MALOLOS CITY, Bulacan – “Old age is the childhood of immortality.”
With this words from a Greek writer, Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado together with Vice Gov. Daniel Fernando and officials from the regional office of the Department of Social welfare and Development recognized the contributions of the province’s centenarian citizens during the “Pagkilala at Pagpapahalaga sa mga Sentenaryong Bulakenyo at Pagkakaloob ng Cash incentives” at the Capitol Gym here Thursday morning.
Alvarado and Fernando have distributed P100,000 cash incentives to 45 centenarians from different parts of Bulacan. The governor told the centenarians and their relatives the cash incentives came from President Rodrigo Duterte in recognition of them being senior citizens who has reached the century-age mark.
Aside from the P100,000 cash incentives, the governor also said the provincial government will also give them P10,000 each thru the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office headed by Rowena Tiongson.
“Kung ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan, ang daan patungo ditto ay ang landas na tinatahak ng ating mga nakatantanda dahil sa kanilang mga diwa na hitik sa kaalaman na hinasa ng karanasan,” Alvarado said.
He said that it is an honor to be with them because they have done their fare share in raising the genaertions of Bulakenyos who are now making their part in building the great province of Bulacan into a prosperous and peaceful province of growth and development.
Vice Gov. Fernando for his part said that the centenarians are inspiration on how to live well and do good.
“Dapat natin silang tuluran at hangaan. They are good examples on how to live well that is why God gave them long lives,” Fernando said.
During the program, 105 years old Trinidad Juaquin of Guiguinto wowed the crowds when she did a rendition of the patriotic song “Bayan Ko” and other kundiman songs. —EMIL G. GAMOS