Stranger’s kind act sparks search for elderly woman’s family

Bea Orante

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Stranger’s kind act sparks search for elderly woman’s family
A concerned netizen uses Facebook to help someone in need

 

MANILA, Philippines – Facebook user Ellaine Tonogan posted a call for assistance in finding an elderly  woman’s family after she found her wandering the streets Thursday night, November 5.

The woman, Candida Abruga, 86 years old, was walking near the Sto Niño Parish Shrine when Tonogan found her. According to Tonogan’s post, Abruga was looking for the bathroom but was later outside the church again.

 
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PLEASE SHARE!!!!!Si lola CANDIDA N. ABRUGA, 86yrs old, Taga Eastern Samar daw po sya. Pero hindi nya maalala kung saan…

Posted by Ellaine Tonogan on Thursday, 5 November 2015

Tonogan then gave Abruga a pair of slippers after noticing she was barefoot before taking the elderly woman to Barangay Ramon Magsaysay in the hopes of turning her over to Golden Acres, a shelter for the elderly in Tanay, Rizal. The barangay told her they would handle Abruga’s transfer to the organization.

Abruga did not seem to remember details like her address, only saying her house was sold and she was left behind.

Seeing Abruga’s state led Tonogan to assume she has been lost for some time. Tonogan then appealed to readers to help her find Abruga’s family by contacting the barangay for information. When asked by a friend if she would visit Abruga again, Tonogan answered she would call the barangay for updates.

Facebook users have since heeded Abruga’s request, sharing the post on their own accounts or groups and pages related to Eastern Samar in the hopes of communicating with Abruga’s family.

Should anyone have any information regarding Candida Abruga or her family, Tonogan asked they call Barangay Ramon Magsaysay at (02) 453-4348. 

How to handle abandoned or lost seniors

If you encounter similar cases, here are the appropriate steps to take, according to Department of Social Welfare and Development-National Capital Region (DSWD-NCR) Director Alice Bonoan:

  1. Immediately refer the elderly person to the barangay.
  2. If barangay does not have a facility, the elderly person will be accommodated in other care centers like the Golden Acres.
  3. Once the address of the elderly person is located, the city social welfare officer will hold a case conference.
  4. If the elderly person is not from Metro Manila, DSWD will coordinate with the receiving local government unit (LGU).
  5. The receiving LGU will turn over the elderly person to the care of his or her family.  

“Value the elderly persons in our family,” Bonoan reminded the public, stressing that family members  “should care for and look after each other.” – with a report from Voltaire Tupaz/Rappler.com

 

 

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