Residents of the Golden Reception and Action Center for the Elderly and other Special Cases (GRACES) can now stay in comfortable quarters following the turnover of its newly constructed Tamondong building for several of its elderly patients early this week.

The new building is a donation from the ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation’s “Failon Ngayon” and “TV Patrol,” and its partners United Architects of the Philippines, Arkitektong Kabitenyo, and the Rotary Club North East Bay to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to improve the living condition and facilities of the residential center.

“Malaking tulong ang ganitong proyekto para sa ating mga senior citizens, mga kapwa natin mamamayan na hindi na po makakapagtrabaho (This project can greatly our senior citizen who can no longer work),” said DSWD Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Emmanuel A. Leyco.

Also in line with the observance of the Elderly Filipino Week this October, DSWD OIC Leyco explained the need to celebrate elderly Filipinos and their contribution to the society.

“Sa akin po, gusto ko po silang tingnan bilang mga modelo. Sila po ang batayan ng ating mga aral. Kung ano po tayo ngayon ay dahil po sa kanila (I see them as role models. They are the basis of our teachings. Because of them, we became who we are),” he said.

Meanwhile, DSWD Assistant Secretary for Centers and Institutions and other Special Directives Lorraine Marie T. Badoy, who also graced the ceremonial turnover, expressed her gratitude to all the individuals and groups involved in the project.

She said, “The ones here have no one. They have no families. They have been abandoned and neglected, so we have to be the family that stands in for them and I am truly grateful to you for making this possible.”

“A society, I believe, is to be judged by how well it cares for its most vulnerable and right now, today, I think we are going to be judged really well. Thank you very much,” she added.

Aside from the construction of the new building, the private partners also donated 50 wheelchairs, 16 hospital beds and other materials needed by the elderly residents of the center.

The ceremonial turnover and blessing of the new building will be featured in Failon Ngayon on Saturday, October 7. ###