Oceanjet does not respect senior citizens!
There is a compelling ratio legis why senior citizens, (and I belong to this special specie), are, by positive enactment, given privileges in our society. This law assumes, for good reason, that in our more vibrant years before reaching seniority level, we contributed to the growth of our nation. The concepts formulated by visionary elders of the past laid the foundation on which our paradigms are well structured. Some of the fruits enjoyed by present generation can be gathered from the proverbial robust trees planted by our predecessors.
In other words, gratitude predicates this law. A grateful country grants benefits to its older generations for a job well done! At a time when we are more restrained by natural myriad limitations, and therefore can no longer perform the deeds we were capable of achieving decades ago, the law understands our predicament and rather than deride us, makes it easier for us to enjoy what life can offer.
It is, of course, equally true though that while some of the elderly have done great wonders for our race, there were others, now senior citizens or have crossed the great barrier already, who, no matter how much they tried, fell short of the acceptable standards. There were indeed, villains and non-performers among us who compose the present known social derelicts. All societies in all races have these kinds of people who brought dishonor to their peers.
But I like to believe that the senior citizens law considers more the positive contributions made by a majority of today's old men and women than the misdeeds of the few tiguwangs. The achievements of the former rank higher in premium than the embarrassments of the latter.
Let us mention specific benefits. One. There is this privilege granted to senior citizens in watching movies without having to pay for their tickets. Two. We are aware of the discounts given to senior citizens in purchasing medicines. Three. We know of the entitlement given to us in the form of twenty per cent discounts from transportation fares. These privileges are mandated not necessarily because we do not anymore have the financial capacity. This is how society pays us back.
Unfortunately, there are some companies that do not recognize the noble intention of our lawmakers in granting privileges to the senior citizens. They prefer to desecrate the spirit and the letter of the law. I am not prepared to call them greedy but it can, perhaps, be argued that they might not share the profound philosophy of the law.
To honor an invitation of a local government unit in Bohol, I asked my staff, few days ago, to get me a booking for a sea travel to that island province. My particular instruction was for him to find a schedule that would fit my professional engagement there. I was told that Supercat, a fast ferry company, had a promotion round trip fare costing only eight hundred forty five pesos.
On the other hand, Oceanjet, another company operating fast crafts, pegged its regular fare at five hundred pesos one way, one thousand pesos, round trip. The scheduled arrival of the Oceanjet vessel in Tagbilaran was close to my function. So, I chose it. I sent my staff to buy me a round trip ticket and gave him my senior citizens identification card expecting to avail of the discount provided by the law.
My staff came back and handed me my tickets. To my disbelief, there were no discounts taken off the regular fare! I thought there was a simple oversight and so I queried about the privilege. It was then that he told me that the Oceanjet personnel attending to him did not mince in saying that she was aware of the statutory mandate but her company does not entertain the policy of following it. I was shocked even more when my staff told me that Oceanjet personnel was unequivocal in stating that none of the senior citizens has ever been favored with a fare discount. Differently stated, Oceanjet is bent on disregarding its legal duty and continues to frown upon senior citizens.
I may have little resources enough to gloss over this infraction but certainly there are many of my brother-senior-citizens whose rights have been violated by Oceanjet. I hope our authorities do something in this regard.
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