The city government of Makati on Friday named the new centenarian awardees, bringing to 34 the total of centenarians during the administration of Mayor Abigail Binay.
On Wednesday, Mayor Binay personally awarded P100,000 cash gift and a plaque of recognition to the city’s new centenarians (one posthumously) at their respective homes in Barangay Bel-Air, as part of the city’s grateful tribute to its elderly citizens.
The city chief executive expressed pleasure at being able to meet the newest centenarian, Mrs. Nellie Delgado.
“I am very happy and thankful for the opportunity to meet our new centenarian Mrs. Delgado. Her amazing life story is full of love and compassion. It inspires us all the more to serve others selflessly,” Binay said.
The mayor also visited the family of another awardee, the late Mrs. Vicencia Yuchengco.
“Likewise, I am honored to meet the family of Mrs. Yuchengco. Even though she is no longer with us, we see it fit to award the gift to her family for having taken care of her so well that she was able to reach her 100th birthday,” Binay said.
Records showed that Mrs. Delgado was born on Aug. 23, 1919. She got married to Antonio Delgado (deceased) in 1944 and they had four children.
She and her husband set up the Jose Antonio Delgado Memorial Foundation, in honor of their son Jose Antonio, who died in a plane crash with 24 other Philippine boy scouts going to the 11th World Scout Jamboree in Greece on July 23, 1963.
The foundation helped disadvantaged Filipinos through scholarships, projects, and institutions they initiated, like the Bishop-Businessmen’s Conference, the Association of Foundations, and the Mangyan Heritage Center.
Mrs. Delgado was also the founding chairperson of the Mother Butler Foundation in 1965, an organization providing scholarships for priests and seminarians.
In 1974, she was invested as Dame of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta and was awarded the Pro-Ecclesia et Pontifice in 1977, for her services to the church, the less fortunate, and the sick.
After her husband’s passing in 1992, she continued her involvements with the Associacion de Damas de Filipinas (President 1993-1995), providing shelter to babies and children in the Settlement House; and the Philippine Association of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (Treasurer and Council Member) to help the sick. She still attends meetings of the two organizations as often as she can.
At present, she lives a happy life with her children, 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, and she still walks along Manila Bay and enjoys the sunsets.
She has been a Blu Card member since March 1, 2003.
The late Mrs. Yuchengco, on the other hand, was born on Jan. 13, 1919. After obtaining a degree at the University of Sto. Tomas, she entered the world of business and worked hard to raise her two daughters. She died last Feb. 17, a month after her 100th birthday.
She was a Blu card member since Aug. 30, 2004.
City Ordinance 2012-099 entitles Makati senior citizens who are Blu Card holders to a one-time P100,000 cash gift upon reaching 100 years old. It serves as a tribute for their significant contributions and role in the history and development of the city.
The latest awardees were able to meet the criteria set by 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, 59 Makati centenarians have been awarded the P100,000 cash gift since 2012, 34 of them awarded under Mayor Abby’s term.