In the spirit of the holiday season, the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fishery (PCAF) Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities (SCPWD) committee organized an outreach program on December 19, 2025 at Noli Care-础濒锄丑别颈尘别谤鈥檚 and Elderly Care in Diliman, Quezon City to provide both material aid and emotional comfort to the facility鈥檚 residents.
As the first center in the country structured and programmed specifically for 础濒锄丑别颈尘别谤鈥檚 and Dementia care, Noli Care served as the venue of the committee鈥檚 mission to promote welfare, dignity, and well-being of senior citizens and persons-with-disabilities.
Titled 鈥淲arm embrace: A kindness outreach for seniors,鈥� the event focused on providing essential personal care supplies. Through the SCPWD Committee, PCAF allocated a budget for small tokens, including hygiene kits, and food for the residents during the activity.
Aside from these, other PCAF officials, employees, and other donors provided in-kind donations.
鈥淚t began with a simple question from a dear friend, Carole Luzentales, asking if I knew of a community that might need adult diapers. Three huge boxes arrived soon after鈥攊t felt as if they carried more than supplies; they carried love, meant to be shared just in time for Christmas.鈥� said PCAF Executive Director Bernadette De Los Santos.
Beyond physical donations, the committee on SCPWD engaged the residents with songs and dances to provide social support. This was not merely entertainment, for those living with 础濒锄丑别颈尘别谤鈥檚, it was a form of clinical connection.
鈥淲e appreciate the gifts, but your presence is equally important,鈥� said Beverly Espinosa, one of the nurses at Noli Care.
She also mentioned that when visitors sing and dance to familiar songs, like Christmas songs, it serves as music therapy for the residents.
This approach is backed by significant scientific research. A 2015 study published in the journal Brain (Oxford Academic) by Jacobsen et al. found that music therapy is a highly effective non-drug treatment for 础濒锄丑别颈尘别谤鈥檚.
Their research concluded that the brain regions responsible for processing music are often the last to be affected by the disease, allowing patients to connect with memories and emotions even when other cognitive functions have declined.
This year鈥檚 initiative brought together essential supplies, music, and the warmth of human connection to uplift the elderly, particularly those living with 础濒锄丑别颈尘别谤鈥檚. Through such efforts, PCAF fosters warm connection to honor their dignity and well-being, reaffirming its commitment to some of the country鈥檚 most vulnerable populations.鈥� | Jezebel Campaniel
