SAN JOSE, Occidental Mindoro (PIA) — Nieljay Matunding has been on the road for almost a year on a pedal-powered tricycle known in most parts of southern Philippines as tri-sikad or padyak-cab in Metro Manila to advance his advocacy to awareness on elderly abuse.
The 22-year-old set off from Bukidnon in January and has reached Occidental Mindoro after almost a year of pedal-pushing his tri-sikad.
Matunding’s unorthodox journey has taken him to 22 provinces from Mindanao to Luzon and is determined to to fulfill his mission which he dedicates to his beloved grandmother and all the senior citizens in the country.
“Ang main po talaga na dahilan ng pagbiyahe ko po is libutin ang Pilipinas. Panaginip at pangarap lang po ng mga senior citizen ang malibot ang bansa. Sila po talaga yung inspirasyon at sila po talaga ang dahilan kung bakit ko po ito ginagawa,” he said. (The main purpose of my trip is to complete a round trip in the Philippines. This is the dream of many senior citizens. They are my inspiration and the reason why I am doing this.)
The journey’s backbone
Matunding’s goal is not just a joyride.
He carries a profound and deeper meaning as his journey is anchored on his desire to show his support and spread awareness about House Bill 4696 or the Anti-Elderly Abuse Act.
Authored by Davao City First District Rep. Paolo Duterte and co-authored by Rep Eric Yap and ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Edvic Yap, the bill aims to protect senior citizens from violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
The bill has been referred by the Committee on Rules to the Committee on Senior Citizens on September 14, 2022 and is still pending as of date, according to the House of Representatives.
Matunding’s traysikad, adorned with 6,587 stickers and signatures placed by people he met on his journey. (DSG/PIA Occidental Mindoro)
When he learned about the bill, Matunding shared that the legislative measure hit a spot in his heart as he witnessed how his grandmother had experienced abuse,
“Laking lola po ako, isa rin po akong living testimony sa naranasang abuse ng lola ko.” ( I grew up with my grandmother and I can testify of the abuse my grandmother experienced.)
The World Health Organization defines ‘elder abuse’ as a single or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust, which causes harm or distress to an older person. It includes physical, sexual, psychological, and emotional abuse; financial and material abuse; abandonment; neglect; and serious loss of dignity and respect.
Based on the latest census of 2020 by the Philippine Statistics Authority, there are 9.22 million senior citizens in the country. However, according to the Commission on Human Rights, data about elderly abuse are hardly available due to underreporting and limited research focused on it.
Milestones
When Matunding set foot in Occidental Mindoro, the place marked his 22nd province since he started. The first thing on his itinerary is to visit the municipality’s tourism office “to make footprints,” as he described it. This will be followed by a short trip to the governor’s and the mayor’s office.
With each visit he makes, he ensures that he shares information about the Anti-Elderly Abuse Act.
Struck by his unique way of advocating, people and groups whom he meets along the way either place a sticker or write their names on his traysikad to show their support.
According to his tally, Matunding has interacted or has reached out or given a ride toa total of 6,587 people.
“Kung sa akin po, iniisip ko na lang na lahat ng pumipirma, lahat ng sticker dito ay bahagi po ng pasahero ko sa aking paglalakbay,” he said. (For me, I think of everyone who signed and placed a sticker on my traysikad as my passengers who are part of my adventure.)
Ways forward
In his travels, Matunding is also able to learn the rich history of each town he visits. He described it as a “Lakbay Aral” or a study tour opportunity for him to make up for the years he missed in school in his younger days.
“Karagdagang karangalan din po iyon na kahit na hindi man ako nakapagtapos ng elementarya, natututo ako sa pamamagitan ng…kasaysayan na nadaanan ko. (It is an additional honor for me that despite not having finished elementary education, I am able to learn about the history of each province I set foot on).”
After he fulfills his journey for the senior citizens, he plans to rekindle the embers of his formal studies through the Alternative Learning System or ALS that were damped by unfortunate family circumstances.
His journey will not end soon, as he still has 60 more provinces to go after Occidental Mindoro.
Before pedaling his traysikad to his next destination, Matunding extended an invitation, “Sana po ay yung respeto po at pagmamahal para sa ating mga senior citizen ay ipaangat po talaga natin. Sila po ay nangangailangan ng pagmamahal at respeto lalo ngayon na bilang na lang ang kanilang araw at panahon. Pwede po nating iparamdam iyon kung hindi man sa paraan ng pera, kundi sa paraan ng pag-aalaga.”(I hope that the respect and love for our senior citizens will be magnified. They need it more than ever as their days are numbered. We can show it not only by means of financial support, but through caring for them.)
