Makati Mayor Abby Binay has personally awarded a check for P100,000, a plaque of recognition and a bouquet of flowers to each of the two newest centenarians of the city.
The mayor visited Vicenta C. Nuestro of Barangay Palanan and Gonigonda S. Brutas of Barangay Rizal in their homes on Thursday and Friday, respectively. Both turned 100 years old this year.
“It is an honor to personally meet our centenarians. Looking at their happy faces while they share fond memories is truly a priceless experience,” Mayor Abby said.
“I also salute their families for having taken very good care of them. There is no better way to show how much we love and appreciate our parents and grandparents than doing our best to make sure they are happy and comfortable for the rest of their earthly lives,” she added.
The mayor was accompanied by Vice Mayor Monique Lagdameo, Rep. Luis Campos, city and barangay officials during the home visits.
Mrs. Nuestro was born on February 14, 1918 and has been a resident of the city since 1970. She was married to the late Sotero Nuestro, a farmer, and they had seven children. She helped her husband with their daily expenses by sewing, and later became a vendor at the Pasay Public Market until she was 90 years old. Nanay Vicenta said the happy life that she has with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren is one the reasons why she was able to reach 100 years of age.
Mrs. Brutas was born on January 30, 1918 to farmer parents inBato, Catanduanes. Being the eldest child, she helped her parents in the farm. She was married to Macario Brutas in 1944 and they had seven children, two of whom died young due to sickness.
Mrs. Brutas stayed at home to attend to the needs of her family while her husband worked as a farmer and a fisherman. When one of her daughters got married, she took care of her grandchildren who were left in the province under her care.
When her husband died, her children decided that she stay with them in Makati. She has been a city resident since 1998.
The latest awardees were able to meet the criteria set by the Makati Social Welfare Department (MSWD), the lead implementer of the Blu Card Program, as follows: 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.
To date, 47 Makati centenarians have been recognized since the program started in 2012 through City Ordinance No. 2012-099.