Cinco de Noviembre rites Forty-five centenarians honored

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — The Negros Occidental provincial government on Sunday marked the Cinco de Noviembre celebration by honoring six outstanding Negrenses, and 45 Negrense centenarians.

Each of the 45 Negrense centenarians received P100,000 cash and a plaque of recognition from Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. and Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, in a ceremony held at the Capitol in Bacolod City.

The 82-year-old Marañon wished a much longer life for the centenarians, and even raised the possibility of giving P1 million for those who may reach the age of 120. Of the 45 centenarians, three of them are 105 years old.

The Cinco de Noviembre rites—this year's of which was moved to Monday (Nov. 6)-commemorates the revolt against the Spanish colonial government that led to the establishment of the Negros Republic on November 5, 1896.

The Capitol also conferred awards on six outstanding Negrenses:

Joey Gaston and Christina Borromeo-Gaston for entrepreneurship and livelihood promotion; DILG Undersecretary Austere Panadero (for government service); Ramon Hofileña of Silay City (for culture and arts), Gawad Kalinga founder Antonio Meloto (for civic and humanitarian works), and Margarita "Gaita" Araneta Forés (for culinary tourism). (FREEMAN)