Laoag City honors 2 centenarians

 

101. Laoag Mayor Michael M. Keon hands over checks worth PHP100,000 each to centenarian awardees Encarnacion Basilio-Quitola, 101 years old of Barangay 1; and Remedios Pastor-Ramos, also 101 of Barangay 54-A, both in Laoag City. Mr. Keon handed over the check from DSWD on July 8, 2019 at the Laoag City Hall. (Doms dela Cruz)

By Dominic B. dela Cruz

Staff Reporter

Laoag City—The city government here honored two centenarians with plaques of recognition and PHP100,000 in check.

New Laoag Mayor Michael M. Keon personally handed the checks to the two centenarians on July 8, 2019 at the Laoag City Hall.

The first centenarian awardee is Encarnacion Basilio-Quitola, 101 years old and the wife of the late Domingo Quitola.

Mrs. Quitola in her early years was a laundrywoman and her late husband was a farmer.

The Quitola couple, who hails from Barangay 1, this city was blessed with eight children, 51 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.

According to Mrs. Quitola, she loved her family very well as “her children, grandchildren and great children are the love of her life”.

She said her secret of reaching this age is eating vegetables and having her big family care for her.

The second centenarian awardee hails from Barangay 54-A, this city, Remedios Pastor-Ramos who is also 101 years-old.

Mrs. Ramos and her late husband were blessed with five children, 13 grandchildren, 25 great grandchildren and 8 great-great grandchildren.

Mrs. Ramos believes that she already accomplished a lot upon reaching this age.

Her secret to a long and happy life according to her is keeping a positive outlook of life and keeping herself busy doing by something worthy.

According to her, she does not eat sugar and bagoong. Instead, she eats more vegetable than meat.

The mayor, for his part, congratulated the two centenarians.

The PHP100,000.00 check handed to them came from the national government through the DSWD.

Record shows that aside from the PHP100,000.00 given by the DSWD, the city government will also give the same amount thru a city ordinance authored by former city councilor Atty. Franklin Dante A. Respicio.

The ordinance originally called for PHP20,000 cash incentives from the city government; the late Laoag Vice Mayor Michael V. Fariñas, however, suggested to raise the amount to PHP100,00o, which the council unanimously approved.

The said city ordinance was originally based on Republic Act No. 10868, which was enacted into law in order to honor and grant additional benefits and privileges to Filipino Centenarians.

The law also mandates all local government units to award a plaque of recognition and cash incentive to each centenarian as an epitome of an individual with a healthy lifestyle, not to mention their contribution in the preservation of culture and traditions.

Said ordinance further states that all Laoagueños, who reached the age of 100 years old whether residing in the Philippines or abroad shall be honored with a plaque of recognition from the city mayor and the members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod for his/her longevity and a cash incentive in the amount of P100,000.