SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique—The oldest centenarian in the province of Antique used to be a sacada or a sugar migrant worker who reached 107 years old.
Esteban O. Mediore, an indigenous person (IP) from Poblacion Norte, Tobias Fornier, supported his family by working as a sugar migrant in Negros Occidental and Tarlac, where there are vast tracts of sugar land.
He was among the 22 centenarians who received their certificates and cash gifts from Social Welfare and Development Regional Director Rebecca Geamala, Antique Gov. Rhodora J. Cadiao, Vice Gov. Edgar Denosta, Board Member Fernando Corvera and Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Lazaro Petinglay on Monday.
Mediore, although already having difficulty hearing and using only an improvised wooden cane when walking with the assistance of his daughter, in a later media interview, said in the local dialect he was very thankful for the cash gift.
He said his secret for long life was eating rice and vegetables.
Meanwhile, Consuelo H. Orcia, 101 years from La Rioja, Patnongon, together with her husband, raised their children through working in the rice farms.
Pedro Orcia, youngest son of Consuelo who is taking care of her, said his parents, through their hard work as farm tenants, were able to send their four children to school. His older brother is already a retired military officer.
He said his mother used to eat only vegetables and does not like to eat meat.
The niece of Rosario P. Brodit, 104 years old, said they are very thankful for the cash assistance, which is much needed by her aunt who is now bedridden.
Glorybell Alonzo, Brodit’s niece who also gave a response from the centenarians, said her aunt used to read the Bible daily and is a very religious woman. This, she said, why her aunt was gifted with long life.
Cadiao, in handing the certificates and cash gifts to the centenarians, wished them health and more years to live.
She said the provincial government was elated the Antiqueño centenarians were able to receive assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as a way to show how the national government values them.
She said the provincial government has devised a similar program under her administration because, while she was campaigning with the vice governor, they saw several elderly, although younger than last Monday’s awardees, who were neglected by their family members.
She said in Antique, people who are 85 years and older were given an honorarium under the PSDWO to buy milk, food and other needs. This, she said, was part of the provincial government’s human development program.
Geamala said those who were not able to receive their cash grants could still submit their documents to be given the monetary assistance.
She added that families of people who reached 100 years old, but died after the passage of the law might still be able to receive the grant.
Annabel J. Petinglay/PNA