Thus declared eldest daughter Col. Grace Oppus Villanuevs (Res) about her mother Oyang Juling Revil vda. de Oppus who turned 100 last April 12 amid elaborate celebration in Baclayon town.
What made her amazing?
According to Grace who is a woman warrior who was in the WAC frontline in the 80's and 90's in the fight against insurgents, her mother is simply incredible in her battle to stay alive and kicking. At 100, it is to the envy of many a health buff that as a centenarian she defied conventional wisdom to stay fit by eating meat particularly humba three times a day. Doing it in a daily basis, she had Sprite in her digestion process for every meal of pork adovo or humba. It was also to the surprise of her neighbors that after eating meat every meal daily, she can still play mahjong with two wide eyes open with nary an the aid of eye glasses. She reads the newspapers as if she still in her younger days. Her constant mahjong “quorum” are members of the household, namely, Grace, the eldest daughter, Abet, Belen and Maning. With the celebrator turning 100, Baclayon was turned into a virtual war zone as a fireworks display highlighted the occasion lasting more than 10 minutes.
With the guest list reading like a who's who in Baclayon, the centenary celebration of Oyang Juling was opened with the presentation of a resolution by the Sangguniang Bayan. The SB resolution extended felicitations to Mrs. Julia Revil vda de Oppus of Poblacion, Baclayon on the occasion of her centennial natal day celebration on April 12. She is accorded the accolade the oldest Baclayanon on record. Among the personalities who graced the occasion were Grace's youngest sister Agnes Oppus, R.N. who is married to Dan Tomsick; Police Supt. Louie Oppus and his wife City Councilor Anne Mariquit; and the celebrant's grandchildren greatgrandchildren more than 30. The Oppus clan alone which is scattered all over Baclayon came in droves along with other important guests. In a count off of all the guests, it was estimated to be in the vicinity of 500 practically using every square inch of the Immaculata High School quadrangle.
The Baclayon officialdom led by Mayor Alvin Uy and V-Mayor Jodel Theodore Cabsjug were also on hand to witness the occasion. The resolution was authored by Councilor Erico Joseph Cañete. The last among the Oppus oldtimers in Baclayon, Oyang Juling was married to the late Macario Oppus, a USSAFE veteran and one of the brothers of a family of military men, one of them was the late Col. Guillermo Oppus.
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