From GMANews
October 10, 2010 is a particularly special day for Francisco Manguera. Born in Boac, Marinduque on October 10, 1910, "Lolo Kiko" is turning 100 this Sunday.
He has seven children, more than 20 grandchildren, more than 50 great grandchildren, and just this year, two great-great grandchildren.
"Malakas na malakas pa siya. Makikita mo siya, nakahawak sa bakod, stretching ng kanyang braso," said Romeo Magcamit, Lolo Kiko's son-in-law, who lives next door in Boac town.
"Nakakapagtaka nga. Minsan tinatanong namin baka siya'y may anting-anting," Magcamit said in a telephone interview with GMANews.TV.
Woman celebrates 100th birthday on ‘10-10-10’
TAGUDIN, Ilocos Sur, Philippines — On her 100th birthday on Sunday, Maria Refuerzo Lazaga, who was dressed in violet, welcomed relatives and friends who gave her 100 roses and 100 envelopes containing P100-bills.
Oct. 10, 2010 (10-10-10), after all, was an auspicious date.
About a thousand relatives and friends attended the two-day birthday bash, which was posted on Facebook.
Maria Lazaga’s centenary birthday turned into a grand family reunion for the Lazaga clan of Tagudin. Eight of her nine children and more than 80 family members, some flying in from abroad, joined the feast.
The big celebration was in contrast to her life growing up as the only child of Marcelo Refuerzo of Santa Catalina town, and Josefa Biado of Bangued, Abra.
Lazaga practically raised herself as she lost her mother at an early age while her father left for the United States in the early 1900s, as part of the Ilocano contract laborers who worked in Hawaii’s sugarcane fields.
“She did not experience the love of a sibling. She never knew a mother’s love because she lost her mother early,” Buenvenida “Benny” Lazaga, 72, her eldest child, said in Filipino.
Benny said her mother was left to the care of relatives when her grandfather left. She said her mother was spoiled by her grandparents’ families.
“When she did not like something or had some misunderstanding [with a relative], she would seek shelter and care from another relative,” Benny said.
Lazaga finished only Grade 4 and eventually married Emilio, a miner, whom she met in Baguio City.
The burden of caring for the children fell on her shoulders as her husband was based in the Cordilleras and came home only once a month.
“Many of us were born without our father beside our mother,” Benny said.
Since theirs was a large family, Benny said it was difficult to provide for all of the children's needs. Her parents struggled to send them to school on their father’s small salary.
She said their mother, a housewife, was the family's anchor as they weathered the challenges that came their way.
“She is a strong woman. She was determined to teach us everything,” Benny said.
Lazaga, for most of her life, lost communication with her father, Marcelo. But her daughter Benny, who had worked in Canada, found him in the US and brought him back to the Philippines in 1972.
Their reunion was short-lived as Lazaga’s father died the following year.
In 1980, Lazaga lost her husband, Emilio, and her children and grandchildren became her source of comfort.
At her age, Lazaga is not one to sit idly by doing nothing. She goes to market on a wheelchair or she walks aided by a cane to buy fish and vegetables. She also finds time to attend the wake of her village mates and other community gatherings.
An old-school Ilocana, she observes the traditions and beliefs of her forebears. She avoids bathing and cutting her nails on Tuesdays and Fridays, citing Ilocano folk belief.
Old Ilocanos believe that bathing on Tuesdays and Fridays would make one sick and cutting nails on those days would prevent the nails from growing back.
A typical day for Lazaga starts in the family garden, where she sits in a chair enjoying the morning sun. Afterwards, she watches television, enjoying her favorite programs and and telenovelas.
Lazaga said she was able to reach her age of 100 years old because of the mercy of God.
"I am thankful. If I get sick, I easily recover,” she said in Ilocano.
She said she valued her family and made sure there was always food on the table.
“I never allowed our rice bucket to get empty,” she added.
For Lazaga's centenary birthday, her children organized a two-day celebration that started on Saturday. There were dances, parlor games and a program.
Dr. Leonora Lazaga-Benedito, 53, Lazaga's youngest child, said the family prepared for at least 1,000 guests to attend the party that culminated on Sunday.
Asked if she knew the secret to a long, healthy life, Lazaga said: “There is no secret. It is God’s will.”
Source: Inquirer.net
October 10, 2010 is a particularly special day for Francisco Manguera. Born in Boac, Marinduque on October 10, 1910, "Lolo Kiko" is turning 100 this Sunday.
He has seven children, more than 20 grandchildren, more than 50 great grandchildren, and just this year, two great-great grandchildren.
"Malakas na malakas pa siya. Makikita mo siya, nakahawak sa bakod, stretching ng kanyang braso," said Romeo Magcamit, Lolo Kiko's son-in-law, who lives next door in Boac town.
"Nakakapagtaka nga. Minsan tinatanong namin baka siya'y may anting-anting," Magcamit said in a telephone interview with GMANews.TV.
Answering our queries through his son-in-law, Lolo Kiko shrugs off the speculation, saying his only secret to a long and healthy life is simply "wastong pagkain."
He’s a bit hard of hearing and has had cataract surgery, but otherwise he's in tiptop shape and still exercises daily.
"Huwag magbibisyo. Nasisira ang kinabukasan dahil sa bisyo," advises Lolo Kiko.
He admits that he used to smoke cigarettes and indulge in the occasional bottle or two of beer, but now, Lolo Kiko's only vice is coffee. He sips a cup every morning with two pieces of pan de sal at the store across his house owned by one of his children. When he returns home, he sits down to a breakfast of rice and fish. He rarely eats meat, and when he does, he removes the fat.
