Office on Aging Director Rose Mondala has noted a language barrier among congregates who, she said, should “mingle with each other.”
In line with 2011 Older Americans Month celebration, Mondala said she wanted to implement a new sitting arrangement at the center.
She said there should be no “segregation” based on ethnicity.
Chamorro senior citizens usually converge at the same table. Other ethnic groups like Filipinos, Koreans, Chuukeese and Carolinians do the same.
Jesus Pangelinan, a longtime congregate, said the new sitting arrangement will fit the center’s real purpose.
In an interview, he said it is “highly advantageous for anybody to learn about other cultures, traditions and languages.”
He asked Mondala and Senior Citizens Advisory Council president Teresita Sorroza to seriously consider making new sitting arrangement to allow congregates to “blend” with each other.
But a senior citizen who doesn’t want to be identified said the Aging Office leadership should not compel them to sit with people they are not comfortable with.
“That will only give us stress,” she said, adding they should be given freedom to sit wherever they wish.
She said they can still learn other cultures, values and traditions even if they’re not seated with members of other ethnic groups.
Sorroza, for her part, said she will ask the congregates about the plan to rearrange their seats at the activity center.
“I will ask them if they agree about the reshuffling of seats,” she said.
