Pamana for Lolo and Lola

These teenagers have given new life and meaning to the Filipino tradition

- ANGEL LLAMANZARES MARTINEZ

From the root word “mana,” pamana is a Filipino word that means heritage, inheritance, legacy, or hand-me-down. In Filipino culture, pamana or mana is a piece of property left by someone who passes on, and generally someone who is older like a parent or grandparent. It symbolizes how the older generation will always be connected to and look after the younger ones, even in the afterlife. In the Philippines, a senior citizen or elderly is at least 60 years old, as defined in Republic Act 9994, otherwise known as the “Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010.”

It is not every day that we hear about some teenagers so passionate about something other than K-Pop, fashion, beauty, or the latest gadgets and trends that come and go. Four young adults have decided to take a stand and work toward upgrading tradition and culture—to give back and make the elderly on the receiving end of “pamana.” They are Alessandra Mayumi “Yumi” S. Crisostomo, 17; Julianne “Juls” M. Ng, 18; Janis Anicka “Janis” D. Reyes, 18; and Keannah Francesca “Keanns” T. Gaspar, 17.

Give back what they got

Friends since junior high school, this group of teenagers has always wanted to join an organization that focuses on serving the needs of the elderly. Each of them has her own loving experiences and shares a strong bond with her grandparents growing up. The girls all look up to the elderly as major influences in their lives. They have recently made a discovery—they felt that the majority of the elderly members of the community are not getting the love and attention they deserve.