Go graces Elderly Filipino Week 2026 kickoff

Councilor Gilda O. Go, chairperson of the City Council committee on senior citizens, joined the kickoff celebration of Elderly Filipino Week 2026, held recently at SM CDO Downtown and led and organized by the National Commission on Senior Citizens (NCSC) Regional Office X.

Anchored on the theme, “Nakatatandang Pilipino: May Halaga at Karapatan, May Boses at Ambag sa Bayan,” the celebration recognized the wisdom, dignity, and valuable contributions of senior citizens to their families and communities.

Go expressed her appreciation to the participating senior citizens and delegates from Bukidnon, Camiguin, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental and Misamis Oriental, as well as the CAFESCA Ensembles, for sharing their talents and making the celebration meaningful.

She likewise thanked the event’s speakers for their inspirational messages and the national government agencies and private-sector partners whose support helped make the activity possible, including the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), PhilHealth, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Land Bank of the Philippines, SM CDO Downtown, Smart Communications, and the Cagayan de Oro City Government.

Among the guests and speakers were NCSC Commissioner Camilo G. Gudmalin for Regional Offices IX, X, and Caraga; NCSC Chairperson and CEO Atty. Maria Merceditas N. Gutierrez; PhilHealth-X Regional Vice President Henry V. Almanon; SM CDO Downtown Mall Manager Paolo Jesus V. Zulueta; 2nd District of Misamis Oriental Representative Yevgeny Vincente B. Emano, represented by Councilor Yvy Emano; NCSC Regional Director Mary Jean H. Asum; Smart Communications Mindanao Relations Head Judee Caroline Chaves; and DOH CHD-NM Nurse V Gemma A. Simene. (JAO/SP)