Bahay Pag-ibig: Providing love and care to abandoned elderly

The 'Lolos' and 'Lolas' at Bahay Pag-ibig

“I AM an orphan, no more parents, nor brothers and sisters. I am all alone in the world.”

Elena Labig (not her real name) is an 81year-old woman living in a residential nursing home in the Archdiocese of San Fernando, Pampanga. A native of Sta. Rita, Labig is among the 61 elderly people housed and provided for with care and love at Bahay Pag-ibig.

The gate to the healthcare facility has no sign written on it to let visitors know if they are in the right place, except a logo of a heart inscribed on the door that says it all.

Bahay Pag-ibig, loosely translated in English as House of Prayer is a nursing home situated in an approximately one hectare property at Holy Angel Village in Telabastagan, San Fernando, Pampanga. The sprawling compound has eight ground floor buildings, including a good sized chapel that overflows with people who come to hear Mass on Sundays.

Labig says she has been a resident of Bahay Pag-ibig for more than two years already.

With no immediate family members, Labig used to transfer residence from one relative to the next until one of them asked the help of the town mayor who recommended her to Bahay Pag-ibig.

Still strong despite her age, Labig says she cleans the window panes of their ward and sweeps the surroundings. Although the residents are not expected to do chores around the facility, some residents on their own, perform whatever tasks they can.

“But don’t complain afterwards that you are tired, otherwise, the staff will scold you, since they don’t expect you to do the chores.”

After lunch, we usually have our afternoon rest, then we take our afternoon snack, if there is, otherwise it’s still okay if there’s none, says Labig.

Here in Bahay Pag-ibig, we are provided with everything we need. I can’t ask for more, she furthers.

Reaching out to the abandoned

Bahay Pag-ibig was established in 1988 by Fr. Florentino Concepcion, a diocesan priest from Bustos, Bulacan who wanted to reach out to the poor and abandoned old people in the area. The home first started in an old rented house of the Francisco Nepomuceno family in Angeles City but later on transferred in a bigger place donated by the heirs of Don Juan Nepomuceno at Holy Angel Village in San Fernando, Pampanga.

The day to day operations of the facility is being supervised by Fr. Daniel Baul, the current Archdiocesan Apostolate Director. A roster of 16 dedicated volunteer staff including an office coordinator, Laura Simbulan and her assistant Almira Gabalfin, help him run the place.

Gabalfin, who has been part of Bahay Pag-ibig since 1995, says their work in the institution is purely motivated by a sense of ministry, although each of the staff is given honorarium for services rendered.

The nursing home has no other means of income except donations from generous individuals that keep on coming and have sustained the operations of the institution since its foundation.

Gabalfin says the people of Pampanga have been very generous to Bahay Pag-ibig.

Even when supplies are about to run out, donations of various kinds will arrive in the nick of time to replenish what is lacking.

Although the nursing home was established to provide a safe and caring place to abandoned elderly who have no immediate family members to care for them, some of its residents actually do not fall under that category.

Gabalfin cites some cases wherein the responsibility of caring for an aging parent is surrendered to Bahay Pag ibig due to extreme poverty of the family and other grave reasons.

She mentions a case of a daughter who told them that her mother would be better off at Bahay Pag-ibig than to live with her, because she herself struggles to feed her family a decent meal.

In situations like this, we have to reconsider, says Gabalfin.

The institution has 21 male and 40 female among its residents.  They are provided with holistic care that involves the spiritual, psychological and physical well being of the person. A daily program would consist of morning prayers, grooming, exercise, rest and recreation. On Sundays, those who are able attend Mass in the chapel, while those unable follow the liturgy in their rooms.

Among its male residents is 68 years old Juan Sinong (not his real name) from Legazpi City who came to Bahay Pag-ibig in 2001. Although blind, Sinong is very active and possesses a sunny disposition. He came to the nursing home together with other four female companions through the help of a social worker from Jose Fabella Center. Sinong says exposure to alcohol in a manufacturing company he worked for could have contributed to the loss of his eyesight. He proudly shares that despite his disability he is able to bring joy and laughter to fellow residents because of his optimistic attitude.

“Here, I am the one doing my bed, my laundry and other personal tasks. I don’t let others do it for me,” he says.

Companionship

The elderly residents at Bahay Pag-ibig may be separated from their nearest of kin, but living with fellow elderly has also given them the joy of companionship, comforted by the thought that they have one another to rely on as friends.

But visitors also come regularly to bring cheers and gifts to the ‘Lolos’ and ‘Lolas’. That particular Sunday of June 24, three nuns from the Daughters of St. Paul together with lay collaborators brought food and gifts and entertained the ‘Lolos’ and ‘Lolas’ with games and songs. As it turned out, the guests were also entertained as some of the residents, like Lolo Juan willingly belted few songs to the delight of visitors.

Until death

Being a residential institution, the elderly once accepted in Bahay Pag-ibig, becomes a part of the community until he or she dies. Gabalfin says some family members, when notified of the death of a relative, normally leaves the decision to them even telling them to go ahead with the burial.

“It is because once they entrusted to us the care of their loved ones, their responsibility is already cut off,” she explains.

In Bahay Pag-ibig, the abandoned elderly are provided with companionship, friendship, care and love that allow them to live their remaining years on earth with dignity until they are ready to meet their Creator.