The City of San Fernando started its celebration of the Elderly Filipino Week with a theme: “Healthy and Productive Aging Starts with Me” and with the visitation and recognition of the City’s Centenarians on October 1, 2020. Together with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the City Government, through the City Social Welfare and Development Office (DSWD) visited Elena Valdez Higoy of Barangay Sevilla. At 115-year-old, she stands as the oldest centenarian in the entire Ilocos Region. Lola Elena was awarded 100,000 pesos by DSWD Field Office 1. In 2019, she received Php 10,000.00 from the Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU). In 2015, the City Government of San Fernando gave her Php 100,000.00. Aside from these, Lola Elena was also given a grocery package by representatives of the City Government of San Fernando. Another centenarian, Justina Diaz, is 101-year-old from Barangay Santiago Norte, was also awarded a cash gift of Php 100,000.00 by DSWD Field Office 1. In 2019, the City Government awarded her Php 100,000.00 The Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) led a culminating program in celebration of Elderly Filipino Week at Brgy. Poro covered court, on October 07, 2020. City Mayor Alf Ortega together with Councilor Atty. Ernesto Rafon, CSWD Officer Sally Matoza, and presidents of every Barangay’s Senior Citizen Association were present during the program. Mayor Alf wholeheartedly thanked the elders in his speech. He said, “We are here because of your inputs and your valuable contributions to the City of San Fernando. We thank you very much for your love that will always serve as an inspiration for us to continue what you have given to the City of San Fernando”. He ended by saying, “The city government will always be here to support you and the activities and events of your organizations”. Everyone in the city contributes significantly to our progress. Thus, the City Government of San Fernando, La Union promotes inclusivity by delivering the best of services for the people as an expression of #SanFernandoAyAyatenKa. (Story & Photos by Clifford Mercado)