The Makati City government on Wednesday gave a P100,000 cash gift to an educator and book author named as the latest centenarian awardee in the city this year.
Mayor Abigail Binay personally greeted 100-year-old Avelina J. Gil—a famous writer and author—by paying her a visit at her home in Barangay Poblacion last Wednesday and awarding her incentive check, a bouquet of flowers and a plaque of recognition.
Gil is one of three new centenarians recognized by the city government this year. A resident of Makati since 1962, she graduated cum laude at the University of the Philippines with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Education at the age of 19.
Upon her retirement from teaching, Gil became the editor-in-chief of Phoenix Publishing House.
Two other new centenarians visited by Binay were Emilia R. San Luis of Barangay Sta. Cruz and Zita D. Relova of Barangay San Antonio.
To date, 41 centenarians have received the P100,000 cash gift. This recognition of Makati centenarians started in 2012 through City Ordinance No. һӻ2012-099.
The first batch of centenarians awarded in January 2013 consisted of nine people—only one man among them—and four of them were honored posthumously.
In 2014, nine centenarians also were awarded P100,000, done quarterly upon the recommendation of the Makati Social Welfare Department to increase the chances of recipients being able to attend the awarding ceremony themselves.
For the first quarter of 2015, three lady centenarians were awarded with similar cash gifts.
The honorees were able to meet the criteria set by the MSWD as the lead implementer of the BLU Card Program: 1) He or she must be a Filipino citizen; 2) The person must be a bonafide resident of Makati; 3) The person must reach 100 years old between January to December of the current year; and 4) The person must be a BLU Card and White Card holder for at least five years.
Other privileges accorded to Makati seniors include 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 and subsidized medicines for maintenance and various illnesses.
Elders are also exempted from the city’s number coding scheme, and upon their death, their beneficiaries are entitled to P3,000 in burial assistance.