LIPA CITY, Batangas – To some senior citizens, life after retirement from their long years of regular office work or normal business hours is already a diversion from their routine jobs as they could now enjoy some relaxation and do the so-called “apos-tolic” mission, a slang to describe rearing up their grandchildren.
But to six Batangueña elderlies, life as senior citizens means new ventures chartering their lives as micro, small and medium entrepreneurs.
During interviews at the Seniors Bazaar in observance of Grandparents Day, the six senior citizens were featured as they showcased their products ranging from herbal soaps, honey bee products, rice-based desserts and handmade leathers that were up on sale at the SM City Lipa’s Seniors Bazaar.
The week-long mall event has proven that the senior citizens could do a lot more to share their expertise and business acumen, drawing inspiration from their past experiences as professionals and industry workers.
Their new business ventures got the support of Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) – Batangas provincial head Marissa Argente, who personally graced the opening of the Seniors Bazaar featuring assorted products of the Batangas’ entrepreneurial senior citizens.
Efren Ayo, 61, from the town of Ibaan was among the senior citizen exhibitors who showcased his hand-made products of herbal soaps called Oayo Herbal Soaps.
Ayo disclosed that soon after retiring as chemists, he and wife Sophie started their soap business in the primary agricultural hometown.
He said their new soap business uses natural products from their farm like moringga, guava leaves, calamansi and honey.
Wildora Miranda, 60 year-old resident of Sto. Tomas, Batangas also participated in the Seniors Bazaar selling handmade leather bags and purses from her Wildora’s Enterprises.
The Batangueña elder exhibitor featured her bags and purses products, which are identifiable with her “signature” crochets she personally designs and gives distinct strokes.
“Doing the crochets is relaxing,” she admitted, citing the intricate “touch” on her leather products and bags as her products’ unique appeal.
Not to be outdone are the equally hard-working senior citizens as product exhibitors including Winnie Pagcaliwagan, 65, from Batangas City for her “kakanin” (sweetened specialties); Cecil De Jesus of Lipa Beekeepers Cooperative; and friends Evelyn Lim and Marilou Wall.
The senior citizen entrepreneurs thanked the DTI Batangas, through Argente, and the SM City Lipa management, through mall manager Liza F. Dimaculangan for the opportunity to showcase their respective products at the Seniors Bazaar in observance of the Grandparents Day celebration which culminated Sunday (Sept. 9).
The Batangas Senior Citizen’s bazaar exhibitors have proven to all and sundry that “age doesn’t matter” as they explored life after retirement and to paraphrase the old adage “there is more to age than meets the eye.” (Saul Pa-a with reports from Maroe T. Genosa/PNA)
