At 85 years old, Tatay Vicente “Enteng” C. Gabinete has learned many lessons about resilience, sacrifice, and faith. But as the years passed and the weight of old age settled on his shoulders, he began to long for a place to call home and a family to care for him.
Living alone in a modest dwelling in San Jose, Dinagat Islands, Tatay Enteng quietly navigates the challenges of aging.
His home is situated along a roadside, lacks electricity, proper sanitation facilities, and adequate lighting. For an elderly man battling gouty arthritis, hearing difficulties, and worsening vision, they posed daily risks and difficulties.
His Social Pension served as his primary source of income, helping him purchase food and settle small debts. However, the assistance, combined with the limited and inconsistent support from his children, was often not enough to cover his daily needs.
Recognizing his condition, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office Caraga, through its Help Enhance the Living Condition to Protect the Older Persons (HELP OP) of Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens (SPISC) Program, stepped in to provide necessary interventions to improve his well-being and ensure his long-term safety.
The agency provided food assistance through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) to support his daily and nutritional needs. A home medical visitation was conducted by a barangay nurse, enabling proper evaluation and monitoring of his health condition.
“The help you have given me is a great blessing. What you [the DSWD] have done for me is truly significant. The money provided by the DSWD helped me buy rice and pay off my debts,” Tatay Enteng said.
Behind his quiet life in Dinagat was a family spread across Iloilo and Palawan. Although distance separated them, their bond remained strong.
His children regularly communicated with him and expressed concern for his well-being.
Recognizing the challenges he faced living alone, they encouraged him to return to Palawan, where they could personally care for him and provide the support he needed.
Because of this, the DSWD Caraga social worker convened a case conference involving the client, family members, and concerned stakeholders.
During the discussion, it was agreed that the most sustainable solution was to reunite Tatay Enteng with his family in Palawan, where his sibling, Mr. Florentino Gabinete, expressed willingness to assume responsibility for his care and supervision.
To facilitate reintegration, the social worker coordinated extensively with local government units and partner agencies. Arrangements were made with the Senior Citizen Focal Person of San Jose, Dinagat Islands, to ensure continuity of services and benefits. Coordination was likewise initiated with the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) in Palawan to prepare the necessary interventions and support mechanisms upon his arrival.
The agency worked closely with the Local Government Unit (LGU), Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), and MSWDO Palawan to ensure that Tatay Enteng’s travel would be safe, organized, and adequately supported.
“I hope that you [the DSWD] will continue helping other elderly people in the years to come. Please continue extending your assistance. It makes us happy to know that this is what you do—helping people. I am happy and grateful because I can now go home. I am truly thankful to the DSWD and HELP OP,” he added.
Today, while awaiting the completion of travel arrangements, Tatay Enteng continues to receive assistance and monitoring from DSWD Caraga. He carries with him not only the hope of better days ahead but also the assurance that even after a lot of struggles, it is never too late to find comfort, care, and a place to truly call home.
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