THE local government of Muntinlupa awarded P100,000 to Maria Josephine de Leon Moriska and her husband Joseph Moriska after she gave birth to their daughter Jira Stella at exactly midnight of December 19—the local government’s 100th founding anniversary.
The cash reward was given to them by the Muntinlupa Centennial Commission after winning the search for the “Centennial Baby.”
The baby girl, who was delivered normal at the Medical Center Muntinlupa in Putatan, also received items from private companies operating in the city.
Public Information Officer Tez Navarro said the City Health Office coordinated with the 16 hospitals and lying-in clinics to recognize the constituents who will give birth on the date of the centennial commemoration.
Mayor Jaime Fresnedi, who led the competition’s launch on December 13 at the City Health Office, extended his gratitude to local partners for the conduct of this “once-in-a-lifetime” search.
This formed part of the city’s 100th Foundation Day, which just concluded with a bang.
The Grand Celebration took place at the Muntinlupa Sports Complex, with Vice President Maria Leonor G. Robredo and Marawi City Mayor Majul Usman Gandamra as guests of honor. It was preceded by the “Grand Centennial Salubong” at midnight on the eve of the occasion. A Thanksgiving Mass at the City Hall Quadrangle was celebrated the next morning, after which the Muntinlupa City Fire Station and Command Center in Tunasan was blessed and inaugurated at noon.
Malacañang has declared December 19 as special nonworking holiday in Muntinlupa City through Proclamation 327.
The festivity continues, as the city is also hosting this year’s highly anticipated star-studded Metro Manila Film Festival Parade of Stars on December 23.