A total of 200 senior citizens living in Manila City received free dentures courtesy of the city government through the Manila Health Department (MHD) and San Andres Kagawad Jason Yu at the San Andres Sports Complex on Wednesday, Sept. 3.

The program, entitled "Balik Ngiti for Senior Citizens," which aims to provide free dentures and other dental services to senior citizens as part of the city government's way of giving back to its elderly, was also attended by Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso, Vice Mayor Chi Atienza, and other officials of the city government and the MHD.

"Ang mahal kasi ng pustiso eh. Pinakamurang pustiso na makukuha mo sa merkado nasa P10,000. Pag nagpa-buong ngipin ka pa baka nasa P50,000 to P60,000, eh alam naman natin na ang mga seniors, limited nadin ang resources nila. So in our own little way through the leadership of the Manila Health Department and OSCA (Office of Senior Citizens Affairs), our dentists and medical frontliners, plus the private sector, bind together in bringing joy and smile to our senior citizens (Dentures are really expensive. I think the cheapest dentures in the market cost around P10,000, with a full set costing around P50,000 to P60,000. This prevents senior citizens from buying dentures due to their limited resources. So in our own little way through the leadership of the Manila Health Department and OSCA, our dentists and medical frontliners, plus the private sector, we all bind together in bringing joy and smile to our senior citizens)," Domagoso said.

He also underscored the need for the people to take care and give back to the elderly as long as they live.

"Sa kanila (other countries) ang matanda, para bang 'o tapos kana, pahinga kana.' Sa atin hindi, hanggang dulo, hanggang sa huling hininga ng mga matatanda natin, ipinararamdam natin sakanila ang pagmamahal. The simple joy of spending time and giving affection to them, 'yun ang kailangan maunawaan ng kabataan ngayon. Bakit? Tatanda din kami, una-unahan lang iyan. But there will come a time we're gonna get old. Remember ang kasabihan ng mga matatanda at ng mga guro sa paaralan: Kung ano ang tinanim mo ay siyang aanihin mo (In other countries, they treat their elderly as if once they're of old age, all they have to do is stand aside and rest. Here, we should make our elderly feel our love and affection to them till their last breath. The youth must understand the simple joy of spending time and giving affection to them. Why? Because all of us will eventually grow old. Remember the old saying our elderly and even teachers at school used to tell us: You reap what you sow)," Domagoso said.

For his part, Yu said he and the city government are eyeing to provide free dental braces to indigent high school students in the city sometime around October to November.

Aside from free dentures and dental services for seniors, the mayor also showcased some of the city government's latest initiatives that benefit the city's elderly.

These include the free MRI and CT scan services at the Ospital ng Maynila (OsMan), following the installation of modern diagnostic imaging equipment that enables faster and more accurate detection of illnesses.

The mayor also brought back the city's birthday cake-giving tradition on Sept. 2, which was first introduced during his first tenure as mayor of Manila.

According to him, the initiative will continue until Dec. 31, 2025, ensuring that every senior celebrant in Manila will be honored with a cake on their special day.

The city government also assured the city's senior citizens that they will continue to receive their nutrition supplement drink.

Officials from Abbott, the supplier of Ensure milk that is being given by the city government to the city's elderly, met with Domagoso to strengthen its ties with the city in promoting proper nutrition for senior citizens.

During the meeting, Abbott's Government and Policy Affairs Director Rachel Queenie Dizon-Rodulfo and Elena Tillman, the company's Rapid Diagnostics general manager, shared with Domagoso some of Abbott's additional aids for Manileños, including medicines for epilepsy, cardiovascular diseases, and mental health.

The company also provided flu vaccines, HIV test kits, and vaccines for the youth.