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Rare Centenarians Conference
BY JOAQUIN ORAMAS
FOR the first time in Cuba and
possibly in the world, an International Centenarians
Conference has just taken place in Havana, in which
a group of men and women aged between 100 to 124
shared their experiences and responded to
geriatrists’ and experts’ questions on lifestyle and
other factors that help to prolong life.
People invited from Mexico,
Chile, Spain, France, Haiti and Cuba are attending
the event, stated Doctor Eugenio Selman, president
of the 120 Years Club, who presented diplomas to the
organization’s honorary members.
Awards were presented to Cuban
actress and star Rosita Fornés who in two days will
turn 82 years of age and who is still acting; Ramón
Cordobés, an active sports representative in Cuba,
who at 92 years of age won two gold medals in
swimming competitions in Italy; Professor Raimundo
Llanio, who introduced the emergency periscope
technique; and Mexican businessman José M.
Covarrubia, who presides over Mexico’s 120 Years
Club.
Amada Hernández, a 101-year-old
seamstress and 100-year-old
Hortensia Cueto, who worked in an office for most of
her life, affirmed that they were happy with the
level of care they received from their families.
Hortensia Cueto recounted how since she was young
child, she had come to love Cuba’s capital,
especially Old Havana. She announced plans to tour
the city and to learn about the restoration of the
historic center that is part of humanity’s heritage.
Juana Hernández, a housewife from
the capital, suffered a fracture from a recent fall,
but the doctor diagnosed that in three months she
would be back on her feet. “I knew that the doctor
was going to cure me,” she noted. Three months after
the accident, she was even walking to the orthopedic
clinic. “You don’t have to overdo it,” the satisfied
doctor told her.
Paula Jovellar, aged 103, was a
domestic for many years and still does housework at
home. The secret of her longevity is eating a lot of
fruit, fish and vegetables, she says. “But also I
enjoy eating pork and ham,” she mischievously added.
Ignacio Cubillas, now 105, was a
farmer who participated in the campesino movement in
the San Blas area. He agreed with other centenarians
that he had worked hard, but had lived a healthy
life without engaging in any vices that could harm
his health.
Agustin Gutiérrez, aged 103, was
born in the Canary Islands and when he was very
young traveled to Cuba, where he worked as a dry
cleaner and helped to build the Hotel Nacional, the
conference venue. He related how during World War I,
they ate only tomatoes at home for weeks since the
German armed fleet impeded the passage of supplies
to the Canaries. Centenarian Hortensia Alvarez
Cárdenas, a hat maker by trade and 101-year-old
Caridad León Herrera talked about the difference in
medical attention that they receive now as compared
to during their youth.
Centenarian Aurora González Yanes
talked about how we have to learn to be firm, have
convictions and energy, since when she received the
invitation to attend the event her family expressed
concern at her going because of her age. And she
responded, “just a minute…this is my event and I am
going because it concerns me.” And then, she
responded to questions from geriatrists on her state
of mind, which could not have been better.
Eduardo Valdés, a 103-year-old
teacher, described his experiences in the teaching,
profession, which he still exercises, since it helps
others who need to revise different subjects. He is
one of the centenarians who loves sports, and has
exercised since he was 18 years of age when he
played baseball. “My position was a catcher and I do
calisthenics daily.” He added: “I also enjoy modern
music, mainly instrumental, particularly what Radio
Encyclopedia plays, a station that specializes in
that genre…Regarding alcoholic drinks, I only have
drunk sweet wine and I prefer natural foods. “
For her part, 101-year-old
seamstress Mercedes Matilde demonstrated that
centenarians can enjoy life by dancing and singing
the well-known guaracha
En Manzanillo se baila el son.
Another participant who inspired
great admiration was 124-year-old Benito Martínez,
the oldest centenarian in the world. He has lived in
the 19th and 20th centuries and continues working
the land in Ciego de Avila province, in eastern
Cuba. Born in Haiti, he arrived in Cuba during the
early part of the 20th century, and worked cutting
sugar cane for years. Today he proudly sells the
produce that he harvests.
The centenarian spoke of a diet
of vegetables, yams, garden produce, milk and meat,
which he ate in Haiti as well as in Cuba.
“Work doesn’t kill you, it makes
you stronger; what kills you is drinking and
smoking.” His motto has been to remain single.
“Right now, I have no plans to get married,” he
added.
The experts are interested in learning about the
lifestyle, the food and the family history of the
some 2,500 centenarian representatives in Cuba. The
interviewees revealed that in general, they lived
their younger years without excesses. Most of them
eat vegetables, fruits, and other foods including
meat and fish. Leave out alcohol and tobacco,
because those do kill, as teacher Eduardo and
Benito, the world’s oldest man, emphasized.
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