Senior Citizens Party-List Rep. Rodolfo “Ompong” Ordanes recently made an appeal for a more dignified and compassionate representation of the elderly on both mainstream and social media—calling out those who use old age as a punchline.
“All too often, seniors are depicted as forgetful, feeble, out of touch, or the object of mockery. These portrayals reinforce ageist stereotypes that contribute to the marginalization and invisibility of our elderly,” Rep. Ordanes said.
“While we recognize the entertainment and creative freedoms enjoyed in the digital age, these should never come at the expense of human dignity,” he added.
As a 61-year-old Filipino who remains an active part of the workforce, I share Rep. Ordanes’ call for more respectful and dignified portrayals of senior citizens on the media. The elderly should not be the butt of jokes.
The Philippines, home to one of the fastest-aging populations in Southeast Asia, takes pride in its deep-rooted respect for elders—a core value of Filipino culture. While respect for elders continues to be observed widely among Filipino families, it is a reality that rapid digitalization has contributed to the erosion of this core value—at least based on what is sometimes portrayed on social media.
Nowadays, when I scroll through social media, I see various videos using the elderly for comedic content—portraying them as clueless or dismissing them simply as “boomers” who cannot keep up with new technologies. While there are differences in perspectives, capabilities, and priorities among generations, these are not excuses to foster an environment of disrespect especially for the elderly.
We must remember that Filipino senior citizens are the foundations of our society. We have lived through decades of hard work, change, and have contributed much to the society that Filipinos both young and old live in today. In short, we have paid our dues. What we deserve by the very least from society is to allow us to live the rest of our life with dignity and respect.
I share Rep. Ordanes’ plea to our media producers, content creators, influencers, and even ordinary netizens: think before you post. Represent us senior citizens fairly. Don’t just portray or highlight our weaknesses, show our wisdom too.
Oftentimes, mainstream programs depict senior citizens as burdens—lolos and lolas (grandfathers and grandmothers) that need care and financial support from their families or forgetful individuals that can easily be abused. But not all senior citizens are frail and sickly.
In fact, in various industries, senior citizens continue to lead, if not, actively contribute to the professional development of younger generations. Many of us are executives, consultants, and mentors who continue to contribute to economic progress and societal development.
I for one continue to work—day in and day out—and play an active role in the campaign to fight fake news as a veteran communications professional.
We must realize this: it is a privilege to age.
I hope that media professionals, content creators, and ordinary netizens will understand this and help promote respect for elders in their respective platforms.
While there is vigor and innovation in youth, there is wisdom and experience in old age—both of which are important in shaping our country for a better tomorrow. I for one, try my best to paint a dignified image of the Filipino elder through my own social media program “Senior Hour with Manong Joe.”
Let us age with dignity. Let the Filipino elderly be an image not of a frail relic but a living proof of survival and wisdom that can only be acquired through decades of experiences.
Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in the foregoing article are solely the author’s and do not reflect the opinions and beliefs of the Philippine News Agency (PNA) or any other office under the Presidential Communications Office.
