A Cayetano receives P100,000 from Makati gov't

MANILA, Philippines - Another centenarian resident of Makati City received a P100,000 cash gift from the city government.

Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay said the cash gift was awarded last September 29 to World War Two veteran Narciso M. Cayetano of Barangay Pembo.

Cayetano is the second male awardee and 18th centenarian to receive the cash gift since the program began in December 2012, following the passage of City Ordinance No. 2012- 099.

Binay said Cayetano was tracked-down by the Makati Social Welfare Department (MSWD) and the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA).

Cayetano was born on June 16, 1914 and was married to Anita Almonte. Their marriage was blessed with an only child, Marissa.

A veteran of World War II, he was a member of the United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE). After World War II, he became the Procurement Officer at Camp Aguinaldo. Following his retirement, he worked as a detachment officer in different security agencies. He also served as Barangay Kagawad in Pembo for two terms, from 1982 to 1987.

Cayetano received his cash gift at Binay’s Makati City Hall office. He was accompanied by his 90-year old wife Anita and their daughter Marissa.

The first batch of centenarians awarded in January 2013 consisted of nine with only one male among them, and four of them were honored posthumously. The P100,000 cash gift is awarded to the next of kin of qualified recipients who pass on before the scheduled ceremony. Starting this year, the awarding has been done quarterly upon recommendation of MSWD to increase the chances of recipients being able to attend the ceremony themselves.

Cayetano and the previous honorees were able to meet the criteria set by the MSWD, the lead implementer of the BLU Card Program: 1) must be a Filipino citizen; 2) must be a bonafide resident of Makati; 3) must have reached 100 years old between January to December of the current year; and 4) must be a BLU Card and White Card holder for at least five years.

The BLU Cardholders also enjoy a host of other benefits from the city government, including cash gifts every year ranging from P2,000 to P4,000 based on age brackets, given in June and December.

They are also entitled to unlimited free entrance to premier cinemas in Makati, free tours in Metro Manila and other parts of the country through "Lakbay Saya," free salon and spa services, cakes on their birthday and golden wedding anniversary, free medical care and hospitalization, and free medicines for maintenance and various illnesses.  They are also exempted from the city’s number coding scheme, and upon their death, their beneficiaries are entitled to P3,000 burial assistance.