RENOVATED and refurbished through the auspices of the SM Foundation, the two-story Felicidad T. Sy Center for the Elderly in Marikina City was recently inaugurated. The former World Health organization-sponsored Senior Citizen Lifestyle center established in 2003 was totally devastated by typhoon ondoy. During the ceremonies, the SM Family, represented by Connie Angeles, executive director for Health and Medical Programs of the SM Foundation, accepted the Plaque of Appreciation for and on behalf of SM founder Henry Sy Sr.

Mayor Del de Guzman, in his message, thanked SM Foundation for heeding the call of the senior volunteers for assistance. In return, he asked the senior citizens to take care of the Center, reminding them to treat the Center as their ‘second home.’ He also assured his constituents that the city government of Marikina will give its all-out support to the Center as a way of caring and thanking the senior volunteers for the care they give him and his generation.

Rodolfo de Guzman, the 81 year-old officer-in-charge of the city’s Senior Citizens Association, stated that in 2007, the Marikina Cooperative Development Council started the initial funds for the elderly center and with the income derived from the livelihood activities, the seniors have a revolving fund for their various activities that keep them ‘busy, hale, and hearty.’

The elderly center boasts of a multipurpose hall, livelihood center, and offices on the second floor, complete with a receiving room, dining room, kitchenette, comfort room, stockroom, and conference room at the ground floor.

This facility is the 61st center built by the SM Foundation aside from the pediatric activity and hospice centers. The Foundation had likewise renovated several health centers with the aim of augmenting the health service delivery of the government as part of the public-private partnership and its corporate social responsibility.