First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos led the distribution of rice assistance to senior citizens in San Juan City on Monday, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to support vulnerable sectors and bring government aid directly to communities.
Araneta-Marcos joined San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora at the FilOil Center for the Bawat Bayan Makikinabang Rice Distribution under the Mula sa Puso Para sa Pamilya initiative.
A total of 8,898 senior citizens in San Juan City are beneficiaries of the rice assistance program. During Monday’s activity, 4,400 beneficiaries received the second wave of assistance, while the remaining recipients are scheduled to receive theirs within the week.
Thousands of senior citizens gathered at the FilOil Center on Col. Bonny Serrano Avenue for the distribution of rice assistance funded through the Local Government Support Fund.
In her message, Araneta-Marcos thanked the people of San Juan and recalled her personal connection to the city, noting that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. was born there.
She also shared that she received her COVID-19 vaccination in San Juan during the pandemic despite not being a resident.
“Totoo po ang sinabi ni Mayor. Dito ipinanganak ang aking asawa. Noong COVID, nandito kami at dito rin po ako naturukan ng bakuna. Kinabahan ako noon, pero napakabait ng inyong mayor,” First Lady Araneta-Marcos said.
The First Lady said returning to San Juan to extend assistance to its residents was a meaningful moment.
“That was four years ago, and here I am now giving back to all of you. Grabe ang mundo, umiikot talaga,” First Lady Araneta-Marcos noted.
She also thanked the city government for its partnership in bringing services closer to the people and urged Filipinos to remain united in building a better future.
“Sama-sama po tayo sa Bagong Pilipinas…At the end of the day, lahat tayo ay iisa. Sama-sama tayong babangon muli,” First Lady Araneta-Marcos said.
During the event, the First Lady also sat down with several senior citizens, listened to their stories, exchanged lighthearted remarks, and personally asked about their well-being.
Zamora thanked the national government for its continued support, stressing the importance of providing timely assistance to elderly residents of San Juan.
“Tayo ay lubos na nagpapasalamat sa ating mahal na Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. dahil kayong pong mga senior citizens na benepisyaryo ay apat na beses nang tatanggap ng 10 kilong bigas sa taong ito. At ang araw na ito ay simula ng pangalawang pagbibigay na natin,” Zamora added in his speech.
“Ito po ay ginagawa ng ating pamahalaan nasyonal sapagkat gusto natin siguraduhin may pagkain po sa lamesa ng ating mga pamilya dito sa lungsod ng San Juan. Kaya pasalamatan po natin ang ating Bagong Pilipinas administration…kasama natin ngayon na naghandog ng oras, ang taong napakabait at nalalapitan ko para sa San Juan…ang Unang Ginang Louise Araneta-Marcos,” the mayor noted.
Under the Bawat Bayan Makikinabang Rice Distribution program, each beneficiary will receive 10 kilograms of rice in four distribution waves this year.
Before the formal distribution, senior citizen beneficiaries also joined a raffle featuring prizes such as rice cookers and Bagong Pilipinas DigiBox units.
Among the recipients was 97-year-old Domesthenes Gabac, who thanked President Marcos and the First Lady for recognizing the needs of elderly Filipinos.
“Nagpapasalamat ako dahil nabanggit at naalala ang mga senior citizen. Ito ang pagkakataon ko para magpasalamat sa Pangulo at sa First Lady sa tulong na ibinibigay nila sa amin,” said Gabac, who was born on March 9, 1929.
He also expressed hope that the administration would continue expanding programs that provide housing, livelihood, and other opportunities for Filipino families.
“Sana ay maipagpatuloy niya ang mga programang nagbibigay ng pabahay at kabuhayan para sa mga Pilipino,” he added. “Nagpapasalamat po kami kay First Lady na na-mention niya ang senior citizens at tinutulungan niya kami.”
Amanda delos Santos, 79, also expressed gratitude for the assistance.
“Ngayon ko lang po nakita ang First Lady…siya pa po ang lumapit sa amin para bigyan kami ng bigas. Naka-beso pa po ako sa kanya. Malaking tulong po itong bigas.”
Nancy Cayetano, 67, said the rice assistance would help her family cover other basic needs.
“Nagpapasalamat po ako, malaking tulong po sa aming pagkain. IMbes na pambili ng bigas, makakabili na kami ng ulam. Wala na po ako asawa, yung dalawang anak ko at isang apo ang kasama.”
The Bawat Bayan Makikinabang Rice Distribution, implemented through the Mula sa Puso Para sa Pamilya initiative, forms part of the administration’s efforts to strengthen food security, support Filipino families, and ensure that government assistance reaches those who need it most.