05/10/2026
Visiting the Rippling Rivers Nursing Homes left us with something preciousโpagtanda.
Pagtanda is beyond just another number added to our ageโit is building memories, stories, and lessons, like a simple piece in a mosaic art that makes the whole of us. And through Turoโt Bahagi: A Lifeline Project, the word โpagtandaโ was reinvented for us; it is aging that comes with rememberingโpagtanda na may kasamang pagtanda.
With every story shared, we could see the joy on their faces as they remembered the memories they carried, the people they met, the lessons theyโve learned, and the past they have conquered. And we, the young, were reminded that somehow, memories do not belong in the past; they are products of the present, and they continue to live through the people who remember.
However, sometimes memories do fade with age, but that doesnโt mean they are gone with the wind. Ang pagtanda ay hindi lang ang siyang palatandaan ng buhay na ating pinagtandaan. The memories are in every white hair, mark, wrinkle, and even in every scar they carry on their bodies. They are in their smiles, the way they dance, sing, and make art. They are present in every fiber of their being.
Through music, we bonded togetherโtwo generations blending in. Some elderly sang with so much passion, reminding us that passion doesnโt fade with age and that music is for everyone. Some may not be able to sing anymore, but with the smiles they have, the way their bodies move, and their groove, we know they still had it in them. And one elderly passionately shared his favorite songโa song most of us, the young, were not familiar with. A reminder that we have so much more to learn.
Together, we sang โYou Are My Sunshine,โ a song that reminds us that no matter our age, the sun will always shine. We illuminate light, and we can be the sun that shines upon someone. And in that moment, the elderly of Rippling Rivers Nursing Homes became our sunshine, and we hope that somehow, we became their sunshines too.
We also did mosaic art with the elderly and saw how small pieces slowly came together and create something beautiful. It reflects how life is built piece by piece. Every moment, memory, relationship, and challenges becomes a part of life. And aging is collecting these pieces over time, piecing together a picture that is entirely and uniquely our own.
And this beautiful journey ended with a meal shared together, like a family bonding over lunch. At ang bawat turo na aming natutuhan mula sakanila ay magiging bahagi ng aming sariling kuwento.
Publication: Mikee Caparas
Caption: Jerymae Cariaga
