Seniors’ moment

On our nth trip to Batangas City to enjoy the fresh air, revisit the community of Badjaos the city had adopted and check on the vegetable farm that grew corn, okra, string beans, eggplant and peanuts, we were surprised by still another activity that Batangueños had been practicing for many years now — presenting hundred year-olds in competition.  

Although we had difficulty tracking down the winners, we had the good fortune of being able to interview an awardee in her home. She is Catalina Dinglasan Guico, 101 years old, with seven children, 18 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. We told her, we knew of a singer and coach named Lionel Guico, and she confirmed the presence of many other Guicos who, to this day, reside in Batangas.

Catalina lives with her daughter Floriana Aldovino, and she regaled us with stories of how she spent her days. Complaining that she couldn’t hear very well, Catalina requested that we speak louder. Other than this, she was up and about, going to the kitchen to check on the merienda she had prepared for us.

Catalina is one of 10 awardees the city was honoring this year. The others are Luisa Maranan Villena, 102; Guillerma Arellano Atienza, 102; Petra Fajardo Ebora, 101; Anastacia Mendoza Sumadsad, 100; Petra Verano Aclan, 101; Francisca Andal Perez, 101; Pilar Quinery Alcantara, 100; Felisa Arguelles Macatangay,100; and the oldest, Vicenta Alday Alog, 106. The sole requirement is the presentation of a birth certificate as proof of age.       

The concept started in 1994 when then Pres. Fidel V. Ramos proclaimed the first week of every year as Linggo ng Katandaang Filipino or Week of The Elderly. What followed next was the idea expanded by Mila Española, to include the elderly starting at age 100 in a competition-type event that would give prizes. The rites started in year 2000, the number of honorees varying from 10 to 20 Centenarians.

Some of the better-known Batangueños are Joonee Gamboa, Perla Bautista, Leo Martinez, lawyer Antonio Pastor, Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales, Archbishop Ramon Arguelles, Amb. Lauro Baja, couturier Ito Curata, singers Lionel Guico and Carol Banawa, actors Ahron Villena, Jason Gainza, actress Kat Alano, April Tolentino and Apolinario Mabini known as “The Sublime Paralitic.”        

As Batangas’ most revered kababayan Apolinario Mabini y Maranan (July 23, 1864 to May 13, 1903) was a Filipino revolutionary leader, educator, lawyer and statesman who served as the first Prime Minister of the Philippines, first under the Revolutionary Government, and then, under the First Philippine Republic. Mabini performed all his revolutionary and governmental duties despite having lost the use of both his legs to polio. Mabini’s role in Philippine history saw him confronting the Spanish Colonial Rule in the days of the Philippine Revolution, and then the Americans during the Philippine-American War. He was captured and exiled to Guam by the American colonial authorities, who allowed him to return two months before his death. 

To the Batangueños, Mabini will always be their greatest hero. A monument of Apolinario Mabini’s stands on Plaza Mabini, Batangas City.

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