THE Philippines has the world’s supercentenarian.
Her name is Francisca Susano. She recently celebrated her 124th birthday, making her the world’s oldest living person.
Senior Citizen Party-list Representative Rodolfo Ordanes filed House Resolution 2207 congratulating Susano and urging the House of Representatives to grant her P1 million as an incentive for being a supercentenarian.
Susano was born on September 11, 1897 in Kabankalan, Negros Occidental.
Read: Surprises greet 'oldest living Filipino' on 124th birthday
Upon celebrating her recent birthday, she widened the gap between her and the second oldest living person in the world, Kane Tanaka of Japan, who was born on January 2, 1903.
The oldest person recorded was Jeanne Calment of France who was 122 years and 164 days old when she passed away in 1997.
Guinness World Records
Ordanes said that the Guinness World Records Organization already received the application and supporting documents that would pave the way for Lola Francisca’s recognition as the World’s Oldest Living Person.
“I am offering the resources of the Senior Citizens party-list to expedite the process. Kung ano pang kailangan, tutulong po ang Senior Citizen Party-list kina Lola Francisca at sa LGU ng Negros Occidental,” Ordanes said.
(What else is needed, the Senior Citizen Party-list will help Lola Francisca and the LGU of Negros Occidental.)
The chair of the House Committee on Senior Citizens said that the country should consider those like Lola Francisca Susano as national treasures.
He said he witnessed an important stage in the history of the Philippines over the past century since she is even older than the declaration of Philippine Independence from Spain.
Recognition
“Sa gitna ng coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, kailangan nating lalo pang protektahan at tiyaking maayos ang quality of life ni Mrs. Susano. Inatasan ko na ang mga lider ng OSCA at Senior Citizen Party-list sa Negros Occidental, upang alamin kung nabakunahan na ng Covid-19 vaccine si Lola Francisca pati na ang mga caregivers niya. Kailangan ding alamin at punan ang iba pa niyang pangangailangan,” Ordanes added.
(Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, we need to further protect and ensure the quality of life of Mrs. Susano. I have instructed the leaders of the OSCA and Senior Citizen Party-list in Negros Occidental to find out if Lola Francisca and her caregivers have been vaccinated with the Covid-19 vaccine. We also need to find out her other needs.)
The House Resolution 2207 he filed proposes that Susano be given P1 million as “recognition of her monumental achievement and to help her and her family in their daily expenses and improve their wellbeing, especially during this pandemic.”
Ordanes expressed his hope that the House Plenary would approve his resolution during the third regular session of the 18th Congress. (NRC, PR)