Quezon City’s over 300,000 senior citizens will celebrate their birthday not with a birthday cakes usually sent as gift by local government units.

QC Mayor Joy Belmonte said that instead of the traditional birthday cakes, all senior citizens residing in her city will receive grocery packs as birthday present.

Belmonte made the announcement during the kickoff ceremony for Elderly Filipino Week at the Quezon City Hall grounds on October 1.

In response to a request by Rhodora Bohol, a representative of the city's senior citizens, to provide cakes for seniors, Belmonte explained her decision to prioritize health.

“Dahil sinabi ng doktor na maaring hindi maganda sa kalusugan ng mga senior citizens ang cake, I decided to reject it as the city’s birthday gift for you,” she said.

“Nitong buwan ng Oktubre, magsisimula na tayong mamigay ng mga grocery bags sa lahat ng senior na magdiriwang ng kanilang kaarawan sa buwan na ito,” she announced.

Godelia Esguerra, president of the United Senior Citizens Associations for the Third District, praised the mayor’s decision.

“Mayor Joy made the right choice. This shows her genuine concern for the health and well-being of QC seniors,” Esguerra remarked.

She noted that while it might have been easier to give birthday cakes, Belmonte took the time to consult experts and carefully considered what would be best for the seniors.

Former Councilor Jorge Banal also commended the initiative, saying: "Providing grocery packs instead of cakes is a well-thought-out gesture that reflects Mayor Belmonte’s deep care for our senior citizens.”
Banal is the president of the Federation of Senior Citizens Associations of the Philippines-QC chapter.

He aired the optimism that other local government units will shift from cakes to grocery packs as part of their commitment to the welfare of the elderly population.