By VILLAMOR VISAYA JR.
TUMAUINI, Isabela-Finally getting due her after a two-year delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a 102-year-old centenarian grandmother got her P100,000 check on Friday (July 29). Unfortunately, she died two days later on Sunday night, her relatives said on Wednesday.
Florentina Lapitan, 102, of Liwanag village here got her check as a centenarian from the social welfare department, more than two years after they completed the papers needed for the assistance as required by the Centenarians Act of 2016 (RA 10868).
Florentina will be buried this week.
Noblito Lapitan, Florentina’s son, said the processing of papers was snagged due to the pandemic.
“As the COVID-19 protocols were relaxed, we then have time to process the papers,” Florentina’s daughter-in-law Concepcion (Noblito’s wife) said.
Due to her death, Florentina’s relatives have yet to draw the check’s proceeds from the bank she signed through her thumbmark.
Widowed 50 years ago, Florentina did not marry again and stayed with Noblito and his family.
Aside from Noblito as the lone son, Florentina also sired six daughters (one already died).
“She never nagged anyone. She never complained and she ate anything we brought to the table. She was the kind of mother who appreciated what we have,” Noblito added.
A vegetable lover, Florentina did household chores and house yard works as exercise.
“She died simply because of old age. We will always remember her as someone who lived happily despite a simple life,” her daughter Isabel Lapitan-Balmores said.#