamitin," said Olata. Rogelia Pamat, a regular client, said she goes to the salon because the therapists are nice, and of course, the services are free. "Minsan nagpapasalon ako noong wala pa rito sa David's Salon. Pero ngayong may libre, dito na," Pamat said.

Rogelia Pamat, a regular at the SM Felicidad Sy Wellness Center, smiles as she gets her pedicure. GMANews.TV

The location is also convenient for Pamat, who goes to the salon every month. "Ang dalas ko dito. 'Yung mga kaibigan ko hindi. Niyaya ko, pero sabi kasi nila malayo," she said. Apart from the SM Felicidad Sy Wellness Center, there is the Makati Senior Citizen’s Beauty Salon and Spa in Comembo Multi-Purpose Hall, also opened in July 2012. Responding to requests from Makati residents who live a distance away from Tejeros and Comembo, the Makati Social Welfare Department (MSWD) under then MSWD chief and acting city administrator Marjorie A. De Veyra launched mobile beauty parlor services in other barangays. Apart from going to the salon, Pamat also enjoys other benefits for senior citizens in Makati, such as unlimited free movies, and a birthday cake she received when she turned 63 on April 19. Merly Nobleza, who has lived in Tejeros as a kasambahay since 1960, is another regular client at the salon. Like Pamat, she gets a manicure and a pedicure every month. "Nahihirapan lang po ako maggupit ng ano, malabo na yung mata ko. Naoperahan na itong mata ko, eh. Mahigit nang one year," Nobleza said.

Kasambahay Merly Nobleza from Tejeros gets a monthly manicure at the SM Felicidad Sy Wellness Center along J.P. Rizal. GMANews.TV

According to hairdresser Richard Cablao, the number of clients is increasing as news of the free services is spread by senior-citizen-word-of-mouth. All the hairdressers have regular clients, who want the same service when they return. "Babalik-balikan nila. Gusto nila kilala yung maggugupit sa kanila," said Cablao, noting that the women also liked to have their hair short, especially during the summer. "Parang gupit-lalaki rin. Mainit kasi ngayon." "Masuwerte kami," Vilma Estrecho said while getting a massage at the salon. On Tuesdays, Estrecho goes ballroom dancing at Barangay Olympia, where she lives. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, she goes to Poblacion for exercise classes. "Kaya enjoy ang mga senior citizen," she said. Gratitude In 2012, the Philippine Retirement Authority named the city as the country's ‘Most Retirement- and Ageing-Friendly City’ for meeting the WHO criteria for an age-friendly city. Also part of Makati's senior citizens' benefits package is a cash incentive. Launched in 2003, the cash incentive is given twice a year to help senior citizens pay for their daily needs. In 2012, under City Ordinance No. 2012-017, the annual cash incentive for senior citizens 70 to 79 years old was increased to P3,000, and to P4,000 for those who are 80 years old and above. Beneficiaries aged 60 to 69 are given the usual P2,000 cash gift. Makati residents who turn 100 are also given a cash incentive of P100,000, which is meant to encourage them to take care of their health. "That's the rationale behind the cash gift. It's not really a dole out. When we grow old, lumalabas yung mga sakit, kailangan ng mga medicines," MSWD chief Ryan Barcelo said. "The consciousness of the city government of being grateful to these elderly, who during their younger years actively participated doon sa development ng city. We owe it to them,” he added. “Whatever Makati has or Makati is, ito ay kagagawan nitong mga matatanda... that's why all of these benefits are granted to them." According to Barcelo, the senior's benefits all began with burial assistance. "Nagsimula kasi yan through a resolution, panahon pa ni Dra. Binay as mayor," said Barcelo, who recalled that the grant for burial assistance was given in the late 90s, and was later expanded to include other benefits. "By that time, the city council allowed the provision of financial assistance to deceased senior citizens. I suppose there was no violent opposition to the proposal. After all it's for the welfare of the constituents." Dr. Elenita Binay was mayor from 1998 to 2001, in between two three-year consecutive terms held by her husband, now Vice President Jejomar Binay, who was first elected mayor in 1988. In 2002, the Makati BLU Card program, the benefits program for seniors, was launched. "Noon it was not really that appealing, because ang feeling, alam mo na yang superstition ng Filipino na kapag kumuha ka ng BLU Card it's as if you're already buying your 'ticket'," Barcelo told GMA News Online. The program was originally meant to provide a P3,000 burial assistance to the family of the deceased cardholder. This