BACOLOD City – Considered the oldest living Filipino, Francisca Montes-Susano of Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, turned 123 years old on Sept. 11.
On that day, social media was abuzz with greetings for the super-centenarian, but right at home, among Lola Franscisca’s well-wishers were the personnel of Kabankalan City police station led by Lieutenant Colonel Mary Rose Pico.
Personnel of the police station in southern Negros posted on Facebook photos of their visit to the celebrator at her house in Barangay Oringao.
“The (Philippine National) Police salutes her character of old age by surprising her with cakes. She is the oldest living Filipino, born before the Philippine Independence, and was able to witness two World Wars,” the Kabankalan police said.
They also said Lola Francisa is truly “a national treasure” for also having gone through the martial law, the People Power Revolution, the ISIS attack, as well as many typhoons and calamities, and even the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
The Kabankalan police personnel wished her continued good health and happiness.
“May you 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,” they added.
Lola Francisca was one of the awardees under the Negros First Centenarian Act in 2015.
It was reported last year that her birth records were being verified by the Gerontology Research Group to determine if she can be declared as the world’s oldest living person by the Guinness Book of World Records. (With a report from PNA/PN)
