The oldest living person in the country and perhaps the world celebrated her 124th birthday in Barangay Camingawan, Kabankalan City, Saturday, September 11.
Francisca Susano had a handful of visitors on her birthday, including National Commission on Senior Citizens Commissioner Franklin Quijano and Kabakalan City Mayor Pedro Zayco.
Indigenous Peoples Commissioner Jorge Largado was also present at Lola Francisca’s birthday as she is a member of the IP community in her village.
Quijano gave Susano a bouquet of flowers, a plaque of recognition, P10,000 in cash, and a manager’s check worth P24,000 for her 124th birthday.
The plaque from the National Commission on Senior Citizens states that she is the oldest person in the world.
Zayco and Vice Mayor Raul Rivera gave her a cake, medical supplies, vitamins, and groceries, while the Provincial Health Office gave her a wheelchair.
The Department of Health also sent another wheelchair, vitamins, face shields, dusters, blankets to the birthday celebrant.
The Kabankalan City police led by Lt. Dennis Melgarejo also went to Susano’s house for a surprise birthday party.
Melgarejo said they brought her a cake for the celebration, and food packs for the residents in the village.
He said that Susano was sitting in her wheelchair during their visit, and they were told she is still able to eat despite being unresponsive to visitors due to old age.
The police visit Susano every year to celebrate her birthday, he said.
In a Facebook post, the Kabankalan police said they salute Susano for being the oldest living Filipino, who has witnessed two world wars, survived the martial law and calamities that hit the country.
“Truly, she really is a thriving national treasure. We are hoping for her good health and happiness. May she continue to inspire us and give us hope that the human spirit will continue to strive and endure anything that comes no matter what the odds are,” the police said.
Susano was born on September 11, 1897. She got married at 14 and bore 14 children.
In a 2015 interview, she said that she never had a chance to go to school and that she and her husband worked as farm laborers to sustain their needs.
She had said her secret to her long life was always eating vegetables.*
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