Flocerfida Samaniego: Haircutting for Jersey City’s seniors
By Cristina DC Pastor
Except for the occasional stumble or fall, 72-year-old Flocerfida Samaniego continues to practice the craft she has known for most of her life — trimming, shaping, and caring for people’s hair.
For nearly a year now, she has been a quiet presence at the PACCAL office in Jersey City where seniors sit patiently beneath her careful hands, grateful for both the service and the company.
PACCAL — the Pan American Concerned Citizens Action League now on its 34th year –serves the city’s senior residents, advocating for their health and human service needs.
Once a month, Flocerfida arrives to tend to hair that has grown thin with age or brittle from years of dye and bleach. Known for her gentle touch, she charges $20 per client, half paid by the client and half by the organization. When asked why she still works instead of slowing down at 72, she offers a shy laugh.
“Ok naman, kumikita ako,” she said simply.
Haircutting has been part of her life for more than three decades. She learned the craft from her mother, a tireless beautician in Ildefonso, Bulacan. The eldest of nine children, Flocerfida remembers watching her mother work constantly to support the family. “Bawat panganak niya, gupit na rin siya nang gupit,” she recalled with a smile, describing a woman who never seemed to stop cutting hair.
Flocerfida came to the United States in the 1990s. A beauty salon later petitioned for her, and by 1998 she had become an American citizen. Today she works at another salon as well, balancing her livelihood with the small but meaningful service she offers PACCAL’s seniors.
Despite having family in the Philippines—she is the only sibling in New Jersey, while two others live in California—Flocerfida says she hopes to retire in the United States.
“Andito ang health insurance, ako pa naman lagi may sakit,” she said with candor.
Her body has slowed in recent years. Last year alone she estimates she fell at least seven times—sometimes a simple trip, other times a full tumble to the ground. A nurse told her that balance problems are common among women her age and advised caution. Now she pushes a shopping cart for support when walking around the neighborhood. She stubbornly refuses to use a cane.
“Ayoko, nakakahiya,” she said, waving away the idea.
Still, her visits to PACCAL remain a bright part of her routine. The customers whose hair she styles bring stories from their travels and daily lives. “Ok naman, marami silang kuwento,” she said. “Mga biyahe nila, kung saan saan sila nagpunta.”
Executive Director Ria Serrano said PACCAL offers seniors far more than practical assistance. The organization arranges health screenings, food and transportation support, housing assistance, and social outings that keep the community vibrant. Members recently wandered through the lush grounds of Untermyer Gardens in Yonkers, marveling at the orchards and sweeping landscapes. A casino trip doubled as a lively fundraiser, while a visit to Holland Ridge Farm to view a glowing sea of tulips is being planned for April.
The group also gathers for Saturday dance workshops, gentle exercise sessions, and employment workshops for those still seeking work.
For Flocerfida, the monthly haircut sessions are about more than earning a few dollars. They are moments of companionship in a life that can sometimes feel solitary. Living alone, she values the simple act of conversation as much as the work itself.
“Mag-isa lang ako,” she said with a small shrug. “At least dito may nakakausap.”
