BONTOC, Mountain Province)– PIA It’s timely that as the country celebrates Women’s Month, the province recognized its 73rd centenarian since 2015 – a lola from barangay Gueday in Besao, Mountain Province.
Governor Bonifacio C. Lacwasan Jr., Vice Governor Francis O. Tauli, Board Members Henry D. Bastian, Jr., Joshua B. Fronda and Ricardo M. Masidong, Jr. and other officials travelled to Besao on March 17 to meet and personally award Lola Malicay Sagulo Odlas who was born on January 23,1923.
Garbed in her “gaboy” (traditional wrap-around skirt), Lola Malicay happily received P50,000.00 cash incentive and a plaque of recognition from the provincial government at the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office.
Odlas is also expected to receive P100,000.00 cash incentive from the Department of Social Welfare and Development under Republic Act No. 108680 or the Centenarians Act of 2016.
Still with sharp memory and hearing, Lola Malicay revealed that one of the probable reasons why she is able to reach the age of 100 is the kind of food that she takes in.
“Ed kasin, nu men-uto kami umanay nan mantika ya asin. Kedeng di et nabiyag ak met. Edwani pay, adu nan aped mailal-laok isnan makan (Before, we only cook food with oil and salt. I survive using only those ingredients. Now, there are a lot of food additives),” Odlas said.
The centenarian lola is blessed with five children and a total of 70 grandchildren and greatgrandchildren.
Jovy D. Agagiw, Odlas’ first grandchild, shared that her grandmother is hardworking and strong woman, and has been a great help in taking care of her children.
“Ad kasin et adu nan awiten tusa. Adi ak maka awit san awiten tusa… adadu pay nan awiten na nu dakami. Ganon ka strong si lola Malikay. And then sha piman nan nang awawir san anan-ak ko.”(She could carry heavy loads before. I could not even carry what she can. That’s how strong Lola Malicay was. She also took good care of the children,” Agagiw said.
Odlos is the seventh centenarian in Besao to receive recognition.**JDP/CEBT-PIA Mt. Province
