The good side of being a “senior citizen”!
By ingrid
@ridingbet (66857)
Philippines
August 23, 2017 3:04am CST
This morning, I went to the city proper to pay my premium at a government office, Pag-Ibig (it means LOVE). I wore my knee-length yellow shorts and tee shirt with the design “Somebody went to Baguio City and this shirt was the only one I got”, my blue backpack where my previous payment receipts are neatly clipped, and my gray rubber shoes. I also had my sunglasses loosely hanging around my neck.
When I arrived in the office, the receptionist asked me what my purpose was and when I told her I had to pay, she gave me a ticket number 17-payment-screening. I looked at the monitor and noticed that the number under ‘payment-screening’ was number 23. I asked the receptionist why I was given a number that was past the flashing number.
The answer of the male employee somehow disgusted me:” Ma’am, the number is for senior citizens”. I replied, “I am not yet a senior citizen, so next time, better ask the person rather than assume he or she is already senior citizen”.
However, his next comment calmed me down. “Ma’am that was why I gave you that number is because I want you to finish your activity quickly so you can attend to other activities you will do today”. Then I noticed the cubicle for ‘payment-screening’ that the person inside (number 23) was taking too long to finish her transaction.
My purpose was done in 10 minutes and number 23 was still there. I smiled. Ahh, I was a senior citizen for several minutes only.
14 people like this
13 responses
@ridingbet (66857)
• Philippines
24 Aug 17
yes indeed. if not for his quick thinking, i should have 'lambasted' him with his remarks.
1 person likes this
@Letranknight2015 (51532)
• Philippines
23 Aug 17
I guess he assumed your a senior, at least you got the transaction finished. Maybe it's definitely a sign of old age getting easily upset? 
2 people like this
@ridingbet (66857)
• Philippines
24 Aug 17
if you were me, and you were thought of as a senior citizen, would you feel good? i think it is my right to be upset.
@ridingbet (66857)
• Philippines
24 Aug 17
@thelme55 right on that, but i don't look and dress my age, so i accepted the reason of the man who gave me the number
@toniganzon (72285)
• Philippines
24 Aug 17
Your post just reminded me a funny story of one of our employees. She's in her mid fifties. One day she came into the office complaining and I asked her what the problem was. She told me the jeepney driver charged her a senior citizen fair. So I told her you should be thankful coz you were able to save money. She got mad, she said she returned it because she isn't a Senior Citizen yet! I told her, "You misunderstood the driver. He thought you were a student and not a Senior Citizen!"
I find her really funny and annoying sometimes as she doesn't act her age. She still think she's a teenager when she could actually already pass as.a grandmother!
I told her, "You misunderstood the driver. He thought you were a student and not a Senior Citizen!"
I find her really funny and annoying sometimes as she doesn't act her age. She still think she's a teenager when she could actually already pass as.a grandmother! 1 person likes this
@toniganzon (72285)
• Philippines
24 Aug 17
@ridingbet I think we should love and accept our age. We don't age backwards and we should be proud of our own age. Yes, she was offended that she didn't see the benefit of saving money at all. I found it stupid actually. If it were me, I would gladly accept the benefit as I don't care how people perceive my age to be is.
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66857)
• Philippines
24 Aug 17
if we woke up on the wrong side of the bed, and we are perceived to be senior citizens, we can be irrational. i was in good mood when i entered the PAG-IBIG office but was dismayed with the remark of the young man; later though, i felt good because i did my activity in 10 minutes if not for the senior citizen number given to me.
i think that employee of your office was offended because she was mistaken as a senior citizen. and if she acts younger than her age, maybe she cannot accept the fact that all of us will grow old.
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66857)
• Philippines
26 Aug 17
@toniganzon that is why i believe in that Filipino quote that 'we should not age backwards' (tumatanda ng paurong) because it may mean the person is going back in to his childhood years, emotionally, mentally, and maybe physiologically.
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45651)
• Philippines
23 Aug 17
i would probably look around and double check to make sure there aren't any seniors around before i enjoy the "express service" i would be embarrassed if someone noticed and complained.
2 people like this
@ridingbet (66857)
• Philippines
24 Aug 17
i was alone when he gave me the number. there were some older ladies behind me and they were conversing that time.
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66857)
• Philippines
24 Aug 17
hehehe! right, but let me reiterate, that i am NOT YET a senior citizen, hija.
@ridingbet (66857)
• Philippines
24 Aug 17
yes, and that man was quick in rectifying his mistakes.
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66857)
• Philippines
24 Aug 17
i agree but there are some SC here who are all assuming and act superior to others because they think they are the most-privileged being senior citizens
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66857)
• Philippines
24 Aug 17
yes he was somewhat rude, but he immediately did the right thing so i won't get infuriated with him.
@JESSY3236 (18923)
• United States
28 Nov 17
cool. I had complained to guy online one time that I was feeling old. (I will never do that again.) After I told him that I got an AARP email. I told him I'm not that old yet. I always get senior citizen calls because I live in a trailer park for senior citizens
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66857)
• Philippines
29 Nov 17
sometimes, i wish i am already a senior citizen, but i should not fool others and myself as well. with God's grace, i will reach 60 years.
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66857)
• Philippines
24 Aug 17
right, but i am NOT YET a senior citizen, my friend. hahaha!
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129482)
• Israel
29 Nov 17
@ridingbet
ingrid, you have a long time before you actually are one so enjoy your young years.
1 person likes this
@debjani1 (7207)
•
6 May 19
Yes senior citizens have many facilities. They are given first preference on any tickets with some discounts. He is really a smart man and want not to disappoint you.
