Filipinos are known for their respect to the elderly, whether it is their grandparents, a senior in the community, or even an elder stranger encountered on the road or in a mall. At a young age, we were all taught to honor the elderly by not raising our voices in front of them, asking their permission before we eat or go out, and doing the “mano” as a sign of respect. The “mano” may not be a familiar sight nowadays, but what is more surprising is the rise of elder abuse in the country, which was exacerbated by the pandemic.  The pandemic has obviously affected all sectors of society, much more for the elderly as economic opportunities for them diminished and their mobility was restricted because of lockdowns and lack of public transportation. In mid-2020, at the height of the pandemic, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) had already raised the alarm on elder abuse.  In a statement, it said: “Elder abuse, despite its seriousness, is an invisible issue in the Philippines. Data on this subject is hardly available due to underreporting and limited research. The situation of older persons, who are vulnerable to violence, abuse, and neglect, is no different. Community quarantine measures forced vulnerable older people to be isolated with potential abusers for very long periods of time.” Even around the world, the World Health Organization (WHO) has admitted that one in six elderly persons experience some form of abuse. Sad to say, it is projected to rise as the population ages globally.  Alana Officer, WHO senior health adviser, Ageing and Life Course department, noted this trend. “For the 141 million older people worldwide, this has serious individual and societal costs. We must do much more to prevent and respond to the increasing frequency of different forms of abuse.” Even as certain quarters of society refuse to admit the presence of elder abuse, government must step in and strengthen laws or enact new measures to protect all aspects of life for the elderly. In the Senate, various bills have been filed to protect the elderly, with two bills specifically defining, prohibiting, and penalizing elder abuse. Senator Win Gatchalian filed SB No. 816, while Senator Risa Hontiveros filed SB No. 582. Both are united in calling for the State not only to look into this issue but also to ensure that perpetrators of elder abuse will be harshly penalized. “More senior citizens are abused, exploited, and neglected. The usual victims are senior citizens who are older, frail, vulnerable, and unable to help themselves and who depend on others to meet their most basic needs. Abusers may be men and women, family members, friends, or caregivers. Elder abuse is a term referring to any knowing, intentional, or negligent act by a caregiver or any other person that causes harm or a serious risk of harm to a vulnerable adult,” said the explanatory note on SB No. 816. A law is needed to “mitigate this growing problem,” according to SB No. 582 because even if there is a strong tradition of filial piety in the Philippines, “cases of elder abuse are no longer unheard of, where some cases land the headlines.” All forms of abuse, especially to the elderly, are abhorrent. This should have no place in a decent society, much more a country that prides itself for filial piety.