Bahay Pag-Ibig is a home for abandoned elderlies situated in a subdivision in San Fernando, Pamapanga. It houses about 70 elderlies (as of to date).

The “lolos” and “lolas are divided based in their capability to still do activities. While there is a dormitory also for the bed-ridden who are almost just waiting for their death.

An elderly woman left her family in Visayas so that she may find greener pasture in Luzon. Fortunately, she was accepted as a house helper for a military official. But she was kicked out of the house when her boss died.

Another, One “lolo” is a previous engineer. He used to be a womanizer and has many children from different mothers. But his present family refuses to take care of him so they decided to take him to Bahay Pag-Ibig.

The idea of death in Bahay Pag-Ibig is never been a taboo. The shelter accepts donated caskets to give decent burial for them.

Bahay Pag-ibig was built through the initiative of Rev. Fr. Florentino “Boyet” Concepcion from Bustos, Bulacan and the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of San Fernando as a result of their mission for the poor, sick and abandoned.

Fr. Boyet founded Bahay Pag-ibig on June 16, 1988, (Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus) at an old rented house of the Francisco Nepomuceno family in Angeles City. It survives through charitable contributions, volunteer workers and the support of the Archdiocese of San Fernando. Later it was relocated through the donation of the heirs of Don Juan Nepomuceno to a better location at Holy Angel Village, Telabastagan, San Fernando, Pampanga.

Bahay Pag-Ibig tries very hard to provide all the needs of the elderlies that they’re helping. Though it seems to provide almost everything, but there’s one thing that Bahay Pag-Ibig cannot provide — the love of each one’s true family. No wonder why when someone passes away, it only takes an overnight or less time for lamenting.

It is understandable, because no relative or family member would even be there to mourn except the friends of the senior inside the shelter. Ironically, some of them are even happy to welcome death, because they believe that in heaven, everyone is a family, and everyone is sharing total complete love.

The teary part in here is when you are about to leave the “lolos” and “lolas”, some of them will run towards you giving you a warm hug and a simple thank you.

So while you have your parents with you, no matter how hard-headed they may, no matter how irritated you get because of their actions, love will always be the key. Take the opportunity to love and care for them as it was said in exodus 20:12:

“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.”

May you receive your blessings,

Tintin

P.S.

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