BY: Ambo Delilan
Elders long sidelined by age are finding new purpose in day care centers, shaping the minds of Cadiz City’s youngest while rediscovering their place in it
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines – In Cadiz City, Negros Occidental, where sugarcane fields sprawl across the landscape and the ocean breeze carries stories of old, a different kind of harvest is taking root. It grows not from the land, but from the hearts of the elderly.
Elders long sidelined by age are finding new purpose in day care centers. With no screens, no gadgets, just their voice and a storybook, they are shaping the minds of the city’s youngest while rediscovering their place in it.
Inside one modest day care center, 70-year-old Delia Lamag brings to life the story of Si Tinay na Masunurin, a tale about a helpful and respectful girl.
TEACHING THE YOUNG. Seventy-year-old Norma Manglangit serv es as a storyteller at the Barangay VF Gustilo day care center in Cadiz , Negros Occidental. Cadiz City government
Animated and expressive, Lamag, a retired teacher, speaks with the seasoned cadence of someone who once taught generations of schoolchildren. The preschoolers sit rapt, wide-eyed, laughing, learning not just about Tinay, but about kindness, duty, and love for family.
“It’s quite amazing to note because with every tale they tell, they pass down moral values such as respect for elders, the importance of helping the family, and understanding one’s responsibilities as a child,” said Irene Javelona, head of the Cadiz City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO).
The CSWDO initiative is a quarterly volunteer storytelling program launched in October 2024 that pairs senior citizens with children aged three to five in the city’s day care centers. It currently covers 22 of Cadiz’s 113 centers, with plans to expand further.
The program aims to shape the values of young children while giving senior citizens renewed purpose, something too often lost with age.
As screens and algorithms took over daily life of many of the city’s young, the CSWDO moved in the opposite direction. It sought to bring back the closeness of storytelling, the kind delivered face to face, voice to ear, heart to heart. For that, it turned to the city’s elders. The idea was both simple and ambitious.
“Seeing our lolas and lolos (grandmothers and grandfathers) as storytellers for our kids is quite touching,” said Cadiz Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr.
Recruiting volunteer senior citizens who could still command a room of toddlers and commit time regularly posed a challenge. But with the help of the Senior Citizens’ Association of Cadiz, social workers found an eager handful ready to step back into the classroom. Many of them are retired educators like Lamag.
“Surreal, indeed,” Javelona said, describing how the program has not only reawakened old passions but also restored a sense of dignity among the elderly. “The seniors enjoy it, and the kids become more respectful.”
Norma Manglangit, a septuagenarian from Barangay VF Gustilo, said storytelling brought renewed energy and a sense of joy.
She said the experience made her feel active again and reignited her passion for teaching children. She added that every story she reads and tells means a lot to her.
SHE’S BACK. Former day care center worker Jocelyn Sevilla is back as a storyteller for preschoolers in Barangay Magsaysay, Cadiz, Negros Occidental. Cadiz City government
Bridging a moral gap
While children leave each session with wide smiles and colorful takeaways, the CSWDO sees something deeper. Javelona said the initiative helps address a growing moral gap among younger generations.
“Beyond learning, storytelling is also teaching morals and building characters,” she said.
Day care workers have reported improved attentiveness and behavior among children. Parents also said their kids have started greeting elders politely and showing newfound enthusiasm for story time.
Word has quickly spread in Cadiz’s villages. According to Javelona, at least 91 more day care centers have requested to be part of the program.
“We received only positive feedback, and there’s a pressing demand now for more lolo and lola storytellers. It’s gaining ground,” she said.
The CSWDO is now working to meet that demand. Their goal is to provide each of the 113 day care centers in the city with at least 10 senior storytellers per quarter.
Volunteers are vetted not just for storytelling ability but also for their willingness to engage children with warmth and patience. These are qualities that seem to deepen with age.
A living legacy
For many senior citizens involved in the program, the initiative is more than volunteer work. It offered them a renewed sense of purpose in a society where older people are often marginalized. The sessions allow them to reconnect with children and regain a feeling of self-worth.
The city government said it considers the program part of a broader effort to promote social values.
Escalante described the initiative as “heartwarming” and said it reflects the city’s advocacy to instill compassion and a mindset for excellence among residents of all ages.
“It’s rare, unique, and groundbreaking, indeed,” he said. – Rappler.com