Rizal province’s latest centenarian is hoping that the national government’s P100,000 cash incentive and the President’s felicitation letter would be given to her as what the law, the Centenarians Act of 2016, mandates.

Adelaida Cullano Rabi turned 100 on February 19, but her momentous occasion that marked her being a member of the centenarians club in the country was celebrated on February 17 at her residence at Palmera Hills Subdivision in Taytay, Rizal, in the presence of her six children, siblings, and grandchildren.

(Adelaida Cullano Rabi, Taytay, Rizal's newest centenarian during her birthday celebration) 

She has 19 great grandchildren and 18 grandchildren who visit her from time to time, according to her family.

Laarni Galang, one of the grandchildren of "Nanay Adeling", told Manila Bulletin that she hopes that her lola (grandmother) would still enjoy the cash incentives and the President’s signed certificate congratulating her for her longevity.

Galang wished that through this publication, the local government of Taytay, Rizal, through the Office of Mayor Allan de Leon and the local Social Welfare and Development Office, would be reminded of their role of facilitating the process of reaching out to the beneficiaries of the national government’s program that gives due recognition to the country’s senior citizens who have reached 100 years of their life.

Born in 1924, Rabi was raised in Pagsanjan, Laguna by her parents who came from a simple family who loved backyard vegetable gardening.

Galang said her lola’s family seldom ate pork and beef during those times in Laguna as they preferred fish and vegetables, which could be attributed to her long life.

After getting married at the age of 23, Adeling continued her love for ornamental and urban gardening while performing her usual household chores for her six children.

Exercising has been among her passion even when she reached the age of 80 plus, doing some stretching and deep breathing cycle in the morning after getting up from bed.

Her presence in the community in the subdivision, especially among her fellow seniors, was felt as she used to attend zumba sessions twice a week until the age of 92.

The centenarian, now a widow, according to her children, still possesses a sharp mind as she still loves to play Bingo and Scrabble Word game with her family members. Reading books and magazines were also her passion then.

(Adelaida Rabi with her grandchildren- Photo courtesy of Rabi Family)

“We are hoping that the local government of Taytay would prioritize the giving of the national government’s incentives so that the centenarians can still enjoy what they deserve before its too late,” one of Rabi’s grandchildren said.                                                     (Adelaida Rabi with her relatives - Photo courtesy of Rabi Family)