Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes and two of three centenarians who were awarded with a plaque and P50,000 each during the celebration of the Elderly Filipino Week.
MANDAUE CITY – The local government honored three centenarian residents here and awarded them with a plaque of appreciation and P50,000 each as financial assistance as Mandaue City in Cebu province celebrated the Elderly Filipino Week.
Mayor Jonas Cortes led local officials in the awarding of the plaque held at the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex which was attended by some 3,000 senior citizens from various organizations here.
“Kamo kabahin sa greatest generation tungod kay nalagpasan ninyo ang daghang problema ug natukod ninyo ang mga pamilya bisan sa kalisod. Celebrating the Elderly Filipino Week is an opportunity to return to you – our elders – the sacrifices you’ve made, and the opportunity for us to show that all of you are still a big part of our productive community,” he told the elderly and their families.
Those honored were Cristita Velasquez del Mar, from Sitio Nawanao in Subangdaku. She was born on October 4, 1914 and the eldest daughter of Florencia and Tomas Velasquez. She was married to military man Pedro Suico del Mar whom she had 6 children. She now has ten grandchildren.
“Mahilig ko og utan, dili ko masukanon, ang pag-ampo sa Ginoo gyud akong gisaligan (I used to eat vegetables, I don’t get easily angry, prayer to God is my ony weapon),” Cristita said when asked by journalists about her secret to long life.
Her son, Amadeo, 60, said their mother is very lovable and selfless, adding, she would not eat her meal until all the siblings finished and that she prays every day before going to sleep. She also goes to church daily.
The second centenarian, Serapio Lumapas, who hails from Casuntingan, was born on September 3, 1914. He was married to Quirina Flores and the couple had 7 children and 15 grandchildren.
Serapio, a vegetarian, has difficulty talking and seldom speaks, according to one of his grandsons, Jake Montecillo, 31, who described his grandfather as business-minded who ran a small convenience store M.C. Briones Street with his wife, now deceased.
Both Cristita and Serapio are 100 years old.
And the third awardee was 106-year old Dolores Ermac, from Casuntingan. Her family said she was born on April 5, 1908 and was married to Marcos, an electrician. Although she was not able to physically attend the awarding, Dolores was represented by her 51-year old daughter Emalinda Catal.
“She still loves to talk and her favorite foods are vegetables and pork adobo,” Emalinda said of her mother, who now has 26 grandchildren, including a dozen great grandchildren. (Cebu Examiner, MNS)
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