A special class of ‘uliran’

The “week of the elderly” has come and gone, and for the 25th consecutive year the Coalition of Services of the Elderly (Cose) honored “Ten Outstanding Elderly” chosen from around the country. As usual, there were many more women than men (some years had a ratio of 9 to 1!) This year was a respectable 7 to 3.

While all the “uliran” were notable for their service to others, one woman was truly an inspiration—a true “salt of the earth.” While the other nine seemed quite comfortable in the atmosphere of an air-conditioned auditorium, she seemed somewhat disoriented. Jolita dela Seda de la Cruz is an 83-year-old Dumagat woman from Tanay, Rizal, a farmer and a traditional midwife. She has assisted in the birth of three generations in her community (gratis et amore) and she says she “has never lost one.”

Customarily, after receiving a trophy, cash prize and donated goods, the recipient renders a response. Jolita (a tiny and wizened woman) stood before the microphone… what is there to say? Her life was her message. She murmured a short thank you and was surprised when an attendant took her arm to guide her back to her seat.

While the other nine truly deserved the award for their service, Jolita was a special class of “uliran.” She seemed genuinely surprised why anyone would consider her life exceptional. She, symbolically represents the hundreds of thousands of elderly “unsung heroes” who, 24/7, are at the service of the community and may never be nominated (and may be surprised if they are) for their service to the community. For them, Tolstoy’s dictum “the meaning of life is to serve,” is an actual reality. On such “uliran” does Philippine society thrive.

—ED GERLOCK, board member, Coalition of Services of the Elderly, [email protected]