President Luis Abinader and First Lady Raquel Arbaje led the sixth annual Senior Citizen of the Year and Protector of the Elderly awards ceremony on Friday, 3 October 2025, recognizing the altruism and dedication of older adults throughout the year. The awards are a national tribute to the country’s elderly population.
The Senior Citizen of the Year award was presented to the esteemed teacher and folklore dancer Josefina Miniño, honoring her as a source of inspiration. Miniño was recognized for her tireless work as a teacher, dancer, and choreographer, sharing her successes, experiences, and knowledge with all generations.
Sister Agripina Acosta, director of the La Santisima Trinidad Home for the Helpless Elderly, received the Protector of the Elderly award. She was honored for her outstanding 57 years of work in welcoming and caring for the vulnerable elderly, ensuring their well-being and a dignified life in their later years.
During the ceremony, the executive director of the National Council for the Elderly (Conape), Demetrio Antonio Vicente Ureña, thanked President Abinader for his support of the institution and its commitment to the dignity, protection, and well-being of older adults.
The elderly are the seed and root of our history, said Vicente Ureña. They have been teachers, guides, protectors, and tireless workers. Today more than ever, we must recognize that they are not only memory, but also an active present, citizens with dreams, aspirations, and rights that we must guarantee in every public policy, he said.
The event also included a moment of silence in honor of Maria Cristina Camilo, the first female radio announcer and television presenter in the Dominican Republic.
Accompanying President Abinader were the Administrative Minister of the Presidency, Andres Bautista, and the Minister of Public Health, Victor Atallah.
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Presidency
13 October 2025