was eventually expanded to include the birthday and anniversary cakes. “Pagdating, may iyakan blues pa yung matanda kasi yung pamilya nakalimot sa kanyang birthday but the city government brought in birthday cake," Barcelo said. At the time, they were only delivering around 25 to 30 cakes every day, so the government employees could still afford to sing and dance when they presented the cakes. Now that more senior citizens have enrolled in the BLU Card program, the government delivers between 200 and 300 cakes a day. The cakes are provided by a supplier, chosen through a bidding process. As of 2013, there were 58,379 senior citizens enrolled in the BLU Card program. "Kung mayroon pang extra time yung nagdedeliver at di pa masyadong pagod, mage-effort pa rin na kahit papanao. Especially kung medyo kakilala ng negde-deliver, as a gesture, kinakantahan pa rin., “It's no longer the norm, it's an exception," Barcelo said. Joining the program is voluntary, and senior citizens must apply for the BLU Card to receive the benefits, as the government computes its budget based on the number of those enrolled in the program. Outside the city Apart from the cakes, cash incentives, and free salon services, Makati senior citizens also enjoy Lakbay Saya leisure tours. At first, the tours would only be within the city. "Dahil yung mga senior citizen ay hindi nila alam na mayroong mga ganitong facilities ang Makati. Hindi nila alam na mayroon tayong Ospital ng Makati na kahit papaano, ang structure at ang service ay at par with the private hospitals," said Barcelo. "Many are not aware that we have state of the art school facilities, like in our public schools, in the University of Makati, Hindi nila alam na ganito ka grande ang kanilang City Hall, the session hall na parang Kongreso na miniature. Hindi nila alam na meron tayong parang 911 sa taas." Eventually, the senior citizens wanted to have Lakbay Saya outside the city. After the first out-of-town trip to Baguio, the tours included visits to the senior citizens' home provinces, such as Leyte, Samar, Cebu and Negros. "Part ng Lakbay Saya was to visit their families doon sa mga probinsya," Barcelo said. He added that senior citizens from the more affluent communities also apply for the BLU Card, though not for the burial assistance, cakes, leisure tours, nor the financial assistance. "Ang habol nila is exemption from number coding. Because in Makati, ang BLU Card holder, so long as he or she is a passenger or the driver of a coded vehicle, puwede siyang magbiyahe," said Barcelo, who explained the privilege was granted for the purpose of giving senior citizens access to medical facilities. "Kapag ang senior citizen ay bumiyahe sa Makati, they are so confident. Kapag binara sila ng yellow boys, bubuksan lang ang window, iwawave ang BLU Card," he said. Meanwhile, Makati residents who are yellow cardholders (a health card for Makati residents) also enjoy subsidized hospitalization at the Ospital ng Makati. "Libre 'yang hospitalization. However if your bill reaches 5,000 and beyond, you will be asked to contribute 250 pesos, para may contribution ka sa pamamahala ng gobyerno," explained Barcelo. "Pero kung walang wala talaga that can be waived. Para hindi man lang masyadong dependent ang tao sa gobyerno, kahit papaano mag shell out ng something," he said. Residents of sister cities may also seek treatment at the Ospital ng Makati, with the approval of the city mayors. "Mayor to mayor yan na transaction. Kapag okay sa Makati pasok yung pasyente sa Ospital ng Makati and that person will be treated as if that person is a resident of Makati, having a yellow card also," said Barcelo. This sisterhood relations includes different partnerships, such as technical, material, and in some cases, financial. Barcelo shared that officials from sister cities sometimes attend training sessions at the University of Makati. "They come to Makati to learn from our experience. Over the years we really have improved the way government should be done. We don't do it the way traditional governments do. We run this city like a corporate entity," he said. For the BLU Card, cash assistance costs run to about P60 million. "Naka budget yan. If I am not mistaken, a year ago, pumalo yan lahat-lahat na services and programs ng Makati for senior citizens, close to 100,000 'yan sa mga sine," he said. Budget allocation According to Barcelo, the senior citizens are given the lion's share of the budget for the different social welfare sectors, which include women, children, persons with disabilities, and abused men. "Among the sectors in the social area, medyo nakakaangat yung sa senior citizens. Pero kung titingnan mo yan sa whole, magkano lang yan. It's