Senior citizen lauds PGIN summer tourism program

Laoag City—Young and still active, Mrs. Myrla Pilar C. Ambanta, a 63-year-old resident from Dingras is one of the nine senior citizen tourism ambassadors the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) hired for this year’s summer employment program.

“We can still acquire more talents and skills, which we can later on share to other people. We still have time to learn and love Ilocos Norte even more [through this summer program],” she said.

Mrs. Ambanta is a retired registered medical technologist who worked at the Doña Josefa Edralin Marcos Memorial Hospital for 25 years. Regardless of the big shift and difference from her usual duties in the hospital, she said that her innate talent of being a conversationalist served as an advantage on her job as a tour guide at the Taoid Museum of the Ilocano Cordilleras located at Laoag City.

Coming from a business-oriented family in Delfin Alabano, Isabela, she has memories working at a very young age. She remembers having sold candies and biscuits in their grocery store and being a store keeper at her grandfather’s rice mill.

Her Chinese grandfathers raised and trained Mrs. Ambanta, thus she believes that one must continue working as long as he/she is capable.

“Kung kaya pa, huwag lang tayong magkulong sa bahay. Sayang ang oras. Kaya pa nating matuto. Kaya pa nating ipamahagi ang ating mga talento. Marami pa tayong magagawa,” she said.

According to her, the summer tourism employment program of PGIN is a great program that benefits both the youth and the elderly. She also commended Ilocos Norte governor Ma. Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos for initiating the said program, and for giving “importance” to senior citizens.

“I really bow to the governor for her projects and programs. Siya lang yata ang may project na ganito for senior citizens. Binibigyan niya kami ng importance—na kahit retired na kami ay may silbi pa rin kami sa mundo.

The second batch of summer tourism ambassadors, both for the youth and senior citizens, had their job orientation on April 19. (PGIN-CMO)

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