103-year-old man seeks guv’s help

CEBU, Philippines - At 103 years old, Terso Alferes of Toledo City still has the energy of a 30-year-old man, enough energy for him to still offer his services to tilt the land owned by the barangay captain of Madugo in the said city so he could earn enough money to go to Cebu City.

Alferes, in an interview with the media yesterday at the Cebu Provincial Capitol, said that he wanted to be in Cebu City so he could see Governor Hilario Davide III.

His purpose was to ask help from Davide to relay to President Benigno Simeon Aquino III his plea for financial assistance.

Alferes’ journey to the Capitol did not go easy though as he lost the only money he had to a thief while he was eating at the Carbon Market.

 “Akong bulsa gihashasan samtang nagkaon kos Freedom Park. Perting dimalasa,” the centenarian said.

But Alferes, who traveled for hours barefoot with a big wound on his toe, pushed through with his aim- to see the Governor.

Alferes was able to meet Davide in the latter’s office yesterday who after speaking with him, gave him money enough for his fare and food.

“Mihatag ta’g gamay para sa iyang pamilite ug kaon kay luoy intawn,” Davide said.

Alferes told Davide that he attempted to talk to Toledo City Mayor John Henry Osmeña but was allegedly barred by the security guards.

“Akong giingnan suwayi og adto si Vice Mayor (Antonio) Yapha,” Davide said, who gave Alferes a letter addressed to Yapha. 

Alferes lamented to the media that his cousins who are younger than him are receiving financial assistance monthly while he gets nothing.

“Ang ako lang nagpatabang lang kos gobernador aron iyang ingnon ang presidente. Gingnan man ko sa kapitan nga ‘Noy Terso adto sa gobernador kay dali ra na madunggan sa presidente’,” he said.

Davide said that while the province has no program yet granting assistance to centenarians unlike in Cebu City which extends P100,000 each, the Cebu Provincial Senior Citizens’ Council has been created to look into the welfare of the elderly and provides  a comprehensive healthcare and rehabilitation system for disabled senior citizens.

Board Member Raul Alcoseba, who authored the ordinance creating the CPSCC, earlier reported that a total of P5 million budget has been allocated this year as initial budget for its programs.

Alferes has been earning from farming and tilting land which enabled him to send his two grandchildren to school.

The noble work also made two others succeed as mechanical engineers, he added.

He said his wife already died in 2001 after she was beaten to death by an alleged drug user. — (FREEMAN)