75 Negros centenarians receive P100,000

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – The provincial government of Negros Occidental has given P100,000 each to 75 residents of the province who are 100 years old and above.

The awarding ceremony, held on Thursday, coincided with the celebration of the 117th year since Negros was freed from Spanish occupation, which was on Nov. 5, 1898.

One of the centenarians was Francisca Susano, a mother of 14 from Kabankalan City. She was born on Sept. 11, 1897 or nine months before the Philippine Independence was proclaimed on June 12, 1898.

Still capable of walking, Susano said eating vegetables was her secret to having a long life. She still cooks vegetables without artificial seasonings.

Susano said she married at 14 and had her first child, who is now 99 years old, when she was 19. She was very thankful for the cash award.

Aside from cash, the awardees were also given certificates and centenarian cards.

Fifteen of the awardees did not attend the ceremony.

Early this year, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan passed the Negros First Centenarian Act, mandating the provincial government to give P100,000 in one-time cash incentive to the centenarians.

The ordinance provided that the beneficiaries must be a resident of Negros Occidental for at least three years.

The city government of Bacolod passed a similar ordinance for its centenarian residents, as the provincial ordinance does not cover the city residents.