Centenarian gets P50T from Mandaue government

CEBU, Philippines - A woman from Barangay Casuntingan, Mandaue City who turned 100 years old last week received P50,000 cash from the city government yesterday.

Mandaue City Mayor Gabriel Luigi Quisumbing personally gave the monetary award to the family of Ceferina Dabon-Cortes.

Quisumbing said the city has an ordinance granting a resident P50,000 when she or he reaches the age of 100.

Quisumbing, along with Councilor Demetrio Cortes, chairman of the committee on social services, gave the monetary incentive to Ceferina, who celebrated her birthday last August 26.

  Based on the records from the Office for the Senior Citizens Affairs and the City Registrar's Office, Ceferina was born on August 26, 1919 and has long been a resident of Barangay Casuntingan.  Ceferina has 11 children, 39 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren and six great-great grand children.

The giving of incentive to Ceferina is also in line with the celebration of the 47th Charter Day anniversary of the city today.

 "Among giisip nga kabahin sa kasaysayan sa Mandaue si Lola Ceferina kay nahimo kining saksi sa paglambo niini gikan pa sa pagkayano ug mingaw nga lungsod hangtod nga miasenso kini hangtod nga nahimo na karon nga mabungahon ug malamboon nga syudad sa Lalawigan sa Sugbo ug sa tibuok nasud," the mayor said.

Meanwhile, the city will also unveil today portraits of past city mayors, which will be displayed at the City Hall.

President Rodrigo Duterte declared August 30 as a special non-working holiday, through Proclamation No. 40, which was signed last August 10 by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.

Mandaue City became a city on June 21, 1969 by virtue of Republic Act 5519. But Presidential Proclamation 586 designated August 30, 1969 as the date of the formal organization of the city government.  (FREEMAN)