In Cebu city, residents who reach 100 years of age receive a cash gift from the City Government like this year’s awardee Maxima Cabilao of barangay Kamputhaw (far left). (CDN PHOTO/CHRISTIAN MANINGO)
Vegetables and lots of prayers have helped Maxima Cabilao reach 100 years old.
Although she has to sit on a wheelchair most of the time, she can still stand up from her bed to go to the bathroom. But she needs assistance on longer walks in her home in barangay Kamputhaw, Cebu City.
“Salamat sa Ginoo nga nakaabot pa ko aning edara. Dili na kaayo ko makalakaw kung dili ko agakon. Pero kaluoy sa Ginoo, wala gyud koy sakit-sakit,” she said.
(Thank God I’ve reached this age. I can’t walk very well without assistance. But with God’s mercy, I am not suffering from any illness.)
The single senior lives with a niece, 66-year old niece Nelida Seno.
Maxima’s daily diet consists of “utan kamunggay (moringa), ampalaya (bitter gourd) and occasionally fish.
Maxima was among the four centenarians who were given P100,000 by the Cebu City Government during the culmination of the Senior Citizens’ Month.
Aside from Maxima, the other awardees were Cristina Abella of barangay Ermita, Paulina Sy of barangay Kasambagan and Rosario Ynclino of barangay Basak San Nicolas.
The P100,000 was given to the centenarians by the Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS) in cash.