Bohol honors two centenarians in less than a month

The province of Bohol may not just be the land of beautiful landscapes and pristine beaches but it could also be the “paradise of immortals” as it recently honored two centenarians in less than a month.

I was in Panglao a couple of days ago to cover the awarding and celebration of Bohol’s latest centenarian Candelario Aparicio Bernaldez and later visited some elderly relatives to bond with my roots in Jagna. – auntie Ali and Mama Caring, who took care of me when I was like 4-5 years old in their ancestral home in Tagbilaran.

Lolo “Cande” as he is fondly called had a very unique 100th birthday celebration, having been born February 2, 1923 in Carmen, Bohol.

A hundred years later after he was born on February 2, 2023, a celebration of life was tendered by family and friends. The weather was perfect, food was great and the music was even greater.

The birthday man was serenaded by the Mother Theresa Choral Group of Camayaan, Loboc where some of its members, were once a part of the world famous Loboc Children’s Choir.

The soul-awakening repertoire of old music and folkloric songs thrilled the well-wishers no end that included family members, prominent personalities and special guests.

Tatay Cande was greeted and honored by the National Commission of Senior Citizens with NCSC Chairman Franklin Quijano delivering a touching birthday message about the celebration of life.

Quijano said that Tatay Cande’s rare feat of reaching centenarian age is a triumph of willpower, self-discipline and unflinching faith in God. He was later awarded with a certificate of felicitations and a little cash gift.

Among the dozens of Tatay Cande’s rominent well-wishers include Bohol provincial admimistrator Asteria Caberte, Carmen, Bohol mayor Che Torribio, NCSC top executive Conrado Quinal Pono and Ret. Brig. Gen. Joseph G. Sevilla.

The World War II veteran Cande, a degree holder in BS Commerce, is married to Corazon Saniel and had 7 children — six daughters Mayflor, Glenda, Remedios, Gina, Maria Nila, Lillibeth and a son, Virgilio.

He is a versatile do-it-all guy, who worked as a farmer, businessman and a bank branch manager — but most of all, a caring and responsible father and a loving husband.
During his younger years, he dabbled into different sports discipline like lawn tennis, basketball and athletics among others.

Lolo Cande says he doesn’t have any vice and instead, spends his leisure time playing crossword puzzles and watching sports events on TV.

Call it by any name and by any measure, Lolo Cande is a truly an accomplished and successful centenarian.

Less than a month earlier the Local Government Unit of Jagna through the office of the Municipal Social Welfare and Development released ₱50,000 Birthday Cash Incentive and Certificate of Recognition as a qualifying Centenarian to Ms. Apolinaria A. Llido of Barangay Tejero, Jagna Bohol on January 5, 2023, at Nanay Poling’s residence.

This corresponds to the Municipal Ordinance No. 03-08-2021 also known as “Ordinance granting awards and cash incentives to Jagnaanon Senior Citizen on the occasion of their Birthdays”, which was pushed by Mayor Joseph Rañola that recognizes the achievement of the senior citizen’s milestone in reaching their age which reflects their persistence towards a healthy lifestyle.

“Poling” as she was fondly known to her family and community was born on January 5, 1923. On the same day of her Birthday, the ₱50,000 initial cash incentive was handed by the Municipal Administrator Teresa Gina S. Ranan with the certificate of recognition as an eligible Centenarian in the Municipality of Jagna which was handed by the Municipal Budget Officer Brigida Aceron.

The MSWD Office also processed the additional centenarian cash incentive amounting to ₱100,000 from the National Government through DSWD and another ₱100,000 from Provincial Government through PSWD.

According to latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, there were 12,336,355 Filipinos aged 60 years old and above as of May 2020.

The total number of senior citizens was 11.31 percent of the country’s estimated total population at 109,035,343, based on the 2020 Census of Population and Housing (2020 CPH). (Photo and video credits to Glenda Bernaldes and Conrado Pono. Video Editing to Ian Celis)