Seniors’ Fiesta Assembly: Food, Games, Talks, and Swinging
It was another ‘festive’ morning last November 19 as the senior citizens of Christ the King Parish Greenmeadows enjoyed the ‘Seniors Fiesta’ event, held from 10 am to 12 nn at the Social Hall of the CTK Formation Center. Over a hundred senior citizens – and some were ‘super seniors’ – came to the assembly.
Not wishing to tinker with a highly successful formula, Sunrise Ministry heads Doy and Estrelle Lopez drew up a program similar to the previous seniors’ assembly.
There were two keynote speakers in the program. The first was Msgr. Sabino Vengco Jr., who gave the talk, ‘Celebrating Christmas With a New Heart and Mind: A Senior’s Perspective’. Msgr. Venco, who had just turned 75, gave a feel-good talk that focused on what senior citizens like him could offer the younger crowd. He talked about wisdom that comes with age and experience, why senior age should be treated as God’s gift, and how senior citizens should take a proactive role in imparting life lessons to their children and grandchildren, rather than waiting for them to ask.
What impressed the attendees was not only how lively and energetic Msgr. Vengco was and how articulate he was in expounding on his topic, but how confident he was in engaging the crowd. Also impressive was that he spoke without notes or slide aids.
Msgr. Vengco is presently a professor of theology at: the Loyola School of Theology, ADMU; the San Carlos Seminary Graduate School of Theology in Makati; Immaculate Conception Major Seminary Graduate School of Theology in Guiguinto, Bulacan; the Ecclesiastical Faculties of University of Sto. Tomas; and the Recoletos School of Theology, in Quezon City. He also continues to host the Catholic Sunday broadcast ‘Ecclesia in Asia – Ang Salita ng Diyos, aired from 5 am to 6 am at DWIZ AM radio882 as well as write the weekly Thursday column ‘Alalaong Baga’ in Business Mirror. Msgr. Vengco was ordained in 1965 and has an MA Philosophy, a PhD in Sacred Theology (magna cum laude), and a diplomate in Liturgy ( summa cum laude ) from Germany.
The second keynote talk was on ‘Preventing Falls and Fractures’. by Jose Fernando Syquia, a noted orthopedic surgeon. Dr. Syquia stated that bone fractures in senior citizens usually result from falls. But then he posed the question – why is it that when children fall, they don’t break anything and they continue on as if nothing had happened. That is because children’s bones are dense and at the same time flexible. Unfortunately, when senior citizens fall, slip, trip, or stumble, chances are high that it will result in bone fracture . The reason is osteoporosis, or degradation and weakening of the bone substance. As we grow old, our bones become spongy and brittle. To prevent this, seniors are advised to avoid risk factors, do regular exercise, and take sufficient calcium and vitamin D. Fall risks can be due to poor eyesight or being under the influence of medications.
Dr. Syquia finished his premed at UST, with the honor of being its first summa cum laude, then graduated with a medical degree in 1990, magna cum laude, and a board topnotcher. In 1991, he was awarded Most Outstanding Orthopedic Resident Award by the Makati Medical Center. He was Chief Resident at the Philippine Orthopedic Center from 1995 to 1998. He holds the distinction of being the first and only orthopedic surgery resident to be awarded the Most Outstanding Surgical Resident Award, by the Philippine College of Surgeons back in 1998. He also won the Most Outstanding Orthopedic Resident Award from 1996 to 1998, given by the Philippine Board of Orthopedics. In 1999, he topped the diplomate examinations given by the Philippine Board of Orthopedics.
As usual, there were games and prizes. Doy Lopez and Anna Lagman grouped the participants by table and conducted the game ‘Ganito ang Tawag Niyo Ngayon, Ano ang Tawag Namin Noon’.
There was also Line Dancing, led by the swinging Ladies of Charity. Together with the lead DI, they encouraged the seniors in attendance to join them in swinging to the groove.
Another highlight was the free bone screening for osteoporosis, which started at 8:30 am.
And finally, the traditional distribution of loot bags filled with goodies capped the seniors’ assembly.
