Several centenarian Cebuanos went on stage on wheelchairs.
The oldest of the batch of eight walked, still steady on his feet, to receive his award from the Cebu City government during the 76th Charter Day celebration at the grand ballroom of the Waterfront Hotel in Lahug last Sunday.
Simeon Rama Suplac walked up the stage assisted by two female companions. Suplac had just celebrated his 103rd birthday last Feb. 18. He was born in 1909 in barangay Talamban.
When dinner was served later, he was seen partaking of the sumptuous banquet without any aid.
A father of six and grandfather to 18, he was teary eyed as he received his Plaque of Recognition and P100,000 check from Mayor Michael Rama.
Irene Famador-Leyson, 100, went up the stage using a cane. The other six centenarians, all wheelchair-bound, were lifted on stage by student cadets to personally receive their awards.
The son-in-law of Lucilla Vallarta Yncierto shared her secret for longevity.
According to Lawrence Lim, he asked his mother-in-law her secret to reaching 101 years old. “Dili siya maguol and she refuses to let problems defeat her,” he said.
Wearing a white dress and a red shawl, Yncierto at times was restless and told her children who were with her she wanted to go home.
Nenette Lim, Lawrence’s wife and Yncierto’s youngest child, said her mother has been a good housewife and mother to her nine children. “She never worked when she got married. She was just at home to take care of us.”
She said her mother always has a happy disposition. At 101 years old, Yncierto’s vision and hearing has declined, but Nenette said her health is good for her age.
“She has no diabetes, Her blood pressure is okay and her heart is good,” said Yncierto’s youngest daughter.
Mayor Rama openly admired their stamina.
“Abot mo og 100 years old and more, and you will have your chance to be on stage,” Rama told an amused crowd.
The other awardees were Justina Amatog Arinasa – 102 years old; Condrado Canaya Regis – 101 years old; Teofila Fernandez Alino -100 years old; Nazaria Matig-a Bantillan – 100 years old; and Maria Isip Ochia -100 years old.
Senior’s aid
Yesterday at City Hall, Rama said he is bent on distributing the cash aid for all Cebu City’s senior citizen on a quarterly instead of bi-annual schedule in the approved budget ordinance for 2012.
Under the 2013 budget, senior citizens, numbering about 60,000 are entitled to P10,000 cash aid a year.
Rama said he will ask the City Treasurer’s Office to prepare the payroll for the senior citizen’s aid at P2,500 per quarter.
Councilor Edgar Labella, Rama’s ally in the City Council, he sees no legal impediment for this release which he said is “executive prerogative.”
Councilor Margot Osmeña’s pending proposal seeks to amend the budget ordinance to distribute the aid on a monthly basis. /Doris C. Bongcac , Chief of Reporters