In almost every corner in Manila, you would see less fortunate people with their own stories to tell. Kids, adults, parents and the elderly all with their own challenges and stories of inspiration. A few weeks ago, concerned citizen Maolen O. noticed an old woman by the grotto and thought to share her story in hopes of helping her.
“Lungga sa gilid ng Gusaling Marangya”
“Sya si Lola Cion, 86 na taon gulang na kasalukuyang nanunuluyan sa isang groto sa kanto ng JP Rizal at F. Zobel Poblacion Makati. Inabandona ng nagiisang itinuring na anak. Walang maayos na tuluyan, walang komportableng higaan. Gulagulanit na damit at ang pagkain? Umaasa sa paabot abot ng mga taong napapadaan at ibang empleyado ng Bulwagan ng Pamahalaan sa Siyudad ng Makati. Nakakadurog ng puso, ni hindi kakayaning tignan ang kanyang kalagayan lalo na sa ganitong panahon, sa kabila ng malakas na pagbuhos ng ulan na ang tanging nasisilungan lamang ay ang isang dipang semento. Natutulog ng nakaupo dahil ang mga karton na nagsisilbing higaan ay nabasa na ng ulan. Ang iilang pirasong gamit at damit ay pinag interesan ng iba. Ayon sa mga taong nakakakilala kay lola Cion, ang kanyang nagiisang anak (ampon) ay nakatira lamang iilang kalye malapit sa kanyang tinutuluyang groto ngunit hindi na sya kinikilala nito. Nakakatanggap ng pensyon galing sa gobyerno ng Makati dalawang beses sa isang taon ngunit ang nakikinabang ay ang kanyang nagiisang itinuring na anak.
Nakakalungkot din isipin na si lola ay sinubukang tulungan ng DSWD ngunit lumabas ng makailang ulit sa kadahilanang sya na lamang ang nakakaalam. Ang nakapagtataka ay paano nakalabas at bakit hinayaang lumabas ang isang walumpung taong gulang na walang kasiguraduhan kung saan patungo.
Sinubukan kong lumapit sa institusyon kung saan alam ko na mas makakatulong para mapaayos ang lagay nya ngunit sa kasamaang palad ay wala akong natanggap na sagot. Kung sana sa pamamagitan nito, maipahahatid ko ang aking intensyon at sa inyo na makakabasa na nito ay wag sana tayong magdalawang isip na ikalat hanggang sa umabot sa kinauukulan kung saan ay pwede syang mas matulungan.
Nasa dapit hapon na po ng kanyang buhay si lola Cion, sana ay maintindihan natin ang kanyang kalagayan at matulungan natin sya habang hindi pa huli ang lahat. Maraming salamat po.”
 Rough English Translation
“She is Grandmother Cion, an 86 year old lady who currently lives by the grotto at the corner of JP Rizal and F. Zobel Poblacion Makai. She was abandoned by her only child. She doesn’t have a decent place to stay and no comfortable beds to sleep it. Her clothes were ragged and thorn, and her food? She counts on the little food the employees of Bulwagan ng Pamahalaan sa Siyudad ng Makati give her. It break my heart, it’s so difficult to look at her and her situation at these times, amidst the strong rains, her only shelter is a small piece of cement. She sleeps sittin down because the piece of cardboard she uses to sleep on got wet from the rain. The few pieces of clothes she had was taken by others. According to the people who know Grandmother Cion, her only adopted child lives just a few blocks away from where she is, however, she no longer knows her. Grandmother Cion receives pension from the government of Makati twice a year but her child is the one who benefits from this.
It saddens me that DSWD also tried to help Grandmother Cion however she left several times for reasons only she would know. What makes me wonder is how she got out and why they would let an 80 year old woman with no place to go just leave.
I tried approaching an institution that I know can help, unfortunately, I have not received a response. I hope that through my post, I can help get the word out. I hope you don not think twice in sharing this until it reaches the right people/ group who can help her.
Lola Cion is already very old, please understand her situation. I hope we can all help out while it’s not yet too late. Thank you very much.”
Thank you as well to Maolen for sharing Lola Cion’s story. As an online site, one of the best ways we can help is to also spread the news in hopes it reaches the right people. Let’s all help each other so that Lola Cion can get the proper care she needs.
