QC centenarians bare secrets of long life

MANILA, Philippines - For 101-year-old Hilaria Villegas, the secret of long life is a daily diet of fresh carabao’s milk, fresh fruits and vegetables, and a lot of prayer.

Born on Oct. 27, 1908, Villegas spent her childhood days in a family pastureland in Cubao, Quezon City, long before the late President Manuel L. Quezon issued a decree creating the city on Oct. 12, 1939.

She is the living link to the city’s history and a witness to the rise of the city from pastureland to one of the 10 future cities of Asia today

The daily diet of fresh milk, fruits and vegetables proved to be the elixir of long life and Villegas who would be turning 102 next week will become among the first awardees of the Quezon City Centenarian award accorded to residents who reached the ripe age of 100.

Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr led city officials in paying tribute to Villegas and eight other centenarians the other day.

“We are proud of you,” the mayor said as he handed plaques of recognition and P10,000 cash gifts to the senior citizens of the city.

Among the awardees, Susana de la Cruz Druedo was the oldest at 105 years; followed by Petra Agulto, 104; Marina Duque Macadamia and Casilda Navarro Lim, 102; Villegas and Marcelino Feliciano, 101; Carner Avila Llanes, Elina Anasco and Mercedez Tolentino, 100 years old.

Mayor Belmonte said the search for the oldest resident in the city yielded more than 12 but only nine confirmed their attendance at the awarding ceremony.

He said the Office of Senior Citizens Affair (OSCA) has compiled the list as part of the city government’s program to have all the senior citizens in the city registered so that they can avail of the benefits accorded to them under the law.

Earlier, Councilor Edcel Lagman in fourth district of the city filed an ordinance providing benefits for Quezon City centenarians.      

In support of Quezon City efforts to provide more benefits to the city’s senior citizens, the proposed ordinance seeks to give to centenarians a one-time P10,000 cash gift plus yearly Christmas and birthday gifts in the amount of P2,000.

Inviting them to the regular Monday programs for flag ceremony will also recognize the centenarians and their remarkable stories will be published in any newspaper of general circulation in Quezon City.

The proposal calls for the registration of resident centenarians at the city’s Office for Senior Citizens’ Affairs (OSCA) with proof that they are bonafide residents of the city so they can qualify for the cash incentives and rewards.