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| Nieves Galvez-de Castro |
My lola is 108 years old," boasted my 10-year old daughter, LA, to her classmates last year. But instead of getting the usual "oohs" and "ahhs," her classmate answered, "Sooo! My lola is 109 years and can still cook."
With this funny exchange of "Wala ka sa lola ko!" Stories, my daughter went home frustrated that classmates did not believe her at all. I had to explain to her that people rarely reach hundred years old, and rarer still, to live beyond a century. And that her great grandmother is an exception to the rule, and is truly blessed to still be alive and healthy to this day.
With this funny exchange of "Wala ka sa lola ko!" Stories, my daughter went home frustrated that classmates did not believe her at all. I had to explain to her that people rarely reach hundred years old, and rarer still, to live beyond a century. And that her great grandmother is an exception to the rule, and is truly blessed to still be alive and healthy to this day.
Yes, my grandmother Nieves Galvez-de Castro or Lola Bet is past a hundred and has turned 109 on June 20th. She originally hails from San Rafael, Bulacan where she also finished her grade school and high school in San Rafael and Baliuag, respectively before finishing a degree in Home Economics from the Philippine Normal College (now Philippine Normal University). By now, she's probably one of their oldest living graduates.
Her husband, Arcadio Sr., passed away in 1953 and she was left to rear her four children, Erlinda, Arcadio Jr., Celia, and Rolando. She has 10 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.
On some days, when we visit her, she can still answer basic questions and recall some details of her life. Her stories will not be complete without mentioning that during the time she was teaching at Magdalena Elementary School in Sta. Cruz, Manila, she has for her pupils the like of Maria Kalaw Katigbak, a former Miss Philippines and well-known actress, Carmen Rosales. However, on other days she sits quietly with her eyes closed and seems to just be enjoying the peace enveloping her. When we were younger, we were left in lola's care during the summer vacation. Since our cousins lived with her, it was also a perfect time to bond with them. When we got older, summer vacations with lola became few and far between. However we still visited and stayed with her on special occasions like her birthdays, Christmas, New Year, Mother's Day and Holy Week break. Or she would go to Manila for visits and we sould see her.
On her 109th birthday, I payed a tribute to my loving grandmother who continues to be the anchor of our family, our inspiration of a life well lived and our measure of true beauty, inside and out.
By: Renelle
De Castro-Ferraris
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