MAGSAYSAY, Davao del Sur (PNA) – Drinking a glass of “tuba” (coconut wine) is a daily habit of 101-year-old Leoncio Sayson Saturos, who claimed that it is his secret to live a long life.
Accompanied by five of his eight children, Saturos rode a vehicle to travel for about five kilometers from his residence in Purok 1-A in Barangay Bacungan to reach the municipal hall here.
The good news was officials of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) XI and Mayor Arthur Davin are waiting to hand over to him the PHP100,000 cash incentive for being an inspiration of a “well-lived, healthy and happy lifestyle” pursuant to Republic Act 10868 or the Centenarians Act of 2016.
Saturos, who walks with the help of crutches, has still a sharp mind, although one has to go nearer to him to be heard.
He said the money is a big help to sustain his needs, especially that he is just dependent on his pension as a war veteran.
Aside from his tuba habit, he is also used to drinking goat’s milk and “tsokolate” and eating fresh tobacco, fruits and vegetables.
Still not diagnosed with any disease, there were no prohibitions to his diet, although he seldom eats pork and chicken.
He prefers to eat more fish.
Saturos was a World War II veteran and later became a “Tenyente del Barrio,” now called barangay captain, for several years during the time of former President Ferdinand Marcos in the 1970s.
He became a widower in his 70s after his wife died due to diabetes. Seven of his eight children are still alive. His youngest daughter already passed away when she was still in her 40s. His eldest is 79 years old and his youngest son is 65.
Saturos is still praying that God will give him more years to live.