This year, to commemorate the International Day of Older Persons, which took place on the 1st of October, the Senior Citizens‘ Department of the Mijas Town Hall is organising, throughout the week, afternoon snacks for retired people and pensioners in the two centres for active participation in the municipality and in the senior citizens’ centre. "The idea is to meet again, to celebrate the International Day of Older Persons all together, to share opinions, to see each other and have a good time", explained the councillor responsible for the area, Silvia Marín (PP), during the first celebration which took place on Wednesday 2nd, at the La Cala de Mijas Senior Citizens' Centre. 

At the meetings, the elderly enjoy a snack of sweet fritters with coffee. There is also music and dancing and, of course, a good atmosphere. "It's all about getting together, meeting new people and enjoying each other's company", explained one of the pensioners, Eduardo Muñoz. Another resident, Soledad González, agreed, saying that "at our age, the most important thing is that we are healthy and want to get together, as we do now, to overcome loneliness, which is the most important thing. Everything they do for us here in Mijas is excellent".

 

In Mijas, there are around 7,000 residents with a pensioner's card. "With these celebrations we want them to enjoy and have a good time as well as to acknowledge their work. We continue to work to make their lives easier", added the councillor, who was also accompanied by the councillors of the government team Mari Francis Alarcón (PP) and Daniel Gómez Teruel (PP). On Thursday 3rd, the same snack was organised at the Centre for Active Participation in Las Lagunas and on Friday 4th, will be in Mijas Pueblo. 

Recognition

During the afternoon snacks, the Department for Senior Citizens also pays tribute to the residents who have the oldest pensioner's card, explained the councillor. In La Cala, Manuel Sánchez, who is almost 88 years old, received his well-deserved diploma. "I'm the one in charge here, apparently, because I'm the oldest", laughed the neighbour, who is an example of wisdom and a positive attitude in life.

At 87 "and a half" years old, Sánchez explained how he spends his days as a pensioner. In the afternoons he goes to the senior citizens' centre to play dominoes for a while and “to have a coffee with my friends”. Every day he also looks after his small vegetable garden "and that's how I spend muy days". As for the keys to living longer, Manuel is clear: "don't get irritated, don't hate anyone and don't be an envious person".

This neighbour claims to have worked a lot throughout his life, he remembers how as a child he used to go to Osuna to pick olives and he doesn't forget his years working in a dynamite factory in Bilbao. "At my age I know what is bad and what is good, I finally understand things", he stressed. The fact is that both he and all the elderly in general are very clear about their main objective at this stage of their lives: to enjoy their days to the full. As another pensioner, Ana Gómez, said: "all I ask for is health and peace in the world and to last the more years the better".

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