Mandaue resident turns 100 years old

CEBU, Philippines - Emiliana Sanchez Cabrera of Barangay Guizo, Mandaue City, will turn 100 years old this June 30.

But her family has since been celebrating her birthday every June 26 after noticing that she always gets fever when the celebration is held on the date of her birthday.

Cabrera will be the first recipient of the Mandaue City Government’s Centenary Senior Citizen’s Award.

She has remained single and spent the last three decades doing catechism works at the National Shrine of St. Joseph in Mandaue, after retiring in 1974 as teacher of the Mabolo Elementary School in Cebu City.

These days, Cabrera spends most of her time sitting in her favorite chair in the living room of her house which she inherited from her parents.

The house, built long before Cabrera was born in 1912, was declared a heritage structure by the Mandaue City government.

Her nephew, 36-year-old Alberto Cabrera, has also not married as he devotes his time taking care of his aunt who can barely hear now.

Alberto said her aunt has hypertension and this is why he could not leave her alone in the house. 

It was Aion Bolanon, the chief of staff of City Councilor Demetrio “Jun” Cortes, who informed a fellow City Hall worker about Cabrera.

Bolanon said the worker knew that Cortes authored an ordinance the Council approved last year honoring and conferring the centenary senior citizens award for all qualified elderly in the city.

Cortes will personally deliver this Monday to Cabrera her centenary plaque. She will also be honored during the culmination activity of the Senior Citizens Month in October.

It was in February last year when the City Council approved the ordinance conferring the centenary senior citizen award every October, the Senior Citizen’s month.The ordinance states that any resident who reaches 100 years old will receive a trophy or plaque and P5,000 cash from the city government.

The family of the recipient will show proof such as birth certificate, a certification from the barangay captain that he or she is a resident of the barangay, and a brief story of his or her life.

 –/JPM (FREEMAN)