MANILA, Philippines - Susan Roces is not only a senior citizen herself already but still retained her movie star classic good looks and regal bearing. Over and above that, she is a staunch supporter of fellow senior citizens. She empathizes with their cares and concerns.
One of the urgent concerns of senior citizens is about medicines for their aches and pains. “When old people get together and talk among themselves, kadalasan ang pinag-uusapan na talaga ay ang mga sakit sa katawan and which types of medicines they take to ease the pain,” Susan says.
Most senior citizens are, of course, “retirees” and often rely on their pension payouts or on the kindness of their children or even grandchildren for their daily sustenance and prescription or maintenance medicines.
“Maswerte ang mga matatandang may naipon at may mahuhugot. But many are really financially-challenged. So it’s really a big help to many Filipinos that there are still high quality but affordable medicines that they can purchase,” cites Susan.
Susan is the ambassadress of RiteMed (the uni-branded line of medicines of Unilab), particularly its campaign “Bawal ang Mahal!” She said the emotions and conviction that she showed in the RiteMed TVC were really heartfelt. She really encourages the public to patronize RiteMed medicines because these won’t hurt the pocket so much.
In a recent thanksgiving lunch for Dr. Alfredo R.A. Bengzon aptly called Isang Pagkilala at Pasasalamat sa Ama ng Generic Medicine, Susan thanked the former health secretary who is now known as the “father of generic medicine” on behalf of all the senior citizens. Bengzon was appointed as health secretary by former Pres. Cory Aquino in 1986.
“Thank you very much, Dr. Bengzon. The Filipinos love you, especially senior citizens like me, you made our lives easier,” Susan says in her message.
According to Susan, if we combine the senior citizen’s discount and the affordable prices of RiteMed, then it really means big savings for people.
RiteMed manufactures products that are 40 to 80 percent lower than equivalent branded drugs. As such, people, especially those afflicted with lingering illnesses and their families, can afford to continue medication and treatment.
Recently, RiteMed reached another milestone with the launch of its first herbal medicine, the StopCough Lagundi cough syrup, which was made possible in collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology and the National Integrated Research Program on Medicinal Plants.
Susan may be considered a showbiz royalty but she surely does not sit on a high throne. She is in touch with the “masa,” just like her late husband Fernando Poe Jr. In fact, she would have been our very own First Lady. But destiny had other plans for her. With her involvement right now with the health concerns most especially of the poor people in communities, she obviously does not need an official post to champion the right to health of the Filipinos.