MANILA, Philippines - The Makati City government has recognized on Monday, three new centenarian city residents and honored each of them with a P100,000 cash gift.
Makati Mayor Kid Peña led the awarding ceremony attended by the two living centenarians and their family members, as well as the son of the other honoree who passed away last December, a few days after she turned 100 years old.
“We in Bagong Makati humbly take our hats off to our new centenarians who have contributed so much not only to their respective families, but to the progress and development of the city as well. The cash gift is but a simple token compared to the priceless contributions they had made to society,” Peña said.
Makati Social Welfare Department (MSWD) officer-in-charge Remedios Ramos identified the three new awardees as Margarita Sanchez Ugarte of Barangay Dasmariñas, Valentina Perez San Jose of Barangay San Antonio, and Otilia Oliva Gustilo of Barangay Bel-Air who died last December 14 after her 100th birthday on November 27.
Sanchez celebrated her 100th birthday last November 17. Even as a mother of five sons, she had actively engaged in dancing and sports activities, such as swimming and bowling. In fact, she used to join a regular bowling team at the Manila Polo Club. To date, she still does crossword puzzles to keep her mind sharp.
San Jose meanwhile was born in Cebu City on Nov. 26, 1915. Sanchez, the youngest among 10 children, is the surviving spouse of a World War II veteran. She is described as a very supportive and loving mother to her only son Vicente. A former resident of Barangay Tejeros, she currently lives with her eldest granddaughter, Jacqueline Paredes in Barangay San Antonio.
The cash gift for Gustilo was received by her son, Enrique Felipe. At age 35, she married long-time suitor Jose Gustilo and gave birth to two boys, Enrique and Francis. She was the third among 11 siblings, and was well-loved for having taken good care of her parents and husband until they passed away. She was also known for her generosity to others, especially the less fortunate.
To qualify for the one-time cash gift which is awarded quarterly, a beneficiary must meet the criteria set by MSWD, as follows: 1) must be a Filipino citizen; 2) must be a bona fide resident of Makati; 3) must have reached 100 years old as of Jan. 1, 2015 until Dec. 31, 2015; 4) and must be a BLU Card and White Card holder for at least five years.