104 roses for oldest grandma

MALASIQUI, Pangasinan – One rose for each of her 104 years.

That’s what Ceferina Cruz Macaranas, from Barangay Poblacion, received like a debutante during her birthday celebration at the grand ballroom of the Star Plaza Hotel last Saturday.

Each long-stemmed rose was given to her individually by a guest. Around half of the 300 guests also held lighted candles to honor her.

Ceferina could be the oldest living grandma in this town, but she says she did not pray for long life. Called Mama Old by her grandchildren and close relatives, Ceferina is gifted with almost perfect health, and amazed her doctors at her latest medical check-up.

“Maybe her secret to longevity is being worry-free,” her youngest daughter Eva Castro says. Her mom has 21 grandchildren and up to one hundred great grandchildren.

Ceferina is the wife of Salvador Macaranas, whose father Florencio was the first appointed presidente of the municipal government here. Salvador was also appointed presidente of the town after his father, because he could speak English. He died when he was barely in his 50s, leaving Ceferina to raise her eight children on her own.

His picture still hangs in a frame in the living room. She says it is “Salvador, my sweetheart,” which elicits laughter from guests.

While her hearing and eyesight remain clear despite her age, her memory has become somewhat selective. Despite this, she can still recall her birthday, Sept. 29, 1910, and the names of all eight of her children.

She is blessed with a fine sense of humor, and says she remembers only good memories and does not dwell on the bitter past.

Eva says her mom does not bother reflecting on negative things like the war. When asked what she did during the war, she replies, “What I did? Why, should I fight?” This drew more laughter from her audience.

She said she even enjoyed the Japanese war because it was like going camping, hiding in the hilly area of Barangay Palapar where food was abundant.

To prove she could still read even without eyeglasses, she was handed the Entertainment section of The Philippine STAR, about the love story of inspiring showbiz couple Sen. Tito Sotto and Helen Gamboa – which she read aloud clearly. After reading, she commented, “She must have loved her husband that much.”