ILOILO – The acknowledged oldest person in this province, the 107-year-old Lucila Sobrevega Sobremisana of Barangay Cabilauan, New Lucena town, made it a point to cast her vote yesterday.
Her bet for president was Vice President Leni Robredo.
“Nami gid sa iya. Daw ang tanan nga kaayuhan sang banwa nahimu niya. Ti, kuon ko maboto gid ako sa iya,” said Lola Lucila.
For her historic vote, Lola Lucila wore a pink dress, the campaign color of Robredo.
“Palanga ko gid si Leni. Pirme ko makita sa TV kag sa newspaper. Daw kanami lang, amo na nga naghimurat gid ako magboto,” said the centenarian.
Lola Lucila is turning 108 this Oct. 31. Her mind remains lucid although she needed some assistance when walking.
She lives with her eldest daughter, Nemia Sobremisana-Sumongcad, 75, in Jaro, Iloilo City but has not transferred her voter’s registration which is in New Lucena.
Because there’s still a coronavirus pandemic, Lola Lucila wore a facemask yesterday, pink of course. She matched this with a pink bag, pink hat, and pink bracelet.
Lola Lucila arrived at Cabilauan Elementary School (voting center) at around 10 a.m. She was assisted by her daughter and cheered by her grandchildren.
A senior citizen, she was prioritized at the voting precinct. A grandchild shaded her ballot for her.
Lola Lucila told Panay News, “Kahibalo pa ako magbasa kag magsulat. Sanag pa ang mata ko. Way pa takun nag-uli-anon. Pirme ako nagabasa sang akon pangamuyo kag may Bible ako.”
According to her daughter, her siblings did not want anymore their mother to vote, considering the pandemic and her frail body.
“Garing kay naga-insister gid bala haw. So, siling ko sa mga manghud ko, basi kon indi pagpa-botohon, amo pa na halinan sang stress ya,” said Sobremisana-Sumongcad. “Nagpabakal gid sia sang kalo nga pink kag abaniko na pink.”
Lola Lucila said she has no secret as to why she’s still strong despite being a centenarian.
“Sang una laswa ang ginakaon, tanan nga laswa, tanan nga prutas nga ara sa amon… Wala kami pagkaon sang baboy kag mga karne… isda amo gid pirme. Ang gina-‘bitsin’ namon, ginamos. Wala kami naga-usar sang seasoning,” she added.
Another reason was her being prayerful, Lola Lucila added.
Lola Lucila has a hearty appetite, especially with her favorite tinolang tambo.
Sobremisana-Sumongcad shared that her mother had never been admitted to the hospital for severe illness, only that case three years ago when she had mild pneumonia and a swollen leg.
Lola Lucila has four children and 11 grandchildren./PN