almost negligible," said Barcelo. Infrastructure, education, and security are among Makati's priorities, according to Barcelo. "Since Makati hosts the chicken that lays the golden egg, we have to ensure security. Kasi kapag atakihin tayo dito ng terorista, it's not just Makati that will collapse. It's the entire country," he explained. He also pointed out that the national government provides only seven percent of the city's total budget. "'We rely so much on real property taxes and business taxes. In fact even if they take out that seven percent from our budget we can run this government. That's why we call it the 'Republic of Makati'," Barcelo explained But it has been alleged that as the “Republic's” business and financial capital grew, so did the wealth of the Binays, who have faced allegations of corruption. In 2001, journalist Miriam Grace Go said that Binay had accumulated at least P80 million worth of real estate property in Makati and Batangas, which he kept undeclared. “The amount excludes P12 million in declared investments, as well as other businesses that he and his friends reportedly control through dummy corporations,” Go wrote in “The Lord of Makati”, which was published in on online news magazine Newsbreak. In 2006, Binay was accused by former Makati City Councilor Oscar Ibay of conspired with City Treasurer Luz Yamane, and other city officials, of hiring "ghost employees" at the City Hall between 2004 and 2005. In 2012, Binay dismissed an investigation by the Commission on Audit on the Makati Friendship Suites, one of Binay's projects when he was still Makati mayor, as harrasment. Also in 2012, COA Commissioner Heidi Mendoza said her audit team noticed indications of possible rigging of the bidding for a P72-million government supply contract that was done in 2001, when Elenita Binay was still mayor of Makati City. Binay has also been accused of building a political dynasty in Makati, with daughter Mar-Len "Abigail" Binay as Makati Rep., and son Jejomar Erwin "Junjun" Jr. as current Makati mayor. Another of his children, Nancy Binay, is currently running for senator. According to economics professor Solita ‘Winnie’ Monsod, Binay's social welfare programs are the reason the public forgives him despite allegations of corruption. "In terms of serving the poor, this guy (Binay) does it. That’s why he’s unbeatable," Monsod was quoted in Jaileen F. Jimeno's "Makati's Mayor Fortifies his Fort", published in 2007 on the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism's website. Imperfections When it comes to the senior citizens' program, the system is not perfect either, Barcelo admits. For instance, the database for white-card holders (the nationwide Senior Citizen's Card) has yet to be updated, as Makati does not only issue white cards to its residents, but also to any senior citizens who apllies for one. "Any senior citizen, kapag kahit hindi siya residente sa isang lugar can ask for a white card from the nearby OSCA (Office for Senior Citizens Affairs)," Barcelo said. Also, the OSCA has no mechanism for deducting card-holders who have passed away. On the other hand, the BLU card database is updated. "Mas reliable ang data ng BLU card. Although, since we work together with OSCA, they're working on sanitizing their database para hindi kami magkalayo ng figures," he said. Another cause of problems, Barcelo shared, is when the senior citizens themselves don't follow the proper guidelines, such as failing to inform the city government when they move to a new address. "Sometimes, ang senior citizen, lilipat ng bahay di man lang nagnonotify sa amin tapos magrereklamong di nakakuha ng kanyang cake. Tapos meron namang mga instances na yung kamag anak ang nag receive kasi wala ang senior citizen, biglang kinain ng kamag-anak," he said. When it comes to claiming cash incentives, the senior citizens sometimes don't follow the given schedules. But these are petty issues that can easily be addressed, Barcelo reasoned. At present, the social welfare department is focused on community building. "Makati, being a highly urbanized city, is becoming more and more Westernized. People tend not to know their neighbors anymore. "That is a social welfare and development risk. Kasi eventually, people will become dependent on the institution rather than on their family and their community," he said. The MSWD is thus organizing families at the grassroots level to bond and help each other. "'Yung ganun bang concept, revitalizing the traditional Filipino spirit of bayanihan. We would like senior citizens to mainstream themselves into this program of the city. After all ang makakatulong talaga sa kanila ultimately, yung pamilya nila," he said. — DVM, GMA News