Since retiring from his job at the Department of Public Works and Highways in 1973, Lolo Kiko has been spending his days quietly, staying home most of the time. He likes to sit in his tumba-tumba, playing solitaire. He doesn't watch television, and no longer reads the papers. But he still washes his own clothes.
Despite his old age, Lolo Kiko needs little attention. Since his wife Felicia passed away in 1995, Lolo Kiko has lived in his house by the road with one helper.
"Laging nakangiti, at tuwing may magmamano sa kanya na mga apo niya, magbibigay siya ng kaunting pera," said Magcamit of Lolo Kiko,
Lolo Kiko is fastidious when it comes to cleanliness. "Malinis na malinis siya sa katawan, at laging nakabihis," said Magcamit. Even when he isn't going out, Lolo Kiko is always dressed presentably. The farthest he usually goes is across the street to the store, where he likes to tell stories, especially when the topic is politics. The former teniente del barrio is still interested in politics. In fact, he went out to cast his vote in last May's elections.
His simple birthday wish is to stay happy and strong.
The Boac Association of Senior Citizens will hold a parangal for Lolo Kiko at the Boac covered court this Saturday.
Despite his old age, Lolo Kiko needs little attention. Since his wife Felicia passed away in 1995, Lolo Kiko has lived in his house by the road with one helper.
"Laging nakangiti, at tuwing may magmamano sa kanya na mga apo niya, magbibigay siya ng kaunting pera," said Magcamit of Lolo Kiko,
Lolo Kiko is fastidious when it comes to cleanliness. "Malinis na malinis siya sa katawan, at laging nakabihis," said Magcamit. Even when he isn't going out, Lolo Kiko is always dressed presentably. The farthest he usually goes is across the street to the store, where he likes to tell stories, especially when the topic is politics. The former teniente del barrio is still interested in politics. In fact, he went out to cast his vote in last May's elections.
His simple birthday wish is to stay happy and strong.
The Boac Association of Senior Citizens will hold a parangal for Lolo Kiko at the Boac covered court this Saturday.
Woman celebrates 100th birthday on ‘10-10-10’
TAGUDIN, Ilocos Sur, Philippines — On her 100th birthday on Sunday, Maria Refuerzo Lazaga, who was dressed in violet, welcomed relatives and friends who gave her 100 roses and 100 envelopes containing P100-bills.
Oct. 10, 2010 (10-10-10), after all, was an auspicious date.
About a thousand relatives and friends attended the two-day birthday bash, which was posted on Facebook.
Maria Lazaga’s centenary birthday turned into a grand family reunion for the Lazaga clan of Tagudin. Eight of her nine children and more than 80 family members, some flying in from abroad, joined the feast.
The big celebration was in contrast to her life growing up as the only child of Marcelo Refuerzo of Santa Catalina town, and Josefa Biado of Bangued, Abra.
Lazaga practically raised herself as she lost her mother at an early age while her father left for the United States in the early 1900s, as part of the Ilocano contract laborers who worked in Hawaii’s sugarcane fields.
“She did not experience the love of a sibling. She never knew a mother’s love because she lost her mother early,” Buenvenida “Benny” Lazaga, 72, her eldest child, said in Filipino.
Benny said her mother was left to the care of relatives when her grandfather left. She said her mother was spoiled by her grandparents’ families.
“When she did not like something or had some misunderstanding [with a relative], she would seek shelter and care from another relative,” Benny said.
Lazaga finished only Grade 4 and eventually married Emilio, a miner, whom she met in Baguio City.
The burden of caring for the children fell on her shoulders as her husband was based in the Cordilleras and came home only once a month.
“Many of us were born without our father beside our mother,” Benny said.
Since theirs was a large family, Benny said it was difficult to provide for all of the children's needs. Her parents struggled to send them to school on their father’s small salary.
She said their mother, a housewife, was the family's anchor as they weathered the challenges that came their way.
“She is a strong woman. She was determined to teach us everything,” Benny said.
Lazaga, for most of her life, lost communication with her father, Marcelo. But her daughter Benny, who had worked in Canada, found him in the US and brought him back to the Philippines in 1972.
Their reunion was short-lived as Lazaga’s father died the following year.
In 1980, Lazaga lost her husband, Emilio, and her children and grandchildren became her source of comfort.
At her age, Lazaga is not one to sit idly by doing nothing. She goes to market on a wheelchair or she walks aided by a cane to buy fish and vegetables. She also finds time to attend the wake of her village mates and other community gatherings.
An old-school Ilocana, she observes the traditions and beliefs of her forebears. She avoids bathing and cutting her nails on Tuesdays and Fridays, citing Ilocano folk belief.
Old Ilocanos believe that bathing on Tuesdays and Fridays would make one sick and cutting nails on those days would prevent the nails from growing back.
A typical day for Lazaga starts in the family garden, where she sits in a chair enjoying the morning sun. Afterwards, she watches television, enjoying her favorite programs and and telenovelas.
Lazaga said she was able to reach her age of 100 years old because of the mercy of God.
"I am thankful. If I get sick, I easily recover,” she said in Ilocano.
She said she valued her family and made sure there was always food on the table.
“I never allowed our rice bucket to get empty,” she added.
For Lazaga's centenary birthday, her children organized a two-day celebration that started on Saturday. There were dances, parlor games and a program.
Dr. Leonora Lazaga-Benedito, 53, Lazaga's youngest child, said the family prepared for at least 1,000 guests to attend the party that culminated on Sunday.
Asked if she knew the secret to a long, healthy life, Lazaga said: “There is no secret. It is God’s will.”
Source: Inquirer.net
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