LEGAZPI CITY, Albay—A group of senior citizens who banded and called themselves Barangay McDo celebrated their seventh Christmas party on December 18, this time expecting more than 50 participants in the province of Albay.
Retired US Navy officer Ben Roquid, 72, of Oas, Albay, and a resident of Legazpi City, said they christened their group Barangay McDo simply because their favourite hangout was McDonald’s Food Court that eventually developed at the Pacific Mall Legazpi outlet in 2011.
Following the opening of the Ayala Mall in Legazpi two years ago, however, the senior citizens group shifted to the McDo Ayala Mall outlet where they meet regularly early in the morning over a cup of coffee. Aside from being at the center of the Legazpi central commercial district, the local food court featured popular restaurants, such as Jollibee, Chowking and McDonald’s located at the mall’s ground floor, and also opens at 6 a.m. to serve coffee and breakfast.
“Barangay McDo is not a formal organization of senior citizens. Because of the regularity of our visits, the management of McDo reseved a senior citizens’ corner, said Eduardo Jovero, a retired businessman and native of Davao now residing with his family in Camalig, Albay.
Roquid, the designated coordinator of the group, said that the 2018 Christmas party was held at La Roca Restaurant in this city, owned by a retired official who is himself an active member of Barangay McDo who regularly attends breakfast or coffee with the group.
The contribution for each senior member for the Christmas party was pegged at P500, and more than 30 members have already given their share. During last year’s Christmas party, every senior member shared for the occasion that included a raffle with a surprise sponsor from the group. The scheduled time of the party was 4 to 8 p.m.
Last year, Barangay McDo’s Christmas party was held at the Jennifer Garden Hotel at the old Albay District, with more than 50 certified seniors attending. The place is owned by a senior citizen himself.
Wilfredo M. Santos, 76, who lived in Chicago for 30 years working as a bartender, said he is a native of Tuy, Batangas, who returned home as a balikbayan in 2016. He followed his only son to Legazpi who married to a Bicolana. Having no more family, Santos said he was a complete stranger in Legazpi who got acquainted with the group of fellow senior citizens. He became a habitue at the McDo Ayala.
Santos said the friendship of the senior citizens meeting at Ayala Mall McDo relieves him from stress. “The group is my barometer about what’s going on in our country.”
Roquid said the McDo food court at the Ayala Mall Legazpi is the most convenient location for the seniors. Not only does the restaurant serve breakfast and coffee early; they also supply the early-morning crowd with free newspapers supply given free of charge for early customers. From McDo Ayala Mall Legazpi in the morning, the group usually moves to the nearby McDo outlet at the Pacific Mall 40 meters away to enjoy coffee again, Roquid said.
The group said that with the opening last month of SM Legazpi where another McDo outlet is available, they intend to have a separate time schedule for SM Legazpi senior citizens to meet as the group’s membership is growing.
“Any senior citizens can join our group regardless of identity and profession without fee or qualification,” Jovero said.
They have made McDo a favorite hangout because McDo staff no longer requires them to wait in line or show their senior cards and automatically gives them their discount.
Not all restaurants in this city are as enlightened as the Mc Do staff, lamented Jose Tuazon, 75, a retired policeman. Tuazon said the food court of a prominent mall in Legazpi persistently refuses to give senior citizens their discount and still does not have a priority lane for the seniors.
